Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-27
A RAKING FOR RAUM.
His Democratic Investigators to
Leave Him Very Little Peace.
SECRETARY NOBLE STANDS BY HIM,
But Is Himself Subjected to Series Of
Sharp Questions.
YOUNG RAUMs CASE CALLED TO LIGHT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Secretary Noble
was examined to-day by the special House
committee appointed to investigate the
management of the Pension Office. The
Secretary said that at the outset he wished
to make statement A messenger OF the
committee had called on him, and he said
he would attend, but the messenger insisted
on reading the summons to him, notwith-
standing he (the Secretary said it was not
necessary. He took this to mean that there
was some doubt as to whether or not he
would attend, and that if he did not he
would be compelled to do so.
Mr.. Enloe said he could explain that
The messenger had been told to read the
summons to another witness.
Secretary Noble said he referred to that
for two reasons. First, the President had
intimated in his message that tree investi-
cation of any of the departments would be
welcomed, and he, of course. was in entire
harmony with that wish. Secretary Noble
said he wanted Congress to examine his de-
partment, and he and his officers would
give any information they could. In the
second place, for the benefit of his successor
he wanted to protest that the head of de-
partment was not subject to process OF the
House to come forthwith and without any
limit of time. sT come here Voluntarily"
added the Secretary, s'and without any
force of writ"
The Removal of Young Raum.
Mr.. Enloe then inquired about the re-
moval of young Green B. Raum.
The Secretary narrated the facts, now
we'll known, of how Civil Service Com
missioner Lyman called on him in May,
1891, with paper making charges against
young Raum of receiving money, either
directly or indirectly, through colored
man in the Treasury Department, for the
appointment of man named Smith, another
man, named johnson, personating Smith In
the necessary civil service examination.
The Secretary said 1t had never been his
practice to wait very long under such cir
cumstances, and he Immediately required
young Raum's resignation. He did not ex-
anime into the matter beyond the report of
the Civil Service Commission. Young Raum
was the son of the Commissioner, and he
gave him time to find something else to do
before his resignation took effect. He
treated young Raum mildly, as he thought
the circumstances required that he should
do so, because of the young mans relation
ship to the Commissioner
MI. Little, of New York, asked if it were
customary to give men whose resignation
was demanded 80 days leave.
Criticism That Was Expected.
The Secretary said there was no rule on
the subject. He had expected there would
be some criticism of his action, but the
man being young, he would rather let him
10 out under such circumstances than to
shirk the responsibility and criticism.
Mr.. Brosius, of Pennsylvania, and Mr..
Payson, asked if an opportunity had been
given young Raum to defend himself from
the charges made.
The Secretary replied 'No, because
of the character of such charge, af-
fecting the service so deeply; because the
charges were brought to me by an officer of
a Government bureau which had investi-
gated the matter, and because they made
statements so apparently truthful I de-
to rid myself of it at once. I
thought the good of the service demanded
that he should go, and 1 sent him.
The Secretary said he had done nothing
with reference to the fraud to the Civil Ser
vice Commission, for the commission looked
to him to take care of young Raum, and it
would take care of the offense against it.
Mr.. Enloe then asked the Secretary about
the filing of charges against young Raum
by Messrs. Howard and Engle, clerks in the
Pension Office, charging Raum with de-
handing money from them. He told Mr..
Bussey to call the Commissioners attention
20 this matter and request him to see to it.
The Commissioner said the charges were
circulated to injure him, and filed counter
charges with demand for the removal of
;hese men and Special Examiner Taylor,
who was suspected by the Commissioner of |
being connected with the matter.
Charges That About Balanced.
The Secretary told Mr. Enloe that he
hought the charges about balanced each |
,ther. Young Raum was out of the service,
md he refused to remove Howard and |
Engle Taylor he had asked to resign, be- |
,ause he (Mr. Noble) had previously come |
20 the conclusion that it would advance the |
interests The Commissioner |
md Mr.. TAYLOR were not getting along to- |
yether. There was a conflict of authority,
,etween them, and he thought the Commits |
ioner should be sustained rather than MI. |
Taylor.
Mr Enloe proceeded to question the Sec |
'etary as to the removal of persons without |
,ause. Mr.. Noble said all removals were |
or cause. He could not recall instances, !
,ut the records Of the Office were on file and |
would show the cause for each removal. 1t |
vas his rule that cause must be assigned for |
III removals. He did not remember that in |
SS9 he had removed large force of special |
Examiners
Mr. Payson said he would show that the
men were not removed, but merely called |
n from the field because the funds were
exhausted.
Promises of Proofs to BE Produced.
Mr. Enloe said he would show by some of |
he men themselves that they were removed.
The Secretary was next asked about the
e-ratings which occasIoned so much COM
nent early in the administration of the
Pension Office. He said that the response
ility originally rested on Commissioner
Black, and when he found Commissioner
,anner was proceeding to carry into effect
is predecessors ruling to a degree highly
q curious to the Government, he promptly
topped it. He thought it intolerable that
mployes should undertake to re-rate them
elves, and he made them feel the weight of
lis authority. These re-ratings were not
or large amounts each month, but as they
rent back long time the aggregate was
Mr.. Noble said he wished to
ay, so far as the efficiency of Commissioner
saum was concerned, that he thought he
'as running the Pension Bureau with great
ficiency.
STORIES of Farragut, by Historian