Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-23
GEN. RAUM TO MIR. PITCH.
He Tells the Congressman Something About
the Work Of the Pension ONCE.

He Tells the Congressman Something About
the Work Of the Pension ONCE.
One of the interesting letters received by Pen
sion Commissioner Raum was one from Repre-
sentative Fitch of New York. in which he said
that in reply to requests sent the pension Office
as to the status OF claims he received circular
letters from the commissioner which failed to
give. the information sought The last claoe
ia Mr. Fitchs Letter reads:
IF, therefore, you continue to send me your
printed circular in reply TO my personal letters
OF inquiry as to your failure to decide adversely
or favorably, cases from the thirteenth congress
sional district in which there has been unusual
delay, shall send to each claimant, with your
circular. printed copy of this letter and a copy
Of the evidence lately taken concerning your
administration Of the high Office of trust which
Ia temporarily in your hands.
In his reply Gen. Raum states that these let
tiers have beeA known as the congressional
cali for the status of claims. Such appIica-
tiOns became so numerous that it was impossi-
bic to furnish the information sought without
seriously interfering with the other work OF the
Office.
The Secretary of the Interior issued an order
that the status of such cases should not be fur
nished upon the call slips of members of Con-
gress- The circular was used as a modification
of the order at the request of the commissioner.
There are now pending. he says. over SOC, 900
claims, and II is impossible to take them all up
at once. Gen. Raum tells Mr.. Fitch that all
the claims pending in the Office from the thir-
teenth congressional district of New Yo.k (Mr.
Fitch's1 will be passed upon In the order OF the
date Of their completion and in no other way.
The commissioner continues:
NOT INFLUENCED BY THREATS.
l beg to assure you that your threat to send
your constituents a copy of the evidence lately
taken before the committee organized to inves-
tigate this bureau will have no influence what
ever upon the action of the Office in single
claim | am not TO be moved from what con-
eeive to be my proper duty in the administra-
ton of the pension Office by your threats. and
in this connection / desire to say that l am
someT hat surprised that man occupying the
position OF II representative OF the people In
Congress should undertake to force an execu-
tive officer of the government from q proper
performance of his official duty under the rules
OF his bureau by threat of this description. l
wish to bring prominently to your attention the
fact that You are demanding that the cases
concerning which Won write shall be taken up
ont of their order and acted upon to the preiu-
dice of claims which are entitled to precedence
because of priority Of completion. Do you
think that this is quite fair? Do yon think YOU
can Justify this course with fair minded claim
ants? You wish the cases taken up with hop.
skip and jump through the files without ref
II
pletion of cases. beg to say that this cannot
be done.
In regard to the investigation of this Office by
the committee in question state for your in
formation that | challenged them TO bring for
ward case in which Partially. favoritism or
prejudice had caused il to be either advanced
delayed in its course through this office and
although the committee was in constant COM
munication with lot of discharged clerks and
employees Of the Office. all of whom were sup
posed TO be thoroughly Informed in regard to
the business of this bureau. and anxious to in
jure me and bring the Office into disrepute. and
although in addition TO this assistance they had
n former ensploye of the Office appointed under
a resolution of the Horse as an examiner to
aid them in their work. and although he ex-
anlined hundreds and hundreds of cases. not
single case was brought forward or could be
brought forward in which there was any evi-
dence or even suspicion of favoritism or
prejudice. Any impartial man reading the tes-
timonT taken before this committee cannot
avoid the conclusion that the pension Office is
now one of the best organized bureaus of the
government. and that its administration is not
only e.icient and impartial. but economical.
Eave served my country in war and in peace
during period of fifteen years. and can face
the world upon the Questions Of patriotism,
honor AID honesty of al my Official acts.