The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-21
49, oF 80 coRRIpoRs.

Secretary Noble has demanded and received
the resignation ~ Green b. Raum, jr. The
newspapers uulricudly to the pension system
siiloge that his WAS due 10 grossest irregular
itios and coIIupjion-that he had been receiy-
ing money for making appointments, and had
been using iuf his own purposes public funds
which had come into his hands In the course OF
his dsties. SO iar as this last charge was con-
cerned, it hgs hccn investigated and found TO
De merely tnit some time ago pensoner IN
Nebraska ~ no believed that he was receiving
more pension shan he should, returned So
There was some doubt as TO the exact red-iape
manner Of disposiug of this and in the course
al the crcumlacuiion itCame into the Assistant
Chief Clerks hands. to be held by him until
fhe final settlement of the matter. His clerk
being abscni with the combination Of the SAFE
lc took ID a. IS house with him. and upon the
decision OF lhc matter turned il over TO the
proper clorl, lor covering into the conscience
fund OF th, Treasury. As to the other matter
Assistant Secretary Bussey said TO me;
ana convinced that young Raum was not
guilty Of taking money for appointments.
don't believe iHat he would do such thing.
We investigated the whole matter very care
fully. and got al The bottom facts. These are,
Im sure that the maH Smith, Of South Caro-
lima, advertised in the papers for position la
the Government service offering TO pay 5000
for it, The advertisement came 10 the notice
Of a C0lorpd man, named S,raun, who is an
employe of The Treasury Straun who rs a
shrowd, thrifty fellow, owning considerable
property WAS formerly "A servant Of Gen.
Raums, AMI bis relations with the family are
quite intimate. Young Raum, who is quite
spendthrit has undoubtedly been receiving
accommod aiiuns from Straun, and consequently
folt under aiigations 10 him. Straun saw
WAY 10 got smiths $500 lie went TO young
Raum. and asked as personal favor that Smith
be appointed "a la6orcr which Raum consented
To do Then Raum asked stmun to get his note
Tor $50 90 discounted which Strsun did, prob
ably using p.rt Of the money paid by Smith.
When the n4tc became due, young Raum
was. as usu.l. hard-up, and could not pay it; it
was renewed, bui again lac could not meet il,
aud the matter came out Slraun swore that
young Laum ilueW nothing OF the matter be-
tween Smith aud him, and received none OF
the money, aud that the only financial trausac-
ton between lbem WAS this loan upon note.
believe This 10 be true, and that young Raum
was induced 20 make the appointment solely
by bis Friendship for Straun. But we decided
that this WAS enough TO make il for the in
teresis % the service that he hand in his resg
nation, which we demanded and received"
Nonng Baum protested his innocence, and
did not want 10 resign under cloud, but his
father joined la the requirement and he stepped
down aud out. Ho was a capable, efficient As
sistaut CIliei Clerk, and is generally liked.
a. d ~ hat Ia
has done not ing worse than the wildness not
inirequent n bis age and has been extraya-
CANT whirh has kept him in straitened cir
cumstancas, aud that he was the victim Of
strauns cup.dity aud sharpness.
s#a
81 don't beicyo the boy has a dishonest hair
IN bis heal said Theo. smith, a Democrat
and an eE-g.ief Of a Division ia the Bureau.
lie has been wild, aud living too fast, but
tharsul This sharp darzey has played a smart
game Tor iBat South CaroIiniau's $3.50, using
his intimacy with the Raum family and some
little iayora he has done Green r., Dr., as bis
cards. ! lou's believe the boy got cent Of
the money. amy money, not honest. I've
known @. somc instances where there has been
a hint 81 money influences to the boy, aud have
seen BAN gci rcd with anger at the insult"
Commissioner Raum was interviewed by a
reporter ia Chicago and said:
am reIy sorry for my son, and am deeply
bumiisted. aui be ID innocent Of wrong doing.
The So was satisfactorily accounted for, and
Tie coured man, who has an excellent rcputa-
tion, dcu,e having received any money from
this maH Smith. And ID Is not shown that my
son received amy money"
"Thpu nry did Doe resign2"
"IH abe DID, aIimcut arc about Q, 900 employees.
Many Cum..es exist Complaints unjust.
have been made about him 10 the Secretary.
and t8 prevent further annoyance 10 that
official Hy aH resigned. IIo could not afford
10 reuaiH HIIi, amy suspicion rested upon him.
A. % my thoughts upon my own future I don't
care 10 e. ] shall leave Tor Washington this
afternoon. what do viii depend upon what
learn hcrc"
-
Commissioner Kaum returned to Washington
last houaHv mud said % the reporters:
wish lHe public 10 understand that there
D. c0tcfu ul men ID Washington few oil
whom alr n Toe Pension Office who have
formed caH- Ifacy 10 brcal, down my charac.
Ger a public officer and as private citizen
and % bring Ilo Pension Oaice into public dis
Ftpule. ] HW not tO be driven from the Pen
sion Office uy these men. j have devoted my
best thought and energy 10 Us organ izati
AND Use IuarlU ls 90 Tie present time one Of
THE mos efficient working organizations Of the
Government
While there are q few persons who should
Dc IcmDiga lJr di-l1yalty and iuthicirnry, the
great bong Gi tire Office b. composed Of iutglli-
gent lUaHstIlou5 men aud women. who are
performing tfaiI duties with idul ly aud zeal,
and HIl.ugl parts iity 81 favoritis m 10 anyone.
Ne are EnH at-p0sIHE ui more than 10000 cases
month. aHd lEylct 10 see this number con-
tlaeHa.E Increased. ~ wish Is 10 see the
pensions 81 lch gro Justly due 10 old soldiers
granted lg iaCu while they are living aud d
have tHs benefits Ol them. and believe that
the Old SOLDIERS uf t4c country viii appreciate
TIE labor "al,a is nov beiug performed IN
their Ili,l.st iB fLc Office"
"1H0H Al Comm -sioncr, you do not cor.
template rg.IEUing at this timer" asked thC
reporter
do NOT" Aud the Commissioner again
remarked i.at bis relations with Secretary
Noble WrIu entirely pleasant aud that there
was 40 laauei between the Secretary anl
himself
-
Gen. Raum felt that it was incumbent on
him "a ask Ion @ commission % make . thorough
investigation 81 the administration Of thi
Pension Ilroau, aud be called upon Actin,