The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-05

ras6 now stpala,ed lcr y Congress
tie reading 81 h amePams1l offered BY Mr. BoeLAsp
was gain called foF aat ~ accordingly read BY the
III Hair ~. Prssidsa have no sort Of feeling.
sir. upon this subject am not desirous OF nieposlng
bill only desire that whsisyer sppszs 4 tie work 81
| the Congress may a least wear 2 decent dress
But there another part 10 which wish 70 direct ne
suggestions made BY the honorable senator from North
Carolina In relation TO the Yofthlesspess Of the s'snses
likely 70 be collected under the authorization q tms Ia
have no doubt that this whole matter will be an enure
failure far itpurpors 70 be return Of ne s'asGs
OF the counryaoi worth the paper upon winch y WI
be printed and not only so, but that i VIII Dc
worse than useless because it will entirely nslead any
person who attempts TO rely upon It. remember, sl, :.
the last census, when happened to be ~ me lower
PRAYING US 10 correct the various kinds OF mistakes which
abounded in the ,retnrns II may be demonsaed tnal
from he very nature Of the process BY which me census
far as general statistics concerned must be perfect
failure. Il is executed by persons who have no special
qualifications for and particular interest In the subject
Il is assigned 70 the various marshals ana Dy them
farmed out TO individuals who taken at random or
simply happen to be the averes OF the marshals Ito
whom are assigned districts estimated 70 contain some
sand-et out fat jobs to men who know nothing and
care nothing for statistics, other than ths statistics
sps s II Tha s s NE eosdsaon q which
they look; and anybody who shall rely on the statistics
accanaated BY them will find that he i left utterly in
ever been made, Now, sir my idea is. that we should
entirely separate these two paris Of the undertaking pro-
posed BY the bill before The Senate that should pro-
States which, il that alone attempted, might per-
haps be relied upon with something like reasonable GER
tainty; and then i we want statistics. that we make
that distinct affair; and, IN my opinion that whole
business will be far better left to the action and 10 the
authorities Of the several States think that the honor
able senator from Massachusetts will tell you, sir that
statistical Of his State, embracing variety Of SUBJ
ecs has been taken by the State authorities and that is
which be relied think that this whole bust
ns % ss%
and do one at time, assigning each to distinct and re-
sponsibs set Of officers, such be FOUND and do not
BY attempting TO take both at once render both or one OF
Mr. UNDERWOOD Mr.. President, II the senator
from New Hampshire wishes TO divide the BILL and de-
sires to make motion TO that effect, il seems to me that
that would be the proper for him to pursue but
until that is done. 1t is waste OF time to discuss that
proposition presume, however, that we have been
so long in the habit OF attaching the procurement
Of statistics to the taking Of the census, that we shall
hardly be likely to make any change in the habit at this
late day My object in rising Is to respond TO some IN
quires and statements made the other side OF the
house. tseems to me that gentlemen should have dis
covered that impossible to form any exact estimate
Ct the amour, to be expended in printing There , g.
assistant mashals shall make their reports by the LIST OF
October and when the reports shall have been made the
b.Sa s s hsn e
blanks to be printed and copies OF them to be distributed
Now, sir. such the reasons why i is impossible TO
the other side Of the house The precise information
which they desire In the first place. It is impossi.
BILE to know what reports the assistant marshas will
will obtain You cannot tell the quantity of mat
upon The number Of inhabitants Il depends upon
The naals. @sss sy b % arc %
is utterly impossible to Tell how much matter win have
he voofit
because you cannot know the amount OF matter which
to be returned In the next place, you cannot tell until
the blank has been filled how many copies you shall or
der be printed You may require ten thousand or one
hundred thousand. Il s impossible 70 tell and the
amount to be expended will depend upon the filing Of that
quite impossible at present 10 answer inquiries which
must depend for their answer upon the amount Of nfor
nation hereafter to be returned.
But Mr. President, concur with the object which the
gentleman from Arkansas seems TO have in view but
would be glad TO reach tin different mode will, there
fore, sir offer substitute for the amendment OF my
let them take their chance My friends amendment pro-
vides that when this information comes in, and when
has been classified the Secretary Of the Interior shs
give the printing OF TO particular NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he
shall give il to the public printers Now, persist IN
H. that those gentlemen have secured fat jobs enough
already i the public printing Is Is profitable e has as here
this amendment offered By my friend. he svss precise d.
objection to the particular press and there may Be none
whatever; bu, have 70 propose that the individual who
performs the work shall be limited to the paid for
similar jobs TO the public printers and want to give the
selection TO other personsto have little distributions
little diffusion, instead Of centrasationa little chance
for A, B. c. to In for share Of the public print
ing therefore ask my friend whether he will not be
content TO accept this amendment OF mine-viz PRO
vded that the paid by the Secretary Of the Interior
shall not exceed the paid for similar printing under
the existing contract for the printing for Congress- Any
rule which my friend chooses to for will most cheer.
fully agree TO- But practicable TO select beforehand
the individual who is to do the PRINTING! Can be told
with certainty that at the time when these returns shall
have been made and when this printing shall be required,
the public printers will be in condition 10 do II in
the precise manner in which will be required TO be
donei
They might have their hands full. This work wilde
pend you perceive upon the number OF copies that you
may fiji up the blank with You may put in 60 900, for
aught know II will have to be stereotyped il will
be what printers call rule work In the books furnished
BY the last census you have and columns OF
figures You may, II you have il stereoyped, have TO
make special contract 10 have the work done Il s
quired TO be dones Does my friend know when the
printers will be exactly in the condition 10 perform all
this work in the manner requreds Now, sir have no
objection to limit the which may be paid to the public
printers, and believe would have objection to limit
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