Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
THE CASE OF YOUNG RAUM.
The Papers In the Hands Of District Attor
ney Cole for Action.

Another interesting move in the matter
which most concerns Green b. Ranm, jr.. was
made this morning. Attorney General Miller
forwarded to District Attorney Cole the papers
in the case referred to the Attorney General by
the civil service commission, in which young
Raum is charged with having appointed a man
to a position in the pension office in return for
financial favors said to have been indirectly
bestowed.
To STAR reporter who approached him this
afternoon District Attorney was Cole politely
uncommunicstive, but that was probably due
to the fact that Mr.. Cole did not care to discuss
the matter until he had consulted with the
Attorney General Mr.. Cole left his Office hur-
riedly at 2 O'CLOCK. boarded a west-bound Met
ropolitan car and proceeded at once to the De-
partment of Justice. where he talked matters
over very freely and at some length with Mr.
Miller.
There was nothing being done as to the
Raum case at the Offices of the civil service
commission There was nothing to do. The
commission took the original action, reported
the findings in the case and rested with a sense
OF duty satisfactorily performed.
COMMISSIONER ROOSEVELT DELIGHTED.
A STAR reporter informed Commissioner
Roosevelt of the Attorney Generals action and
he said: am delighted to learn that
the Attorney General has turned the
case over to the District attorney. We felt very
sure that the testimony made out prima facie
case against the four men--Raum Straun. john
son and Smith-and that il was our clear
duty to promptly report the case not only
to the heads Of the departments in which the
men were serving, but also 10 the Attorney Gem
eral for such action as he might see fit TO taxa
The misconduct Of which these men are
alleged to be guilty is of SO serious q character
that we could do no less Offenses of the kind
indicated are sure at times TO occur, and the
only eficacious way Of dealing with them 10 by
Furnishing the offenders.
incidentally, the whole affair shows the i'm
mense benefit conferred by the civil service
law in doing away with the possibility of
the sale of Offices; il must be remem-
bered that the gross ofense alleged
was in reference to the obtaining of a place in
the unclassifed service. Such an occurrence
is not only always possible, but Is always prob
able under the spoils system. Ii 10 impossible
under ours.
Gases of personation in our examinations
sometimes, although very rarely, occur, but
they are almost sure TO be discovered
sooner or later; occasionally tho en
are sufficiently dextrous to prevent the
discovery of their work for some months. We
have been gradually perfecting the sys-
tenn of checks in this matter and haye expert
mentally introduced safeguards In one or two
branches Of the government service. As they
seem to be working well we shall soon intro
duce them into the other departments.
1.-THE prompt and vigorous action Of Secre-
tary Noble in this matter reflects the greatest
credit upon himself and the administration"
One of the safeguards to which Commissioner
Roosevelt made reference Is a blank which has
to be filed up by each sppointee when he
or she takes the oath al the department
to which assigned This blank il then for
wsrded to the commission, and the handwrit-
ing is compared with the chirography in the
examination papers Of the same individual.
AN INVESTIGATION m THE PENSION OFFICE.
Gossip in and around the pension Office has
it that Commissioner Raum is after number
Of employees with sharp stick, 80 10 speak.
The persons for whom he proposes 10 make
things uncomfortable are those who have been
in the habit Of using their position e lever,
for raising the vino" and then neglected 10
repay the Indebtedness which they un-
nghteo usly incurred.