Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-26
What Is Ranm-s Lnfluen,a

The status Of the Raum case Is such
that every hour that the commissioner Is
retained in office adds fresh scar 81 10 the
already shameful record of the admins
tration. The question is growing louder:
What pull has Raum on the presidents"
That the president doesn't intend 10 re-
move the commissioner. or even accept
his resignation and thus let him down
easy, if he can possibly help it. is ap
parent, says the Indianapolis Sentinel.
Dudley, the man who stole Indiana, is
quoted to prove Rs1m's good character,
and in every way an effort is made TO find
justification for his further retention by
the president. What is the reason of
thisS
The scandals in the pension Office nnder
the administration of Commissioner Raum
have been almost too numerous to men
ton. but the Columbus Herald IN dis
cussing the resignation of young Raum
summarizes q few of the proven points
thus:
1OuuR hauul llNtu Win DIS ldluST- lie
was fast young msn-s sport. II VS.
shown in the investigation last winter
that he kept two fast horses and that a
messenger in the pension Office was en-
ployed to groom and tain then lac
evidence disclosed that he had an old sol>
der removed from the force Of laborers
and secured the appointment in his place
OF cclored man who was the k y ar of
q gambling house. under Indictment at the
time of his appointment for keeping al
unlicensed and disorderly house. Toe
office of an appointment clerk WAS
created by an order OF the commissioner
expressly for his son. The law prov ides
for no such office. Before lie could be ap
pointed to any Office created by law he
must take the civil service examination
1t is well known that he could not pass
this examination and, therefore, a plac.
must be made tor him. 1t is siguiticau'
fact that the Office so created should be
the office Of appointment clerk. He Is
nothing but boy. unable himself to pass
an examination; why should he pass 10.
on the qualifications Of others seeking
employment ID this great bureau7 There
are many stories s6ost among the EN-
ployes illustrative of the supercilious de-
mesnor of this bumptious youngster.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Tribune last winter called at
tention 20 the fact that he was conduct
ing collecting agency in the depart
mert and that employees were threatened
with removal unless they paid claims put
in his hands for collection; that ring of
usurious money lenders was using him to
enforce payment of their exactions,
amounting IN some instances TO 100 per
cent on the sums loaned. The commits
sioner's attention was called to this fact,
and instead of reproving or Furnishing
his son and breaking up the nefarious
practice, he removed from office the man
who gave the Tribune cores pondent the
information.
Now, we repeat, why should the Office
of appointment clerk be created and
given to this young man, unless it was
to afford him the opportunity 10 exercise
the thrift so characteristic of the famiy2
The son knew that his father hsd re
ceived $12. 600 from q pension attorney
for a single ruling; that he used his of
fee to float the worthless stock of boom
corporations. and that these things had
been condoned By republican congress
The president knows of these things
and has known of them for months.
Then why does he allow the scandal to
continue? Are Mr. Ruins coat-tail
pockets Ike those Of Dudley-so f led
with political dynamite-that the sppli-
cation of the presidential boot,toe there
under would prove disastrous to the pres
ident. In short, what influence has Rsum
on the president?