The Indianapolis journal., 1892-02-27
PENSION OFFICE METHODS

Secretary Noble Tells About Young Raum's
Dismissal and Tanners Reratings.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-Secretary Noble
was examined. to-day, BY the special House
committee appointed to investigate the
management of the Pension Office. The
Secretary said that at the outset he wished
to make q statement A messenger from
the committee had called on him. and be
said that he would attend. but the messeu-
ger had insisted on reading the summons to
him notwithstanding he 1.-THE Secretary
had said it was not necessary. He took this
to mean that there was some doubt as to
whether he would attend. and that if he
did not he would be compelled to do so.
Mr.. Enloe said he could explain that.
The messenger had been told to read the
summons to another witness. and he prob
ably took it for granted that that course
was necessary with everyone.
Secretary Noble said he referred to the
matter for two reasons. First, the Presi-
dent had intimated in his MESSAGE that q
free investigation of any of the depart
ments would be welcomed. and he. of
course. was In entire harmony with that
wish. Secretary Noble said he wanted
Congress to examine his department., and
he and his officers would give any iDforma-
tion they could. In the second place. LOT
the benefit of his successor. he wanted to
protest that the head of IN executive de-
partment was not subject to process of the
House to come forth with and without
limit of time. Il come here voluntarily"
added the Secretary. land without any
force of writ"
Mr.. Enloe then inquired about the re-
moval of young Green B. Raum. The Sec
retary narrated the facts. now we'll known,
~f h<.xnr rxrto
called on him In May. 1891. with paper,
making charges against young Raum of re-
ceiying money either directly or Indirectly,
through a col0red man in the Treasury De-
partment. for the appointment of man
named Smith. another man named John
son DersOnating Smith In the civil-service
examination.
The Secretary said it had never been his
practice to wait very long under such cir
cumstances. and he immediately required
young Raums resignation. He did not eX-
anime into the matter beyond the report of
the civil-service commission. Young Raum
was the son of the Commissioner. and he
gave him time to find something else TO do
before his resignation should take effect.
He treated young Raum mildly. as he
thought the circumstances required that he
should do 80, because of the young mans
relationship to the Commissioner.
Mr.. Little. of New York. asked If it were
customary TO give men whose resi- alton
was demanded thirty days leave.
The Secretary said there vas no rule on
the subject. He had expected there would
be some criticism of his action, but the
man being yonng. he would rather let him
go ont under such circumstances than to
shirk the responsibility and criticism.
NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
Mr.. Brossius. of Pennsylvania, and Mr..
Bryson asked if an oppo rtunity had been
given young Raum TO defend himself from
the charges made. The Secretary replied:
mo; because thought the charge of such
a character. affecting the service so deep
ly; because the charges were brought TO
me by al officer of government bureau
who bad Investigated the matter. and be-
cause be made statements so apparently
truthful. / determined to rid myself OF
young Raum at once. / thought the good
of the service demanded that he should go.
and sent him." The Secretary said he
had nothing TO say with reference to the
fraud on the Civil-servIce Commission, Tor
the commission looked &c him TO take care
Of young Raum, and it would take care Of
the Otfense against it
Mr. Enloe then asked the Secretary
about the filing OF charges against young
Raum by Messrs. Howard and Engle. clerks
in the Pension Office. charging Raum with
demanding money from them.
Mr. Noble said he told Mr.. Bussey to call
the Commissioners attention To this mat
ter. and reGnest him TO see 10 it. The Com
iuissiohof sdiu tho cuaIgrs WeTe ciIcuihtcV
TO injure him. and filed counter-c charges,
with demand for the removal of these
men and Special Examiner Taylor, who
was suspected by the Commissioner of
connection with the matter. The secre-
tary told Mr.. Enloe that he thought the
charges about balanced each other. Young
Raum was ont OF the service, and he re-
fused TO remove Howard and EngIe Tay-
lor had been asked TO resign because he
Mr.. Nobel had previously come TO the
conclusion that it would advance the gov
ernmenps interests. The Comm ssion er and
Mr. Taylor were not getting along to-
gether. There was n conflict of authority
between them. and he thought the Com
missioner shonld be sustained rather than
Mr.. Taylor.
Dir. Eploe proceeded to question the Sec
Tetary as to the removal of persons without
cause.
Mr.. Noble said all removals were for
cauxA he could not recall instancos but