Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-16
) GENERAL RAUM
On th. Witness Stand Before Tho
House Committee
Investigating the Pension Office He
Makes q Good Witness.

Investigating the Pension Office He
Makes a Good Witness.
WASHINGTON, March - Gen. Green
B. Raum, commissioner OF pensions. took
the witness stand today before the House
com uitsee investigating the pension office.
Mr.. Payson, Gen. Rsum's coansel, stat |
ed that the commissioner desired to read =
sworn statement relating TO the pension
otice AFFAIRS. generally bearing on the Va
rious orders Issued before he WAS examined.
The msjority Of the committee were
against receiving the statement at present
and Mr.. Cooper began the examination.
The commissioner said he discontinued
publishing the addresses of pensioners be-
cause lof requests from the pensioners
themselves. He had DO relstives In the
pension etfice, but few days ago recon-
mended that his daughter be appointed IS
his priv ate secretary and she is now acting
as such.
Mr.. Ridgway, who had been his private
secretary, had taken = non-compe titive TX
animation, and was transferred TO the class
fled civil service. Mr.. Kidgwsy's eyes
troubled him and The witness recommended
the appointment Of his daughter IS the
present census office clerk. She had re-
msined away from the census office without
leave. The secretary was out of town so
there was no action on the witness recon-
mendAtion. II his daughter was appointed
she would draw pay, not otherwise
Cooper inquired as to BAT ms connection
with the Gypsum Mining Co. PAyson OBJ
'cted to any questions touching Gen
Rsum's private business and advised Gen
Raum not to answer. CooTer said he pro-
posed to show that Raum made use of the
bureau to promote bis private affairs in
connection with the Gypsum Mining Co,
and that he by pothecAted come shares OF
the company to secure and indemnify an
attorney practicing before the buresu.
against loss by reason Of enforcement Of
his paper. Also by reason Of the endorse
ment thus procured Rsum msde a ruling |
favorable to this attorney in the advance
neDt of his claims. |
He expected to show that Rsum took an
attorney into partnership with him in this
Gypsum Mining Co, the special examiners
In the field becoming soliciting agents OF
this attorneys oilice, and took q contract
for increase Of pension claims and other
business reported by them to the attorney
taken into partnership in the Gypsum Min
ing Co.
Psyson asked if he expected to prove
this WAS done with the knowledge OF Gen.
Raum.
Cooper said he expected to show these
facts il he did so, and he thought Gen.
Rsum would not make any explanations.
He proposed to show that a large part OF
the commissioners time, which was due the
government. WAS employed in looking after
this enterprise.
P.yson said that from information re
ceived from the parties themselves, there
was no truth in the statements made. No
witness could be produced who would say
or intimate that be ever received sspecisl
privilege in the pension Offce- There never
had been an order made wh ch gsve one at
torney any privilege over a1Other attorney.
What ever was done relative 10 Lemons
cases had been done under the general or
der applying to all cases. Assuming that
Lemon endorsed Gen. Rsum's note, and
this money went into the Gypsum Mining
Company, what concern vas that Of Con
gress: Suppose the mouey was borrowed
Of Lemon, that was nothing but a question
Of taste.
Payson said it was impossible that some
sttorneys should have more cases complete
than others.
Gen R.um declined to answer the ques
ton and SAID he would not answer any
question relaxing to his private sf ,irs.
Wheeler sad there was no power to
compel the testimony.
The witness refused tn ansver questions
as to whether Gen. W. W. Dudley was in.
tere sted in the Gypsum Mining Co.
Cooper asked if the witness solicited
Bradley Tanner, his confidential clerk, to
take stock.
Gen. Raum answered that he did not,
that Tanner never owned = penny Of the
stock.
He declined to answer Cooper's next
question, DO you mean he had no stock
OF that he never invested anything
Cooper inquired if Tanner had not trsnf-
ferred some lots to Thomas ". Buckley for
shsres in the Gypsum Company.
Gen. Rsum replied in the negative and
said that 90 far as he knew, Tanner never
had sny interest in the company. The vii
ness bad no information that Col, w. W.
Fleming, attorney, had stock in the con-
psny.
The witness, having declined to answer
number Of questions abou, his business
affairs, Cooper offered in evidence the
printed TESTIMONY Of last year on these
matters.
Payson biec' ed to the form, ~ not be-
ing original py Of the testimony and to the
substance ss relating to 4 private matter.
No DE- finite conclusion was reached by
the committee - 10 the admisibility Of the
evidence.
Cooper a.ked il the witness borrowed
money from the attorney, the consideration
Of the loan being the promotion Of one Of
his clerk.
Gen. Rsum denied that anything Of the
sort had ever occurred.
Cooper asked If the sisness had not bor
rosed money on ihe endorsement Of an at
torney named Lock .ood
Witness said he got $500 at the National
Bank on = note for three days, endorsed
by lockwood. He psid the nots and 30
cents Interest At The end Of the three days
Of grace. The making Of the loan had no
connection with the promotion Of = girl
clerk in bis office. President Thomp,on
Of the bank had before and since that tine
urged the promotion of this clerk and so
hsd the late Senator Plumb.
Ger. Raum said he could not recall the
name Of the girl and il she had been pro-
moted be Gid DO. know it.
Little asked Why she was no, promoted.
The commissioner replied because Of
matters that he had ascertain ed.
Cooper made irq1iry with refere, ce to
the conduct Of the comm ssoner in his
| (Coopei-) district at the last election.
The commissioner said that he had gone
there and etd svortd to defeat Coo per. He
informed Dunbar, Coopers Republican op-
ponen'. that he would see that requests
| from him in relation to pension claims re-
csivrd attention. He had given this privi-
| lege to other prominent citizens inl other
/ parts Of the couLtry.
| The witness stated that be did not recall
any case in which he gave Democtatic cor
| tes'ants special privileges.
| Cooper called attention to one clip signed
By his competitor, Dunbar. which had been
taken from the completed list.
| R.um admitted that the instrumentalitie'
Of ahs pc nsion offce we're sometimes used
by congressman and Others for political
I ends by securing action on pension claims
His experience vas that 1t did not have
much politicsl effect.
Cooper asked II there vas any manner
in which the letter of the pension applicant
who had 10 attorney, when addressed to
the commissioner, would get into the hands
Of his sou Jehp, and an attorney.
Raum replied that be knew Of no possi-