The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-09
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
THE RAUM INVESTIGATION.

THE RAUM INVESTIGATION.
So anxious were the minority members OF
the Rsum Investigating Committee 10 get out
something which would serve as political CAPT.
tal during the campaign, that they would not
wait until the majority Of the committee were
ready 10 report but in violation of common
courtesy, hurried into print with q screed
against the Commissioner of Pensions.
IL recites no facts, but merely abuses the
Commissioner for being interested in a refrig-
orator company; says that the salary Of Brad
lev Tanner, the Commissioners Private Secre-
fary, was advanced from 81, 600 to $500 on
account Of his services for the Refrigerator
Company, part of which services were rendered
in Office hours and then criticizes the COM
pleted files order alleging that from 30 TO SO
per cent of the eases said TO be completed were
not really so, and blames the Commissioner for
borrowing $4,000 from Capt Geo. e. Lemon.
The report concludes:
:" Thus il seems to US that the Commissioner
OF Pensions has not properly esteemed the deli
cate duties and serious responsibilities Of his
great Office; nor has he measured up TO that
high standard Of patriotic consideration for
the public service which should prevail in this
Department, adjudicating the disbursement of
nearly one-third Of the entire revenues of the
Government"
Immediately upon the appearance Of this
astonishing screed, Judge J. G. Sawyer, Of New
York, and q member of the Committee, eX-
pressed TO an Associated Press reporter surprise
that the minority report of the result of the
investigation had been given ont. He was sur
prised, because il was well understood by the
committee that the evidence was not all in and
the investigation was not closed.
Taking up the allegations in the minority
report one by one. Judge Sawyer said there was
not one of the statements that he believed was
borne out by the evidence, incomplete that it
was. As 10 the list of stockholders, the proof
showed that Mr.. Smyser subscribed alone for
the stock, and that the others interested with
him made no subscription. In regard TO
Bradley Tanner, Commissioner Raum's Private
Secretary, the evidence showed that at the out
side Tanner had written only four or five letters
on the Refrigerator Company's business IN the
Pension Office during Office hours. His associ-
alton with the District of Columbia branch
company was purely nominal, his interest in
10 being only one share, for which he had
not paid cent; aud the company had not
yet been brought into active existence.
Mr.. Tanners promotion was shown by the
testimony 10 have been made in fuliiment of a
promise to Commissioner Rsum's predecessor,
and had no relation 10 this business. With
exception, there was no evidence 10 show that
anybody employed in the Pension Office was
directly or indirectly the owner OF any stock in
the Refrigerator Company. The proof on the
contrary, was directly the other way.
The majority had carefully analysed the tes-
timony with regard 20 fayOritism 10 attorneys,
and had reached the conclusion, from the testi-
mony Of Assistant Commissioner Lincoln, the
files clerk and all the Chiefs Of Divisions as
well as from their personal knowledge of the
manner in which public business must be con-
Quoted IN an Office Of such magnitude as this
that fayoritism was impossible. As a matter Of
fact, there had been an absolute failure 10 show
single case Of favoritism
The majority Of the committee earnestly ap-
proved orders ls9 and Isl, establishing the
completed files system. They found that
under the operation Of this system q larger
number OF cases had been disposed Of than ever
before, and fewer complaints had been received
from claimants aud their attorneys. They
found that there was no evidence not the
slightest 10 show that the Commissioner had
ever failed 10 give that time and attention to
has duties which should be expected, and that
none Of the business hours in his Office had
been devoted 10 private stock jobbing or specu-
lEtion.
Judge Sawyer remarked in conclusion, that
he gave expression with some hesitation to
what be understood 10 be the views OF the ma
9Ority, because he did not understand that the
investigation was yet closed but. as the mi
Dority had seen Ct 20 make their statement
public, he thought it only proper to express In
this manner what the majority believed the
testimony taken really demonstrated. Asked
in regard 70 the Lemon Endorsement Judge
Sawyer answered that the evidence established
that Capt. Lemon had Endorsed notes for Gen.
Rsum 20 the extent of $4,000. and had re-
eeiyed as collateral 1000 shares in a gypsum
mining company IN southwestern Virginia.
The evidence was that this enterprise had
been brought 70 Capt Lemon 6 attention before
Gen. Raum became Commissioner The only
evidence before the committee as 20 the value
Of the shares was that one sale had been made
81 81 per share.
EIGSISG THE TAEIFF BILL
The President and Cabinet, with the excep-
ton Of Secretary Rusk. who was absent from
the jty. repaired 70 the Capitol building on
Wednesday afternoon for the purpose Of expe-
citug bills which had been enacted and only
required the Presidents signature 20 become
laws The tariff bill was laid on the table
IN the Presidents room ready for his signature
at O'Clock, but as he had a number Of other
bills before him be did not take il up at once.
In about ~ minutes Secretary Halford placed
the bill before him with the last page Of the
enrolled measure exposed. In the room at the
time, besides the Cabinet, were Senator AIdrich,
who had engineered the measure through the
Senate: MAJ. Mckinley. whose name the bill
bears, the Chairman Of the House Committee
On Ways and Means, and several other Senators
and Representatives, As the President was
about 70 sign the bin, Secretary Blaine and
Senator Alorich approached the table while
Maj. Mckinley stood Immediately IN front OF
the President, and the other gentlemen were
grouped about the table Secretary Blaine in-
qEired Of the President II his hand trembIed al
The signing Of the BILL 70 which Gen. Harrison
responded, Not a bit; ] shall be able to pat on
good signature" The President then asked
MAJ. Mckinley IL be wanted the pen after the
bin was signed. Then with q firm hand the
President wrote, Approved Oct /, 1890
Ben. Harrison" saying, j will use plenty OF
ink" When the signature was affixed, Secre-
tary HaliOrd was about 70 blot H. when Score.
tary Blaine said: +" Let IL dry ON The bill
wss laid aside and the signature allowed 20 dry.
Az soon as the bill was approved, Mai. McKin-
ley started 10 leave the room, when Represent
EtiFe Mason, Of Illinois, addressed Gen Har.
TlsOn, and said that he had Mai McKiuley's
permission 70 ask the President for the pen
Just used, for one Of his little folks The
President, wish q smile, handed Mr. Mason an
ordinary steel pom in a cedar holder, aud the
great Eeyenue measure became q law.
TBE PEEsIDEET's wEsTERE TRIP.
President Harrison and party consisting O,
Secretary Of the Navy Tracy Private Secretary
Halford, Marshal Ransdeli. Capt. W. n Mere
rlth, Superintendent Of the Bureau Of Engray.
1nR and Printing, a stenOgrapher and rep
IessHiatiVes Of the two press associations. lefl
Washington at ll:24 o'clock on Monday morn
sng over the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad fol
AZ extended trip 20 the West The party wa.
DO charge Of Dir. q. Il. Bishop, Of the G. q o
Railrcsd. Gen. G. ii. GrogVenor Joined tb,
party az Cincinnati. where IL arrived ON Tnes