Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-04-12
STUBBORN CLERKS.
They Refuse to Tell Enloe
Their "Private Business"
A NEW DEPARTURBOF THE INQUIRY

Tn Raum Investigators Want to Know
About the Borrowing of Money by the
Commissioners SubOrdinates-An Old
Employe Who Seems to be Always
Short''-The House to be Asked TO
Use Compulsion-FIennik Worked
Gratis-A Chicago Political Story Dis
credited.
WASHINGTON, April l2-B. w. Flenni-
ken, private secretary of the late Senator
Plumb, made statement before the spe
clal committee on pension Investigations
yesterday in answer to the charge made
by >. X. Hersey, in effect that he (Hersey)
believed that Flenniken had used the con-
gressional slip to obtain the status of pen
sion claims and sold the information.
Witness stated in substance that he had
never received money directly or indirect
iy for any information relating to the
tatus of pension claims George W.
Wayson, who held the position of special
examiner, was the, next witness. He was
asked by Enloe if he had ever borrowed or
received money from examiners in the
Office who desired to secure duty in the
field
Not Telling His Private Business.
Witness said he never had the authority
to assign men to duty in the field.
When questioned about certain financial
transactions with an examiner named
Conley witness said that this was pri-
yate affair and his own business. His
official business was open to inspection,
but not his private affairs The witness
persistently refused to answer such cues
tions, but said his official actions were
never influenced by illegal money trans
actions and he declined to discuss his pri-
vate affairs. He declined TO say if he had
ever borrowed money from !. W Latour-
cite, nor would he say that he obtained
the Endorsement on notes of subordinates
in the Office while assistant chief of the
special examiners division
Another Stubborn Witness.
Chairman Wheeler then proposed that
the record of the witness be submitted to
the house, together with a resolution ask
ing the commissioner of pensions to dis
charge the witness from Office Harvey
Ellis, an examiner at the desk in the pen
sion bureau, declined to say If he had ever
endorsed notes for Wayson, considering it
his private affair and none of the commit
tees business Witness admitted having
loaned NuySOn so a long time ago Enloe
asked the witness why he refused to an
swer the question which he characterized
a private affairs and hen told about the
$50 loan, which was also n private affair.
He (EulCej saw no difference between the
two. Witness thought there was a great
difference Like Naysou. tho witness re-
fused 20 answer questions relating te other
money transactions.
Proposing. to apply the Rack.
En.oc aid Ellis case was similar to that
OF Ma-s1n, and thought IL should be
treated H. was tina, of Inc former witness.
Euioe remarked that the investigation
could not proceed while there was "a pad
lock on the months of the pension Office
employees. Judge Iaysou objected to this
remark, which he characterized as an in
ference, and said Commissioner Raum
had nothing TODD with the witnesses refus-
ing to answer, as they alone were account
able. 1t was decided to include Ellis in
the resolution to the house recommending
him for dismissal Enloe proposed that
in addition to the resolution agreed upon,
another resolution should be submitted to
the house to require Wayson and Ellis to
answer questions asked them before the
committee.
Barker Contradicts Some Testimony.
After recess Major W. II. Barker, who
j. W. Donohue testified at Saturdays
hearing had been arrested for not paying a
note, made statement TO the committee
in effect that he had never been arrested
for the protest Of a note given to one
Morse. s. NJ. Taylor, a former special ex-
aminer Of the pension bureau, said that he
was fired because his Husefulness had be-
come impaired, y that Bussey informed him
that his resignation was wanted; that
whenever the secretary had any disagree
able work to be done he always got Gen
eral Bussey to do it, and he made good
selection.
FORD SEEMS IN BAD WAY.