Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-19
UNFOLDING GEN. taUM.
Report ofth~ Minority ~ the PensIo. Once
InNesfIcnfinc CnInrriIfsr.

Representative Lind Of Minnesota as sub
mitted 10 the Honse the views Il the minority
OF the special pension office inaestigatin com
mittee, which had in charge be iuvc.igation
Of the pension bureau under ;he Management
of Commissioner Raum. IN. report sag that
the structures II the majority SO far a. tey at
feet the commissioner bern, confined solely
between him and discharged employo aud
the alleged transactions between him anc Col
Lemon and the case Of Coun. de Armand ju,ifios
the minority in calling attsi ton OF the lbu-e
TO the onerous duties resting upon the eOuA,is-
saoner Of pensions a: all times and the peceiar
embarrassment that faced the commissiaer
when he entered upon the discharge Of his a.
ties.
After referring 10 the multitude Of person.
he had 10 deal With in his fihce and the graN
responsibility imposed upon the commissioned
In the administration VI an Office invoking in
lite adjustment the largest number Of auN in the
word. the report says u L. hut an exhibition II
human nature in general and no rejection upon
the force 20 say that il takes a. much pride in
their work ard the correctness of their de-
cisions as our judges presiding over courts OF
record.
The report thinks that il is hut natural that
differences OF opinion and controversies should
exist IN the pension osfsce. but 20 long - the
controversies are confined 10 their legitimate
channel they are, IL saws. but natural aud prob
ably have a tendency 20 produce uniformity of
decision and practice but when carried into
the columns of the press and perverted into
| personal and political accusations they are not
only subversivs OF discipline I'm Office but have
| direct tendency 10 create distrust and want Of
confidence in the administration Of the public
| business. The report Acknowledges that az the
time ten. Raum took charge of the osice his
discipline was not the beet. but under his di-
rectlon 1t has been brought up To a standard Of
| efficiency. The report finds nothing for which
! the commissioner can be- criticised unless IL be
that he appointed his son appointment clerk o
the bureau. II agrees With the ma iorlty's repor.
that Count de Armand was entitled 10 a pension
under the act OF March, 1852. but thinss that
/ lnasmuch ~ the pension refused both bv
Commissioner Black and by Gen. Bus-ey on
| review of Commissioner Raums decision IL IL
not fair To iinpute prejudice to the commits
sioner IN that connection. IL also agrees with
| the majority in their suggestion in regard TO
the exercise by members 81 Congress Of the
so-called congressional privileges"
The report asserts that the majority Of the
committee seemed determined 20 fasten crime
and corruption upon the commissioner. but
having utterly failed 10 do 30 be evidence they
a last resort sought % do il by inference. The
report. after paying tribute 10 the efficiency Of
the management and business methods and re-
forms perfected in the pension office under
Commissioner aaum. states that while the mi
nority concur IN some of the recommendations
of the majority. Others they might have con-
sente6 20 in modified form IL the minority
had had opportunity for COMPARISON q
views with the majority before the report found
Its way into the public press.
Fhe report Of the minority recommends in
lieu of the resolution adopted by the majority a
substitute to the effect that the record in this
case as reported by the committee shows an
efficient and economical administration of the
business OF the pension Office by the present
commissioner and asks that the committee lie
Gl-chsrSei from further investigation Of III
subject under the existing resolution.