The Indianapolis journal., 1890-06-12
Explanation and Vigorous Denial By the PEN
sion Commissioner-Ho a Senate Com
mittee Was Forced to Give Hearing.
Provisions of the Conference Dependent
Pension Measure Passed Yesterday.
Radical Changes Made in the House Silver
Bill by the Senate Finance Committee-A
Place Major Butteryorth Would Like.
GENERAL RAUMs DENIAL.

What the Pension Commissioners Has to Say
About the Charges Filed Against Him.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, juno IL. - The charges
against General Raum. the Commissioner
of Pensions, are, first, that he has borrowed
SIS. 600, or some large sum of money, from
George +. Lemon. a claim agent doing busi-
ness before his Office or upon his indorse-
ment. General Raum asserts that his
private business relations with Captain
Lemon have no influence whatever upon
his official conduct, and that Lemon has
received no advantages in the Pension Of
flee that are not enjoyed by other men in
his profession.
Second-He is charged with soliciting or
allowing others to solicit. subscriptions
from the clerks in his department., to the
stock of company of which he Is presi-
dent and ope of the chief owners. This he
absolutely denies, and says that if any
clerks in the Pension Office have bought
stock in the corporation referred to. which
is refrigerator car company, it has been
done without his knowledge or approval.
Third-He is charged with having turned
over to his son, John Raum. the pen.
sion claims that were placed in
fore for he n became Commissioner, and
with having given these claims preference
over OF her cases pending before the Office.
This he absolutely denies, and says that
the business his son brings to the depart
ment takes the same course with the rest
and is given no less and no more advant
ages. but all the grist that comes to the
mills is treated alike.
Fourth-He is charged with having made
inventor of smokeless powder. under
which he is to receive for the use of his in
profits derived from the sale of
such powder to the government.
vate citizen and 2racticing law, he did
make contract or agreement with Els
worth under which the latter gave him a
20-per-cent interest In his invention fol
introducing it into the army and navy o.
the United States; that he has never been
able to do anything for Ellsworth: that he
had lost his confidence ia the invention,
and that he would be glad to be released
from the contract.
moved lady clerk. who was a notary pub
lie, from the chief clerks room, where
| she was able to make S15 or $40 month in
notary fees. and with having secured the
appointment OF his son, Green Is. Raum, IT.,
| as notary public, so that the latter might
make all the perquisites the woman had
been receiving. There is very little founda-
| tiOn for this charge. There was lady, q
notary public. In the chief clerks room,
| who did make a fee now and then for
| notarial fcervices. and, in the shifting
| about of employees. after General Raum
| came into the Office, she was transferred to
| another room. Young Raum was appointed q
notary public five years ago by President
| Cleveland, and when he was made ap-
| pointment clerk retained his notarial COM
| mission. When visitors to the office have
| inquired for notary they have usually
| been sent TO hinl, and he is doing a con-
siderable portion of the business that the
woman did formerly, but there was no in
| tention of depriving her of her fees, and
young Raum was not stationed there for
| that purpose
Tho charges against General Raum are
| inspired, and are being prosecuted by dis
| charged employees of the Pension Office.
| aided by Democratic politicians but it is
| not believed that they will receive any at
| tention in Congress-