The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-20
THE PENSION OFFICE INQUIRY.
Raum Says q Division Chief Seduced .
Female Clerk.

WASHINGTON CITY, March 19-The ex-
animation of Commissioner Raum, Of the
pension bureau, was resumed by the spe-
cial committee of the House today. He
said he had suggested the amendment to
the pension appropriation bill, which cut
off his son from taking fees as notary
while clerk in the Office. Raum de-
clared that he strictly observed the civil
service law, ana never made removal ex-
cspt for cause. Among the causes is that
OF attempting to injure the commissioner
and throw odium on the office. Raum
said he had not defended his sons course
while employed in the pension bureau,
and denied the alleged talk with the presi-
dent declaring that the charge that his
son tried to defraud the government of So
was great outrage. Witness never talked
with the encouragement or anyone else
with view to prevent criminal prosecu-
ton of his son.
Enfoe put in evidence affidavits made by
Howard and Engle, clerks in the pension
Office, whose dismissal the commissioner
recommended, making charges that Horace
C. Slower paid Theodore Smith $50 to be
transferred; that they had seen Slower
give Smith the money. 1t was charged
that Green B. Raum, jr., got the money
and solicited the money of Engle.
Parsons said this related to a matter long
after young Raum was out of the office,
but that he would not object to atfidavits
If 1t were expected to connect the COM
missioner's recommendation for the dis
missal Of Howard and Engle with it.
The commissioner, in explanation of his
recommendation for dismissal, read letter
dated September %, 1891, recommending
the dismissal of Special Examiner Taylor
because he was an unsuitable person
TO discharge the duties in connection with
pension claims, and also because he was
associated with George B. Fleming, who
had endeavored to break down the pension
Office. Raum also read letters recommends
ing the dismissal of Howard and Engle
because they had conspired to destroy the
social standing of Special Examiner
Slower. The commissioner said he had
thoroughly investigated the matter, and
had come tn the conclusion that Howard
and Engle had made false charges. In
connection with the recommendation that
Engle and Howard be dismissed, the COM
missioner submitted second letter to Sec
rotary Noble. This began with a state
ment and affidavit of Ford, chief of the
record division, charging that Engle, while
temporarily chief of division, ruined
girl in the division and publicly boosted
of her seduction. The letter then charged
that Engle was a false swearer. "a re-
rater," conspirator against the chief Of
the bureau, seducer and who carried
weapon with the suggested intention of
assassination. Howard the letter charged
with being conspirator. The letter also
alleged that George B. Fleming, dis
charged examiner, started the attack, and
was publishing false and malicious attacks
in the public press against the commits
sioner. The letter closed with statement
that there was a small number of active
and malignant intrisuers in the pension
office, and demanded that he (Raum) be
sustained as necessary to the good govern
ment or discipline of the office.
Recurring to the charge that Engle had
sedCced young girl. Enloe asked if she
were still! in the bureau.
The commissioner said he told Ford he
did not wish to learn her name; he had
heard she was conducting herself with
propriety and was still in office. When
asked If he thought the woman would be
retained in the ser~i ice, the commissioner
said he kept the service clean. It's public
notoriety that there was here and there a
woman in the public service who had gone
astray and had not been TUNED out