Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-11

Mr.. cooPER-MR. RAUM OPENS HIS DTrsSsE-
FITCH TELLS WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT BRADLEY
TANNER-A RECONCILIATION AT RECESS.
Right at the beginning of its session this
morning the special House cammitsee inyesti-
eating the charges against Commissioner
Raum had the usual daily tilt. Mr.. Lewis. the
democratic member, rising to personal aues-
tion, said that he had been credibly informed
that while he was engaged in conversation with
Mr.. Smyser. who was on the stand the other
day. the chairman had said that his Qewis0
conduct was not gentlemanly. and he wanted a
retraction Chairman Morrill, said that he had
no recollection Of having made such a remark,
and Mr.. Sawyer also denied that il had been
made, taking occasion also to denounce the
ofliclous outsiders who were seeking to inter-
meddle and mako bad feeling in the committee.
BUTLER FITcu's TESTIMONY.
Butler Fitch was then called to the stand and
testified that Bradley Tanner had spoken to
him about the refrigerator company and of his
prospects in general way. Witness inferred
from the conversation that he was going into
1t as a business and repeated the story. Wit
ness also had the idea that the time spent by
Tanner in the Virginia trips was not to come
out of his own time
To Gen. Raum witness said that Tanner never
told him that he had stock i'm the company or
had put any money In ii. Witness had never
told anybody that Tanner had said that he had
stock, but told them that he inferred that he
was interested.
10 Mr. Sawyer witness admitted that he had
no recollection of anything specific that Tanner
had said to give him the impression that he
would not lose the time spent in Virginia or
ma, tnat ne nad invested money in the company.
Was friend OF Tanners; thought the stock
was good thing and assumed that if he had
all opportunity to invest in stock he would do
It; but didn't know that he had Tanner did
not try to induce witness to invest.
10 MIR. Cooper witness said that he believed
that Tanner used the word I'VE" in speaking of
the company. Did not tell Mr.. Cooper that
Tanner 9 testimony about the time consumed
III his Virginia trips made his check turn
pale; said he was "a little surprised" but
could not now recall anything Tanner had said
to justify the assumption that he had used the
time OF the government on his trips. Tanner
had since told witness to tell the committee all
that he knew.
Mr.. COOPER on THE STAND.
MIR. Cooper said he had no moro witnesses
and Commissioner Raum, beginning his de-
fense, asked that Mr.. Cooper be sworn.
In answer to tho commissioner questions
Mr. Cooper said that his attention had first
been called to the refrigerator company by
the newspaper articles and afterward by Geo
Is. Fleming. Had talked with half dozen other
persons confdentially, but did not care to
give their names.
Mr.. Fleming had said that the preceding
witness (Butler Fitch) had told him that seven
Pension Officc employees had bought refrig-
orator stock There was where the charge
originated, which seemed to be corroborated
by the newspaper articles.
Inc commissioner said that Fleming was
himself the author of the defamatory articles
Mr.. Cooper said that the commissioner had
given out an article himself, saying that he did
not give his note to Lemon.
The commissioner replied that he had de-
MED that he had given a note for s25,OOO.
Mr.. Cooper remarked that he had set up
case ana then answered it.
The commissioner said that he had taken the
case which he found in the newspapers.
KNOCKED DOWN.
Mr.. Cooper answered that he had been con-
frmed in his belief in the charge by the COM
missioner's refusal to answer his question. but
the charge rested upon Fleming's and Fitch's
testimony. IL they were knocked out all
right.
The commissioner replied that he thought
they had knocked themselves down.
MIR. Cooper wasn't sure but that il the books
were produced the names of Pension Office em-
ployes would not be found and that Bradley
Tanner had not been promoted for his services
to the company.
The commissioner again pressed Mr.. Cooper
for the names of his informants, saving: II
want to get at the men who have poisoned your
mind"
HE had SOME FEELING.
Mr. Cooper thought the remark was graf
uitous, but excused the commissioner because
he had some feeling.
Commissioner Raum-I should think / had a
small amount of feeling when man is trying
INV fa1,
Mr.. Cooper-You have admitted part of them.
Commissioner Ranm-No sir; have not
Continuing, Mr. Cooper said Mr.. McColmar
representing refrigerator stock, had spoken of
the books IN a way that led witness to suppose
they showed crookedness.
ANOTHER OUTBREAK
The investigation ran along quietly. and
then again for q quarter Of an hour
there was another outbreak. Mr.. Cooper was
still on the stand and had said that he had
never seen the books of the company when
Mr.. Flick sharply quered: You know yon arc
on oath, don't you? You have sworn a moment
ago that you could take those books and sustain
these charges
Mr.. Cooper-I said believed it, That sup-
gest!on OF yours was ungentlemanly, cowardiy
and mean.
Mr.. Flick-And submit that you are dirty
dog.
Chairman Morrill, endcavored to restrain the
members, bat Mr. Flick added: He had no
rfght-nor any Other-to make that remark"
Mr.. Lewis Joined in to help out Mr. Cooper
saying: Mr.. Flick had no right 20 ask that
question about his being under oath. 1t car
r:es an implication"
Mr.. Flick denied any such intention.
Mr.. lewiston have no right to ask q lawyer
that question.
Mr.. Sawyer-Lawyers are more apt to wander
than anybody else.
Order having been restored Mr.. Flick con-
cluded the examination.
FITCH RECALLED
The witness. Fitch, was recalled and posi-
lively denied that he had told Fleming any of
the things that Mr.. Cooper had spoken Of. In
the course of the examination Commissioner
Raum remarked: THE whole thing Is a fig
nlent OF George B. Fleming, a discharged en-
pioye Of the Pension Office, who has used Mr..
Coopor-l don't say eorruptly."
The chairman again intervened.
Mr.. Cooper remarked that he was used to
that, to which Mr.. Flick responded: "You will
learu to be gentlemanly In your own de-
meanor."
Il am not afraid Of you," retorted Mr..
Cooper, defantly.
ALL PoPPY-cocK.
The chairman persisted until he got order
and then the commissioner offered to prove by
the one hundred and thirty EIGHT pension Office
employees who had been promoted that they
had not bought nor been solicited to buy re-
friRerator stock, but the committee decided
that 1t was unnecessary to take this mass
OF Testimony TO prove negative
and that il would be satisfied with affidavits:
that the testimony was '.sll poppy-cock,p - A
the chairman termed it, to the great indigna-