New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-08
The PENSION OFFICE INVESTIGATION.
ABUSES IN THE USE OF CONGRESSIONAL CALL
SLIPS SNOWY BY TIE COMMISSION VIZ.

ABUSES IN THE USE OF CONGRESSIONAL CALL
SLIPS SnowN BY THE COMMISSIONER.
Washington. April 1.-THE first question asked Com
missioner Raum today By Mr.. Enloe in The Pension
ONCE invest CATION related matters cor rccted with
the Endorsement Of note Of Mr.. Raum by George f.
Lemon The Commissioner refused 10 answer The
question and Mr. Enloe then. over the objection Of
Mr. payson put in evidence part OF the testimony q
last wear on this subject Mr.. Enloe asked II tine CON
pleted files order had not resulted ia the adjudication
Of 10000 Of Mr. Lemons cases. and in that way put
$3.50 900 OF fees in Mr. Lemons pockets within eight
months Mr. Enloe also asked If Mr.. Lemon had not
left Washington for Europe Immediately after this
Investigation was ordered
Mr.. Raum said he had no personal knowledge OF
whom Mr.. Lemon went abroad.
To- Mr. Enioe the witness said that the Pension
Office refused TO permit attorneys and claimants to
examine pension papers TO ascertain what evidence
WAS needed to make good their claims As courtesy
TO members of the House and Senate, under a long
standing practice Of the ONCE, the private secretaries
OF senators and Representatives had that privilege
Mr.. Enloc then asked 4" Do you Know about any
clerk of a member Of Congress or an attorney getting
such information and furnishing 1t to pension at
,orneys throughout the country and receiving pay
for IT."
The Commissioner said that he knew OF such case
and the man was Samuel II. Jersey private secrc-
tary to Representative Cooper, OF lnuiana' one OF
the prosecutors In the case. HerSey hau' 'h'V"Sh
Racnn & Co.. OF Kenton, Ohio. and ii. L. Pcet, Oh
Columbus Ind. carried on quite n business OF this
sort charging So to each claimant for status" II
was then shown that crscy had called up these cases
on slips signed by Representative cooper
Of Indiana.
The Commissioner commenting upon this state OF
affairs wrote to the Secretary OF the Interior: FROM
all this evidence IT is perfectly clear that the privileges
extended 10 members OF Congress under the rules o
the Pension Office hive been grossly violated ana as
Hersey, attorney practising before this bureau mas
been a party to this business and has Improperly
secured information and charged fee for the same
think he is not a proper person TO be permll'eu
to practise before this Office
Before closing, the letter called attention to an
other matter namely, a letter received some mohu's
ago from Henry Holt. OF indianapolis, stating that
Marring Slusher Co.. early in 1889, had had printed
about 10000 Congressional slips made In imitation OF
Pension Office Congressional call slips, on when was
a fac simile of the signature of Mr. Cooper printed
with his consent and approval. The letter also said
that I'm 1889 these calls from Marring q slusher
on Mr. Cooper's slips became so numerous that Gen
era Black directed that they BE- thrown in the waste
Basket. Under Commissioner Tanner about 5000 OF
them were received, and Mr.. Tanner directed that
they be destroyed. and that Marring susher be
directed 10 cease using the slips.
Mr. PaysOn said the papers showed an abuse OF the
Of Congress prohibit members OF Congress from using
Congressional slips In the way they did ,..
Chairman Wheeler. after the hearing sad ne thohght
the Investigation would have one good effect In dong
away with Congressional Interference with the Pen
sion Offce work. He thought Congress was reSpon-
,ble during the session for expense OF about SlOOo
a day In running the Pension ONCE.