Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
TFrom our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nav IS, 1891


Mr.. Harrison found a nasty mes!
waiting for him in that nest of crook
edness, the Pension bureau, when he
returned from his royal excursion
Much against his own inclination he
had kept Commissioner Raum in office
in the face of the crookedness in his
business methods, so effectually shown
up by Representative Cooper, of Indi-
ana, and he had a right to expect that
no further creokedness would be in
dulged 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 origi-
nal appointments below the classified
service, but promotions under the Civil
Service examinations. A more dis
graceful situation has not confronted a
President since Gen. Grant kicked Bel
KNAPP out of the War Department on ac-
count of his wife's engaging in selling
Indian post traderships.
And the most remarkable part of the
whole business is the leniency with
which Raum junior has been treated.
Three other government employees i'm
plicated in the swindle were at once
dismissed, but this precious jewel of a
Republican administration, was allowed
to resign and that wasn't all, the resig-
nation was accepted to take effect. thir-
ty days from date and he was given
leave of absence until that time, which
was neat way of presenting him with
n,1fh he oInr id or tod hot
Secretary Noble is responsible for the
leniency extended to this criminal, al
though he was out of town when the
resignation was accepted. What puz-
zles honest people is why all of the par
ties concerned in this steal have not
been arrested and brought before a
criminal court to answer for their mis-
deeds.
Mr.. Harrison, when he thinks about
this young mans peculiar transactions,
as we'll as those of his father, probably
wishes he had never seen the Raum's
and that he had not been so precipitate
in kicking "Corporaln Tanner out-no
one ever accused Tanner of being dis
honest. The Raums have certainly
tried to make hay while the official sun
shines. The old gentleman as soon as
he became Commissioner began to look
out for the rest of the family. Green
B. Jr., was made assistant chief clerk,
two daughters were given clerkships,
and John, another son, who does busi-
ness as pension attorney, was given a
chance to copy the names ofall pension
applicants who had not employed at
torneys, which chance has probably
been worth big money to him, as he
proceeded to get out circular setting
forth his facilities for putting claims
through in a hurry mentioning Incl
dentally his relationship to the Com
missioner. The Raum's will be a heavy
load for Mr.. Harrison to carry next
year, and it will not.be strange if he
should toss them all overheard.
A determined attempt was made to
get up an organized reception to well
come Mr.. Harrison back to Washing
ton from his long free trip, but it was
a dismal failure. Nobody would have
anything to do with it except half
dozen of the Republican State Associa-
tioHs, all of which are office holders,
would take hold of it, so it had to be
abandoned, and then the statement was
unblushingly made that Mr.. Harrison
did not wish to be met by a crowd. l
do not wish to imply by the above that
Mr.. Harrison is disliked here, because
he isn't. The people are simply in
different towards him, and l believe
that feeling is more marked among
members of his own party than with
Democrats.
the impression among those familiar
with the inside working of the admin
istration is that Mr.. Blaine is engaged
in playing possum" on Mr.. Harrison
just at this time for reasons of his own.
Mr.. Blaine may have been ill, but
these people refuse to believe 1t, and
they stated when Mr.. Blaine left here
that he would. not return until after