Evening star., 1869-12-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
Coneiusien Yesterday Proceedinxa.
HOCSF-After our report closed

>
HOCSE.-After our report closed :
The Census bill being under consideration
in the Committee of the Whole,
Mr.. Sccfeld, commenting on the remarks of
his colleague Mr.. Kelley, ridiculing the idea OF
false economy in this matter. said he would like
his colleague to read his own speeches delivered
in Pennyl yania during the last fall campaign
in favor OF the Republican party as the party OF
economy
Mr.KeIley asked his colleague to state whether
he had ever suggested IL any of his speeches that
IT was wise economy to save pence and throw
Mr.. Scoteld could not say that his colleague
had said that, but his colleague had said great
many foolish things, and be might possibly have
said that too. tLaughter.l He believed, after all,
that the safest and bCS way was 10 20 back to the
old mode and let the census be taken by the
n,ted States marshals, who were bonded officers
and many OF whom had experience in the mat
ter. he had examined last night the old CEN
sus bill of 1880, and found that many of the
best feature. OF the present bill were transcripts
from that He liked them best. They had re-
minded witty friend Of his Of McCauley's re-
ply TO green young man who had written
comedy and sent him a copy
''lour comedy I've read my FRIEND,
And like the part You stole the best;
TAXI T1 tns ro,Eas ps 1oa msn ~,sn and 20 e,n,i ih
lLaughter.l SO NJ the Census Committee were
to take the whole bill of 1850, and make the ne
cessary alterations in it, he thought it would be
an Improvement on the pending bill.
MIR. Butler (Mass.), wishing to test the sense
OF the House on whether the present machinery
of the Government should be used for taking the
census, or whether a new set of officers should
be created, moved to amend the fourth section
by making it read, "that it shall be the duty of
the Assessor of Internal Revenue in each dis
trict to cause all the inhabitants to be enumer-
ated." Here was a well paid, we'll trained, and
thoroughly sifted body of officers, who could do
the work well.
Mir. Maynard argued that it was not to be ex-
pected that, with the rate of compensation pro-
vided for enumerators, ga day for sixty days,)
competent men could be procured, or that any
thing Ike a complete census would be taken by
them. Ia some respects he thought well of the
proposition of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets, MIR. Butler.)
Mr.. Stokes, chairman of the Census Commit
tee, replied to Mr.. Maynard's objection, and
expressed his conviction that competent men
could be got for n day, which was all that
the members Of the Tennessee Legislature re-
ceived-
Mr.. Judd argued on the great importance of
the statistical information to be obtained by the
census taker, not only for the legislative depart
ment of the country, but for the national cred
itOrs abroad; and expressed his sentiment that
no ideas of economy should be permitted to
intervene as an obstacle to a perfect and COM
plete census.
Mr.. Garfield also replied to the argument in
favor OF employing the internal revenue officers
to take the census; taking the ground that the
tax-gatherer was an officer odious to the people,
who should be thoroughly convinced that the
census had no connection whatever with taxa
ton.
MIR. Allison. a member Of the Census Commit
tee, also argued against the amendment offered
by Mr.. Butler. That proposition had been fully
and carefully considered by the committee, and
had been rejected
Mr.. Butler said his plan did not propose to in
terfere with the duties of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue. but TO place the assessors for
this purpose under the Census Superintendent.
Mr.. Allison remarked that then the PROPOSE
ton was still mere objectionable, because il
would place assessors and assistant assessors
under two separate and distinct Jurisdictions,
founded
Mr.. Wood thought that the amendment offer
ed by Mr. Butler was not without merit, and
said that his first impulse had been to favor any
thing which would restrict the patronage of the
Administration; but, considering the vast inter
ests at stake, and knowing that the whole value
OF the census depended upon its precision and
accuracy, he would not allow any feeling of
partisan character to interfere with it. Refer
ring to the New York census of 1866, he stigma
tiZed il a. a shameful partisan fraud upon the
people, which had cut down the population OF
the city by 2j0OOo for the purpose OF not allow
ing II proper representation in the State Legis-
latuie.
MIR. Jenckes argued that there was something
OF value in each OF the pending propositions,
plOyed to take the enumeration, the statistical
possessed by the Internal Revenue |
bureau should be utilized for the purpose of the
census.
Mr.. Butler (SIass.) closed the debate bv an
in support of his amendment He |
claimed that under it there would be greater |
greater promptitude, greater accu- |
Ne% a Yorx r %oo had infSTmad tbe
committee that the census of 1865 in his State. |
made by the Republican party, had been en- |
tircly a fraud. The corollary OF that would |
seem TO be that there should be no census taken
at all: There might be an idiOsyncracy |
about New York that nothing could be done |
there which was not fraud in some way or |
form; but he trusted that elsewhere there could |
be an honest census taken. He admitted that |
there was great danger that nothing could be |
found out in New York about the elections
about the census, about gold speculations, or |
about schemes Of every sort. Ii seemed to be |
" hieh the gentleman (Mr. Wood was a repre-
tLaughter.l |
Mr.. Davis asked Mr.. Butler whether he meant |
the State or the city.
Mr.. Butler-The city always, sir. |
Mr.. Davis.-Then have nothing to say.
Mr. Butler.-I thought not. [I.aughter.1 |
Ir. Wood ask the gentleman whether his |
opinion OF New York has been gathered from |
the amount of litigation to which he has been |
subj cted to there. fLaughter.]
Mr.. Butler.-Not at all, sir. have never vet |
been able to get a case for trial in New York. / |
expect good deal OF fraud when do.
The debate being closed. the question was /
taken on Mr.. Buffers amendment. and it was |
22 nays, not counted.
On motion of Mr.. Wood. and after considera- 1
ble discussion, the fifth section amended BY \
recurring each district superintendent to be \
Resident II the district.
After progressing as far as the seventh section,
the con mittee rose.
A molten by Mr.. Wood to adjourn till Mon
day, and which was apparently carried on di- |
vision OF the House. was. on vote BY yeas and /
nays, reiected-yeas, t2, nays, 1e5.
Mr.. Ferry, from the Committee on Rules. re-
ported a resolution authorizing the Speaker to Il
assign recently admitted embers to commit
tees, provided this shall not be construed a
changing the rule limiting the number, except |
for the present Congress. Adopted.
MIR. Lawrence introduced bill to prevent and /
punish election frauds and prescribe the time for /
holding elections for members of Congress. Re-
feTred to the Committee on Elections.
MIR. Davis introduced bill to impose a tax /
on all fictitious and gambling sales of gold. Re-
ferred to the Ju dietary Committee.