Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-21
YOUNG RAUM'S CASE
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES CHANDLER AND
BUSSEY QUARREL OVER TIE MATTER.
How the Commissionsr's Son Has Been Behaving
Hinssli-ge Was Flying High and Playing
the Racas-Tha Pension Department Not
Conducted Propsrly-RsiJrm Needed.


ond Assistant BuSSey and other friends
OF the RaumS on the other.
Il is known that when young Raum
resignation reached Mr. Chandler he
wrote across the face Of it: "TO take
effect Immediately" But Mr.. Bussey
declared that on account OF the financial
circumstances Of young Raum ana Tor
she sake OF his family, Secretary Noble
had promised that the young man
should have one months leave OF absence
with pay.
"Ifi.is . question Of financial condl-
tons" Mr.. Chandler replied, i VIII
give the Young man $50 out OF my
pocket. but as a matter of principle l
will not consent TO his remaining one
dav in the service of the government
after such treacherOus conduct
The money taken by young Raum
was received IL the Pension Office three
months ago and was receipted for by
CaDtaip LYON. the Assistant Chief OF
the Law Division, who placed the
amount i'm a sealed envelope and sent II
nv messenger TO the room OF the chief
clerk. 10 be placed ia the Office safe TO
await the returs OF Mr.. Bailey, the
chief az the Law Division, whose duty
il was 10 turn il over TO the Treasury OF
the limited States after an examination
Of all known facts.
EAUM HELD on To THE MONEY.
Upon Mr.. Baiey's return he was told
OF the money received and its dispose
dion. Mr.. Bailey sent for the money,
but il could not be found. Young Raum
had The KEYS OF the safe. From this
time on Mr.. Bailey made frequent de-
maDds on Raum both verbal and writ
ten. but was compelled At last TO go to
his father, the Commissioner.
For days. said Mr.. Bailey, Il
,yould be told that the young man had
gone 10 the races, or was absent from
the Office, until could wait no longer.
Bailey finally made the demand on the
Commissioner, telling all the circum-
stances. and the next day, which was
May &c, the money was paid over TO
him. The explanation Of the Commits
sioner and that of Assistant Secretary
Bussey read very Queerly to those
knowing the facts.
AT the meeting referred to Secretary
Chandler insisted that young Raum
should be criminally prosecuted, out
will be be-
JUGGLING WITH PENSIONS.
One set OF pension claims is being
rapidly adiudicated at the Pension Of
nee TO the exclusion OF others equally
Investigations. More than this, the claims
that are held up are "old' cases, which
have been pending for wears, while
those upon which the efforts or the
Office are especially directed are new
ones. for which Congress provided less
than o year ago.
The purpose OF this obvious. The
new" cases require but slight eXami-
nation: they carry but few months
arrears, and the average payment Is not
in excess Of $ q month. AneXpert can
odipdicate hundred such claims where
he could not adiudicate 4 dozen of the
complicated and involved class which
are known as odd" claims. BY rush
inc through the new" cases an addi-
tional class of pensioners are placed un-
der obligations 10 the Republican party,
while the draught upon the Treasury in
payment therefor is much less than it
would be were the "Old" claims, with
their heavy arrearageS, allowed.
TIE RESULT or ENTRANAGANCE.
All this is the result mainly of the
late billion dollar Congress. That Con-
gress by It's w2steful extravaganza so
nearly depleted the Treasury that if
only "old" claims were adjudicated
there would not be money enough avail
able TO paw them in addition 10 The
other current expenses of the govern
mspt. OF course the old soldier suffers,
but the Republican party, which cares
only for the veteran vote, dOeSn I mind
that 50 long as they can Shirk the re-
spOnsibility of their unwiSe legislation.
Then. too, there are the completed"
eases. These cases are practically ready
for settlement. They are many thOuS-
and i'm number, and some of them in
yolve payments Of II, 500 or >, 900 each.
But these must not be touched either.
They are too costly. They, like the uu-
examined "Oid" cases, will be held back
until next winter Then they will DE
rushed through and Democratic House
will be asked 10 vote an enormous de-
fciency 20 provide for their payment
Its . clover trick.
During the last month the enormous
volume of 3l,Jl6 pension claims were
adiudicated. Commissioner Raum ia
nm interview says that of this number
1.161 were "Old" claims and POSTS
were snew''-that is, eases provided for
by the act Of June, 1890.
A MISLEADING STATEMENT.
gave this matter some attention to-
day. and am constrained TO say that
tie Commissioners statement is Il
very misleading one. Said one of the
old examiners in the Office with whom |
smoke. THE Commissioner may be
right as 20 the number of what he is
pleased 20 call old cases that were adj
Indicated last month. but how many of
them were what is known as original
cases9 Very few, can tell you. They
were increase cases, and of course an
increase case carries with it only a
small first payment The arrearageS
simply date from the time the penSiOner
was examined for an increSe. This is
different from the old original claims
that carry with them, If filed prior to
June 30, 1850, first payments TO the en-
tire amount OF the arrearageS from the
date of the soldiers discharge.
Another examiner said that last
month he had seat TO the Board of Re-
view for admission ls4 claims. Out Of
these but four were original" cases.
The rest were new" claims under the
act OF June, 1891, together with few
increase" cases.
AN INTERESTING COMPARISON.
General Raum further said in the in
+.-vioyv referred tO.-ssThe claims al