The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-16
RAUM'S REFRIGERATOR.
THE INVESTIGATION MADE IT HOT
FOR THB COMMISSIONERS.

The Session of the Day Opened with a
Tilt Between Msssrs. Cooper and
sawyer-It Develops That at Least
One Of the Employees was Interested
in the Company.
WASHINGTON, Sept 15.-When the spe-
cial House committee investigating the
charges against Commissioner Raum met
this morning, Mr.. Sawyer recalled Mr..
Cooper and asked him a number of questions
respecting his Judgment of the propriety
and effect of the general orders made by the
commissioner to expedite the adjudication
of the completed cases.
Mr.. Cooper declared that the questions
were unfair, and when he was pressed to re-
turn an absolute ''yes" or mo" he refused to
allow Mr.. Sawyer to dictate what his an
swers should be-
THE ORDERS WRONG.
He then proceed to reply that the orders
were nov proper when they had the effect,
as shown in this case, to benefit claimants
with attorneys at the expense of claimants
without attorneys, and when mada for an
improper consideration.
The commissioner asked to have a num-
Der OF the chiefs of divisions called to show
whether or not there had been any favor
itism shown.
The committee decided TO hear this testi-
mony.
A sUB-CoMPANY.
Mr.. Cooper asked the commissioner
whether there was sub-company of the
Universal Refrigerator Company in this
district. The commissioner objected to
going into the matter, but at the request of
the chairman proceeded TO answer Mr..
Cooper to the effect that steps had been
taken looking to the formation of a sub
company, that stock had been subscribed,
that Bradley Tanner (who sat at his deskl
was secretary OF the company, that Mr.. Mar
tin had subscribed for one share of the stock,
SO as to be able to act as an Incorporation,
but that no money had been paid in, the
organization was in fact inchoate as yet.
Mr.. Tanner was absolutely the only pension
office employe interested In the company
PAY OF THE PARENT COMPANY.
The parent company and the witness
(who owned nine-tenths of the district rights
were TO receive payment for the franchise
in $50, 900 of stock, but the arrangement
had not yet been ratified by the
parent company The interposition of Mr..
Cooper's resolution had stopped negotia-
tions The witness has withdrawn from
the field and stopped selling state rights
until be could, by the erection of prac-
teal working plant, showsthe value of the
patent.
COOPER CALLS IT FRAUD.
Mr.. Cooper said that if the commissioner
proposed to exploit the value of the inven-
tion he wanted to prove that il
was a fraud. He endeavored to
prove that suit had been brought
against the patent in Tennessee for
swindling, but the commissioner denied
any knowledge of that, and the committee
declined to 20 into that matter. The COM
missioner further stated that Mr.. Tanner
was not expected Co pay for his shares. and
that the same was true of the other geatle
men who had organized the sub-company.
A few shares Of stock had been given them
60 enlist the use of their names, as was
customary in the organization of such COM
panies.
LEWIS FAvoRs AN INQUIRY.
After a number of division chiefs and
| chief clerks in the pension Office had testi-
fed that no favoritism existed in their de-
partments Mr.. Lewis introduced the fol
lowing resolution:
WHEREAs-Gen. Raum has this day admitted
before this committee THAI Bradley Tanner is
the owner of stocR in the Columbia Refrigera-
tor Company, for the purpose of introducing
and establishing in the District OF Columbia q
patent of the Universal Refrigerator Company,
which is synonymous with the Columbia Re
frigerator Company;
WHEREAS, Said Bradley Tanner has been pro-
moted in the pension office by said Gen. Raum
therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is proper and competent
for this committee to hear such testimony as
will tend TO prove the character Of this enter
prise and the value of the stock thereof
By party vote the committee refused to
ad ont the rasolutiOn