Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-04
THE REFORM IN PENSIONS.
Republicans Trying to Shift
the Responsibility.
A RESULT OF RAUM'S POLICY
His ReckIessness Had to be
Reversed.
The Opinion of Representative Cooper of
extravaganza and Disregard
of Existing Laws Led to the Decisions
What MIR. Raum Did.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The dissatis-
faction Republicans have expressed
recently with reference to the pension
policy Of the administration seems to
have its origin in an effort to shift re-
sponsibility for q bad state of affairs
from their own shoulders.
In spite Of all that was said on the
Republican side during the debate in
the House of Representatives on the
Urgent Deficiency bill in abuse of Sec
rotary Smith and Commissioner of
Pensions Lochren, the Republicans
knew full we'll the action of both these
gentlemen was forced upon them by
unwarranted pension allowances of ex-
Commissioner Raum. They also knew
that Mr.. Raum's authority had been
limited and his rulings set aside by
Republican assistant secretary of the
interior for exactly the same reasons
that influenced Secretary Smith in
adopting a similar course.
Representative Cooper lind. has made
an investigation of the pension question
and is thoroughly convinced that the
Democrats have nothing to fear on &C.
(. count of it. The people of the country,
if they are willing to approve fair and
Just .administratio at all, he says, must
approve the stand taken by the Interior
Department with regard to illegal pen
: sions.
"The difficulty" he continued, "arose
with Mr.. Raum's extravagant allow
ances. Under the law of 1890, which
merely provided a maximum rate for
total disability. Mr.. Raum ruled that a
combination of injuries entitled the
claimant to the highest rate obtainable,
whether such injuries resulted in dis
ability or not"
REVERSAL OF MIR. RAUM'S POLICY.
Prior to the elections of 1892 there
was no effort, Representative Cooper
says, on the part Of the Interior Depart
ment to check the reckless course which
Mr.. Raum was pursuing, but as soon as
it was found that, in spite of the whole.
sale distribution of public funds to in
dividuals not entitled to them, the peo
pie had rendered verdict against the
Republican party the administration
considered 1t time TO call halt.
Whether prompted by sense of de
cency or merely by a desire TO screer
the administration from public censure
Assistant Secretary Bussey began til,
reversal of Mr.. Raum's pension policy
The decision he rendered in effect de
clared, Representative Cooper says, tina
Mr.. Raum had exceeded the authorit,
given him by law, had granted pension
in excess of amounts to which pen
sioners were entitled, and in instance
had issued pensions to persons no
entitled TO them at all.
FOUR THOUSAND PENSIONERS DROPPED
Acting upon this decision, during tn
months of January and February, 1885,
Immediately before the Democrats as
sumed control, four thousand pensioneI
were dropped from the pension roll
bureau, and other cases were being in
vestigated for suspension when til
present administration began.
MIR. Lochrcn, as commissioner of pen
sions, found that one of the first thing
he had to attend to was to notify til
suspended pensioners of the cause G
their suspension. Then, upon invest
cation, he found that the work starte,
by the Republicans would have to b
continued to correct the errors whic
Mr.. Raum had been permitted to max
Secretary Smiths decision regardin
the matter followed, and the polio,
which has been bitterly denounced
due entirely to opposition to the el
Federal soldiers, a cry that is still bein
used with effect by Republicans, WI
announced. 1t had its origin, howeve
with the Republicans and was cause
by Republican extravaganza and disr
gard of existing laws.
The legislation of 1890, the mo
favorable to pensioners ever enacte
was Republican legislation, but Il
officials of the pension office, not CO
tent with the generous treatment whit
the Republican party had accorded 4
veterans in the act OF 1890, attempt
to 60 further than the law contemplate
The Democratic policy, Representa-
Cooper says, has been merely to execu
the law.