New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-05
TALKING ON THE PENSION BILL
MR.. COOPER MAKES A SPIRITED ATTACK ON
GENERAL RAUM.

REupARsrNG THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE
CONGRATULATIONS SAWYER Defends
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
fsY TELEGRAPH TO THE T%nrBUSE.l
washington, Dec. 4.-Most Of the day in the House
was devoted ostensibly to general dobate' on The
pension Appropriation bill, but about half the time
WAS occupied by a spirited attack upon Commissioner
Raum by Mr.. Cooper, Of Indiana, and by Judge
SAWYER. OF New York, IN reply. Mr.. Morrow, OF
California, who has charge Of the bill, explained It's
provisions and the estimates upon which IL is Dasea.
The bill carries 1893, 173,085 for the payment Oh
pens!ons and 81 OF, 900 for expenses OF admlnistra-
ton outside OF Washington. This Is an increase OF
about so. 5OO,O over the appropriations for the cur
rcnt fiscal year, exclusive of deficiencies. The total
rumber of pensioners on tho rolls on June 30, 1890.
was 537,044.
Mr.. Morrow, in his exhaustive and able speech, an
ticipated the criticisms Of the Democrats, who contend
| that the actual expenditures will greatly exceed INC
| estimates, and that the latter have been purposeiy
| emf down in order to compel the next Congress 10
| swell tho appropriations. They declare oe'orenah"
that tho Republican Administration intends 10 90
exactlv what. as everybody knows, the Democratic
Administration did do.
That was the chief burden OF the speech delivered
by Mr.. Savers, OF Texas, today In reply TO Mr. Morro"'
| although It unfortunately happened that parity o
| account of noisy members and partly because Oh ohe
| failure or weakness OF Mr.. Saycrs's voice, IL was or
fcult to hear CT understand much that he sald. ho
Welded the floor to Mr.. Cooper, Of Indiana, who dc
,o,oa all b,s fine 10 a rehearsal OF his accusations
! acainst Commissioner Raum, with which readers OF
The Tribune are already ~tolerably familiar. strictly
s%pealtns. II was out of order, and scarcely IN good
| taste for Mr.. Cooper to cite the printed tesuno"s
taken by the Raum Investigating Committee whlch
has not yet been reported to the House, Dut MS
-, tk-.k hu In fart FRAT
he confined his citations almost wholly to the JOSH
r,orr ~ Genera, Raum himself and that Of his private
secretary. and Captain Lemon, who came into tho
controversy through his Endorsement OF Commissioner
Raum's note for 1000 on the day after the latter
| had issued an order which the former had Tor weeks
been urging him to issue, and which Is known as tho
completed files" order.
Mr.. Cooper had prepared his case WIN great care
| and his statement Of 1t was clear and forcible. Ho
criticised the Investigation committee for its refusal to
| admit testimony which he asserted would show that
| Commissioner Raum was engaged in private business
| enterprises OF a questionable character, and that he cas
insolvent when he obtained the loan through the me-
| diation and Endorsement OF Captain Lemon.
Judge Sawyer replied, defending the investigating
| committee against what he regarded as the unjust
aspersions cast upon it by Mr.. Cooper He did not
attempt to defend Commissioner Raum's pecuniary
transaction with Lemon, which has been the subject
NJ so much inst and severe criticism by men In public
life. irrespective OF party. Judge sawyer reminded
| the House that the committee has not yet concluded
lis work, and that II was unfair to attack or crfticise
IL while the investigation was In progress, lie argued
that the Jurisdiction Of the committee was limited SO
that It could not properly take cogn!zance OF the mat
tiers and testimony, the exclusion OF which was te
chief burden OF Mr.. COoper's complaint, so FAR as the
| committee was Concerned. The argument was SOUND
| as far "A It went, but of course the House would readily
| have extended the Jurisdiction IL the committee h"a
| recommended 1t. ,-
II is TO be regretted that Mr.. Cooper and Judge
| SAWYER occupied in the discussion Of a subject winch
Is vet under Investigation by a special committee 80
large a norton of the six hours allotted for general dc-
hate on the Appropriation bin, every minute OF which,
ard much more, the Democrats declared was needed
for legitimate discussion on the bill itself. They ap-
appear to think that the time is ripe for Q general anu
direct assault npon the pension legislation OF the past
and that the country will sustain them In abusing pen
sionefs and pensions to then hearts cou'0"" "e
for years they have lonsed to do
On motion of Mr.. Morrow, Of California. the House
went, into Committee Of the Whole, Mr.. Burrows' Oh
! Michigan, In the chair, on the Pension Appropriation
bill. Mr.. Morrow explained that the bill Appropriated
for the payment Of pensions the sum OF S13o,l13Voo'
II was estimated that this sum OF money wouio Do
distributed among 654, 715 pensioners. This was inc
largest number Of benenciaries ever provided FOR In
any sinple item I'm the statutes Of the United STATES
II was estimated that the gross cost to the unten
States OF those pensions for the year lo9s "ouio
average 5000 40. The Pension bill Of the current year
had been framed under the calculation presented Dy
the Commissioner Of Pensions, under which 1903, 7oo'ooo
h.a been appropriated. While that bill had been
nendinp I'm the House, the members Of the AppropriaI
tions Committee had been asked whether the Dill tooH
into consideration the probable increase M the iorce Oh
the Pension Bureau, and the response mad been tnao 'ho
measure was framed on the requirements OF te eA-
isting statutes. 1t was believed, from an Inspection
q; the appropriation OF the preceding year az" VI
,he expenditures, that the calculation OF the
Comr,issIoner was substantially correct, ana that
20 far as existing law was concerned the amount OF
concentration was sufficient. lie believed that thero
vou,d prove to be a slight excess OF appropriation.
Mr. savers. of Texas, argued that the estimates OF
thu Commissioner OF Pensions were totally uhuusV
worthy. and that the amount Of money required 70
nav the pensions would be largely in excess oi 'ho
amount appropriated by the pending bill. -.
IIe ventured to say that the Lid Congress wouio
J.. counelled 10 meet q deficiency Of not less than
sa5 ON. 600. No man, however honest, couid NIX
within sIO .OOO,O 900 the amount actually 10 DC OK
nonded under this bill. His conclusion was AFTER a
careful investigation Of the matter 'hS'' ~ ~
the Governments expenditures for pensions oeine
aanoned IN sl33. 900, 900, they would be nearer
s175,OO0 900.
Mr. Cooper. Of Indiana, referred to tho large forco
y, empIoyes in the Pension Bureau and TO the Ves'
az nenditure of money for pensions. he proposed 10
show why this force of men should De presioeu
over by a man OF high character ana why
This vast sum Of money should be disbnrseo
hr man above criticism and above re-
nroach. IL was his purpose to call the attention OIL
the country to the fact that the present Commissioned
% Pensions was not such a person. lie then reviewed
The ALLEGATIONS made against Commissioner Ralim rela'
five to the Universal Refrigerating Company and 10
the c~xpeditng of Lemons pension case as Sc, iort'
In his resolution Of inquiry OF last session. lie pro
oooded 10 quote from testimony taken by the special
ommlttec when he was interrupted by Mr.. Cannon
~ illinois. who questioned the ~propriety OF the gentle
man quoting from testimony not reported to the House
Mr.. Cooper responded that near the close OF hst
session the majority OF the committee hed prepared
.nor, INT when the minority members refused ia
s,r, a, had declined TO make the report.
Mr. Sawyer. OF New York, inquired whether the
gentleman asserted chat the majority had declined to
make any report
Mr.. Cooper replied that up to this time the majority