The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-14

The House Committee Making More Start
ling Revelations.

ling Revelations.
WASHINGTON d. c. April 13-J. T.. Engle,
formerly assistant chief OF the Special Exam
lining Division. who WAS discharged and then
reinstated as an examiner III the Pension Of-
fee. was the first witness before the special
Pension Office investigation Committee OF
the House to-day There was some discus
sion in the committee as to the admisslbility
OF the affidavit of Mr. Engle charging that
Green b. Raum after eyering his connection
with the office, made an engagement with
Engle on the street and told him
there that be would use his influence
with the commissioner to secure promotion
for EDgle if tho latter loaned HIM lRaum. Jr.. }
$50. According TO the affidavit Engle re-
fused to comply with the request. and the
promotion was not received. Inc afhdavlt
also stated that Theodore Smith was seen by
Howard and Engle receiving money IN the
Pension Office from Special Examiner StOyer
who wanted to be returned TO duty. Three
days afterwards Stover was assigned to duty
at Harrisburg. Pa.
Judge Payson objected to the admissibilIty
of the affidavit as evidence on the ground
that it had no relation TO Commissioner
Haum.
MIR. Enloe held that it was proper evidence.
for the reason that Commissioner Raum had
filed counter charges 10 the affidavit of Engle.
and after arguments 1t was admitted.
Mr. Engle made an explanation of the vari-
ous CHARGES that had been made against him.
lie took only one drink OF whisky while IN
the Office, and that was TO alleviate suffering
resulting from the stump of his arm which
had been amputated because of wound re-
ceived during the war. Witness denied most
emphatically the charge in relation to his
connection with a woman of his division.
charged by Ford on the latters affidavit
Witness also disclaimed ever furnishing in
formation ia regard to the Office 70 George b..
Fleming. a newspaper correspondent. or TO
any other correspondent
Mr.. Cooper called as a witness David L..
Git. a real estate agent. formerly chief of a
division in the Pension Office. who made an
affidavit that the slips of Maring. Slusher d
Co. bearing Mr. Coopers signature, had been
thrown into the waste basket by order Of
General Black.
fed to apply 20 Commissioner Tanner. in
1889 and General Black. Witness said that
the Office was oyerrun with congressional call
slips and General Black was opposed TO the
system and issued general order TO prevent
the abuse. which was fast growing and retsrd-
ing the work OF the office.
the Pension Office regarded the firm of
Maring. Slusher x Co. as absolutely irrepress-
ible. aud their slips came in with the names
of members of Congress. IL seemed as
though this firm dumped their entire docket
in the Office.
In answer to Chairman Wheeler. witness
said the congressional call-shp privilege was
an evil and system which appeared 10 HIM
an impossIbility 70 eradicate.
John Raum, au attorney, and a son Of the
Commissioner OF Pensions. was also called as
a witness.
Mr.. Cooper, before questioning the witness,
cited the case Of a man named Ingram. who
wrote TO the Pension Office that he had en-
ployed an attorney named Tierney to prose-
cute his claim. but after three wears the at
tornev had failed 10 secure the pension. and
now the claimant wanted 10 look after the
matter himself.
The case was then reviewed by Mr. Cooper
and Mr.. Raum. Mr. Cooper wanted 10 show
that the Pension Office had sent the claim
ant Ingram, one of its blanks. and in doing
so had stamped John Raums name on the
blank in order 70 give Raum the claim.
The paper5 in the case were then produced.
Among them was the paper reputed to be
the Pensions Office blank which had Raum's
name stamped upon it. The papers IN the
case did not show that any power OF attorney
had been given. Mr.. Raum did not remem-
Der the individual case. but said he would
look it up He further said that he bad never
zone 10 the Pension Office 10 get blanks or
STATIONERY. nor TO his knowledge had he used
any, .c..
dismissed from the Pension Office because he
had been seen in bad company and with Cor
respondent Fleming.
James Morgan, of Bloomington n. Ind, law
yer and pension attOrney said that he never
directly or indirectly paid Mr. Cooper any
money for information regarding pension
cases except the S25 sent through Mr..
Cooper in January last for Hersey for work
the latter had done. Witness testified that
when Mr.. Cooper introduced him 10
Uersev in the latter's Office in this
CITY Mr.. Cooper did say that if he witness
had ANYTHING worth paying for Hersey would
do il for him. This statement is contra
diction Of Mr. Cooper in his explanation 10
TO the committee. In this connection. how
ever. the witness said the remark was made
only as a recommendation or Hersey as a
lawyer.
In the course of the questioning an import
ant fact was brought out. The witness testl-
fed that the letter containing the -25 which
he sent 10 Mr. Cooper tor work done by
Hersey was decoy sent at the instance OF
Special Examiner Greengwalt, who took
witness deposition in Indiana. Greenawalt
sad the department wanted TO connect Mr.
Cooper with the actions of Hersey The let
ter was sent registered in order to get Mr.
Cooper's signature and clinch the matter.
Ii has been previously shown that Mr. Cooper
returned the s25 to Morgan. saying that he
could not accept the money for Hersey.
Adjourned until tomorrow.
To Extradite Cashin.