Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-05-23
WASHINGTON.

waiting for him in that nest of
crookedness, the Pension bureau,
when he returned from his royal eX-
cursion. Much against his own in
clination he had kept Commissioner
Raum in Office in the face Of the
crookedness in his business methods,
so effectually shown up by Represen-
tative Cooper, Of Indiana, and he
had right to expect that no further
crookedness would be INDUCED in.
Therefore he must have been terribly
shocked when informed that Green
B. Raum, Jr., assistant chief clerk
of the Pension bureau, and son of
Commissioner Raum, was the head
of an office-brokerage concern which
had been selling not only original
appointments below classified ser,
vice, but promotions under the Civil
Service examinations. A moredis-
graceful situation has not con-
fronted President since Gen. Grant
kicked Belknap out Of the War De-
partment on account of his wife's en-
gaging in selling Indian post trader
ships.
And the most remarkable part of
the whole business is the leniency
with which Raum Junior has been
treated. Three other government
employees implicated in the swindle
were at once dismissed, but this
precious jewel of a republican adj
ministration was allowed to resign,
and that wasn't all, the resignation
was accepted to take effect thirty
days from date and he was given
leave of absence until that time,
which was neat way of presenting
him with a months salary. 1t is
stated here that Secretary Noble is
responsible for the leniency extend
ed to this criminal, although he was
out of town when it was a c.
copied. What puzzles honest people
is why all of the parties concerned in
this steal have not been arrested and
brought before a criminal court to
answer for their misdeeds.
Mr.. Harrison, when he thinks
about this young mans peculiar
transactions, as well as those of his
father, probably wishes he had never
seen the Raums, and that he had
not been so precipitate in kicking
Corporal" Tanner out-no one ever
accused Tanner of being dishonest
The Raums have certainly tried t.
make hay while the official sur
shines. The old gentleman as soor
as he became Comm issioner began t
look out for the rest of the family
Green B. Jr., was made assistant
chief clerk, two daughters were Civ
en- clerkships, and John, another son
who does business as a pension attor.
ney, was given a chance to copy The
names of all pension applicants whC
had not employed attorneys, which
mas probably been worth big money
to him, as he proceeded to get out {
circular setting forth his facilities fol
putting claims through in a hurry
and mentioning incidentally his rela'
tionship to the Commissioner. Thu
Raums will be a heavy load for hin
to carry next year, and it will not b.
strange if he should toss them all
overheard.
A determined attempt was mad
to get up an organized reception t
welcome Mr.. Harrison back to Wash
ington from his long free trip, but i
was a dismal failure. Nobody woulC
have anything to do with it except {
half dozen Of his personal friends
not even the members of the repub
lican state associations, all of whicl
are office-holders, would take holC
of it, so it had to be abandoned, ant
then the statement was unblushingl.
made that Mr.. Harrison did not wis
to be met by crowd. do not wis
to imply by the above that Mr., Har
rison is disliked here, because h
isn't, The people are simply indii
ferent towards him, and / believ
that feeling is more marked anon
members of his own party than wit
democrats.
The impression among those famil
lar with the inside workings of tn
administrator is that Mr. Blaine
engaged in "playing postum" on Nj
Harrison just at this time for reason
of his own. Mr.. Blaine may hav
| been ill, but these people refuse t
believe it, and they stated when NJ
, Rloipo loft boru fbot bo Nr,Ould N,