The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-17
THE RAuM REGIME.
4 Natural Result Of the Republican Policy
Of Plumber.

a
Of Plumber.
The latest pension scandal is but the
natural outcome of the Raum regime in
the pension Office. When the father
has been running patent refrigerator
scheme ard private pension annex in
surprising that the son should endeavor
to feather his nest in his own way. The
father took the Office after Tanners
dismissal, with the distinct intention,
as has been since developed, of making
1t as profitable as possible to the Raum
family. Bad as the administration of
Tanner was-and during his short term
of office the corporal contrived to waste
an enormous sum of money-it was re-
spectacle in comparison to that of his
successor. Tanner interpreted literally
the words of the Harrison stump ora
tors, and of the candidate himself, in
1888, that there should be no line drawn
at pension expenditures, and that the
treasury surplus should be turned over
to his office. Unfortunately for him
self, he lacked the important quality OF
reticence, and while the administration
did not object to the raiding Of the
treasury, it was decidedly against hav-
ing such raids bulletined and referred
to gleefully in advance. But reckless
though Tanner might have been, he
did not attempt to force his employees
to buy stock in fraudulent refrigera-
tor concern or wildcat real estate spec.
ulation, nor did he call upon the chief
shark in Washington to indorse his
notes in consideration of special official
rulings. Had Tanner been in Office
during the term of the billion congress,
his reckless administration of the pen
sion bureau would not only have been
excused, but might have been consid-
cred as cminently in keeping with the
general tone of republican policy inau-
gurated and carried into effect by that
notorious legislative body. His extrav-
agance was only little too premature.
The revelations made in the testi-
mony before the congressional commit
tee which investigated the pension
Office were such as imperatively de-
manded a change of administration of
that Office. But the billion congress,
engaged in the work of draining the
treasury, could not consistently con-
denim republican official who was in
the same line of business. Therefore,
to be in accord with it's own policy of
plumber congress gave the branded Of
fetal liberal coat of whitewash. The
president was averse to being put to
the disagreeable necessity of bouncing
two pension commissioners in success
sion. This recent scandal about young
Raum may force the president to de-
mand the pension commissioners resig
nation, for it has stirred up very ugly
agitation against the Raum family in
quarters where Mr. Harrison considers
he is particularly strong, among the
members of the Grand Army of the
Republic Secretary Noble is resolved
to get rid of the Raums, if possible, and
it is extremely probable that he will
resign from the cabinet should he fail
to accomplish his object. When it is
borne in mind that the largest proper
ton OF the revenues of the government
60 into the hands of the Raums, and
that the administration of an office
which has been considered as repre-
senting the most sacred and patriotic
obligations of the American people to-
wards their preservers, has become the
synonym of corruption and fraud, it
would seem as if a change of admins
tration cannot be very well delayed
The dismissal of Raum at the present
time will save the president a most hui
initiating ordeal next winter when the
democratic house of representatives un-
dertakes a genuine investigation of
Raum's Office. Revelations would be
made, under the experienced direction
of Representative Cooper, of Indiana,
which would be very unfortunate for
the Harrison administration generally.
1t may be that Harrison dare not dis
miss Raum, and it will be regarded as
a certainty should he neglect to avail
himself of the present opportunity.
Young Raum was simply carrying out
the policy maintained by his father,
and his dismissal should be followed by
that of the head of the family. Under
the present administration the pension
office is rotten to the core-Albany
Argus