The National tribune., 1892-05-05
PENSION BUREAU INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Enioe Calls Gen. Raum Liar, an,
Attempts to Assault Him.

PENSION BUREAU INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Enioe Calls Gen. Raum a Liar, and
Attempts to Assault Him.
disgraceful scene took place in the room of
the Special Committee of the House which is
investigating the Pension Bureau, on Tuesday,
April 26. Gen. Raum was on the witness stand
and had answered quite n number of questions
when Dir. EnlOe, one of the prosecutors asked
him about a money transaction, trying to bring
ont the fact that Gen. Raum had forwarded
SIS to Special Examiner Greenwalt which
money was intended to be used in entrapping
pension attorney by the name of Foote; or, at
least, the Commissioner had caused the money
to be sent for that purpose Gen. Raum denied
having sent the money, authorizing anyone TO
send it. or having the slightest knowledge of
the transaction.
did yon not" asked Mr.. Enioe, "after the
committee had adjourned the last time you
were before IT, acknowledge to me that you
sent this money!"
II did not"
Mr.. Enloe persisted in this question In vari-
ous forms half dozen times. and was evil
IDENTIFY provoked at tho persistency OF the de-
NAL Of the Commissioner. Finally Judge Pay
son asked DIR. Enloe if he did not have sufi-
Gent number of denials to his question
Do you want another?" asked Gen. Raum,
as Judge Payson concluded.
We'll, / say you did say it," replied Mr.. En-
loe excitedly,
"And 1 say did not" retorted Gen. Raum,
with emphasis.
Then Mr. Enloe, pale with rage jumped to
bis feet and shaking his fist at Gen. Raum,
shouted: Then | say you're liar; after
ward exclaiming, You know you lie."
" / want you to understand" said Gen. Raum,
" that the man don't live whom | fear"
This sally caused Mr.. Enloe's wrath to rise
30 holt 4 L
to the table in front of him and grabbed a large
glass sponge-cup, and drew back as if to strike
or throw it at Gen. Ranm. The gentleman from
Tennessee was 50 beside himself with rage that
he hardly knew what he was doing. But what
ever his intentions may have been he was not
permitted to carry them out.
No sooner had he grasped the missile than
Judge Wheeler, Chairman of the Committee;
Dir. Little, a member Mr.. Cooper, a fellow
prosecutor, and Mr.. O Brien Moore all grabbed
Mr. Enloe, and one of them took the spOnge-cup
from him, while the others held him in check
Mr. Enloe thought he wanted to fight. lie
tried to make everybody believe that he had an
Overpowering desire to get at tho Commissioner
who was standing in front of him. with only
the tall form of Judge Wheeler between. The
mild efforts of the peace makers were success
ful, and Mr. Enloe was brought to a realization
OF the scene he had been the cause of precipi-
tating and sat down.
In the meantime Gen. Raum. after gathering
up the papers he had brought with him. left the
committee room and returned to his office
The report Of this personal encounter spread
with unusual rapidity. 1t was the only lively
piece of news the Capitol had furnished, and
the correspondents were soon or the ground,
ready to describe the dead and injured, and
send out afternoon specials on the sanguinary
conflict that had just taken place.
After quiet had been restored Mr. Enloe be-
gan to explain himself and excuse his sudden
outburst OF temper.
Ever since this investigation has been going
on" said lie, 81 have been as respectful to
witnesses as the circumstances required me to
be- There is great deal in the manner Of the
witness that should be taken into considerations
and particularly that of Gen. Raum. If the
President OF the United States were on the stand
| would be entitled to that same respect and
would expect to be treated that way Gen.
Raum's manner was very offensive to me-"
"How?" asked Judge Payson.
"Why, when / asked him questions" replied
Mr. Enloe, 4" he glared at me-"
Then Chairman Wheeler took hold of affairs |
"Ger. Raum came here" said be, 81 in response |
to q summons from this Committee TO testify |
and he must be treated like any other witness. |
Whether his testimony be true or false does not |
matter After his statements have been made |
any other man who cares 10 may have the |
opportunity to take the stand and deny or dis |
prove them. We cannot turn this committee |
into anything but what IL was intended TO be, |
court for the purpose of making certain in
vestigations."
1t was then decided that none Of the pro-
ceedings that had just taken place should be
incorporated into the record, and Mr.. Brosius
remarked that the usefulness of the committee
for that day, at least had departed, and sug-
gested an adjournment.
Judge PaysOn observed that inasmuch as 1t
did not seem possible for the Commissioner to
be guaranteed personal safety. it would be ad-
visabe TO take his testimony in the Shape of a
written statement.
Before this happened, Capt Fisher, Chief
Clerk of the Pension Bureau. said that since
his former testimony he had gone over the
record carefully, and said that this showed that
the mail had been signed by an Acting Com
missioner only lS5 days, from Oct 10, 1889. to
March %, 1892, instead of 229 days, as he had
stated when on the stand before and that the
figures put in evidence heretofore were erro-
neous, and should only be 1S5 days Sundays not
included.
clerk named Jennings testified that he was
appointed to position in the Bureau under
Civil Service rules; had served nine years as
clerk, and against his protest had been trans
ferred temporary Special Examiner, and
dismissed after serving out his year at that kind
of work, on the ground that 10 was Special
Examiner and his term of office had expired
by limitation. He had been reappointed, but
was not placed on the permanent roll although
When Baby was sick. VIC gave her Casoria.
When she was a Child. she cried Tor Castoria