New-York tribune., 1870-09-19
TIE CENSUS-ITS ASSISTANTS.


We have waited for some response by Mayor
Hall to Marshal Sharpe's defense of the honesty
and fidelity of the Ninth Federal Census of
our City, now nearly completed, which the
Mayor had chosen officially to impugn and
assail. As the Mayors personal organ attempts
no reply to the Marshal's facts, we may safely
conclude that the Mayor has reached the just
decision that his case is beyond surgery. Let
us, therefore, review at once the attack and
the defense and see how they compare or con-
trast with each other:
I. Mayor Hall objects to the Census that
'It was certainly prosecuted at a OF the year
when large percentage OF inhabitants absent
from the city, and when habtatOns were left In charge
of servants who perhaps disncned, or probably
unable, TO give proper and full information"
The answer to this charge is that the
time for taking the Census is fixed by ldU-
that it is exactly the same now as it was ten
years ago. when it was taken by Demo-
cratic, and twenty years ago, when it was
taken by Wing Marshals. The law has stood
unaltered on this point for at least twenty
years. Marshal Sharpe, like all other Marshals,
had no power over it-nothng to do with it
but obey it. Our six Democratic Representa-
tives in Congress might possibly have procured
Need any more be said on this pointf
g. The Mayor further states that
localities have reason to believe the census
agent would ask preliminary questions substantially like
this How many soldiers could this house turn outf
There therefore suggestion Of conceament mace 10
the tenementhouse occupants
If apy census-taker has asked such a ques-
ton as is set forth above, he must have asked
it of somebody. Who is that somebody
Whoever is the Mayors informant should
come to the front The Marshal never sug-
gested such a question, and is confident that
none of his deputies has asked it. He chal-
lenghs specification. None is forthcoming. Is
not the proof conclusive that it does not exist
Tho Marshal adds that, as his deputies are
paid according to their work, they are not
likely to ask questions that tend to diminish
their own compensation.
g. The Mayor charges that
"As special instance Of the original omission TO pre-
pare perfect system certain correspondence in this
Office evidences that the Federal Superintendent at
Washington had omitted from his blanks inquiry re
specng certain item; and, the omission not having
been discovered until the census began, information
regarding the item was supplied (at the special re-
quest of the Census Bureau) by the exerons Of the
police"
To this charge Francis A. Walker, General
Superintendent of the Census, responds as fol-
lows:
"NO necessary inquiry omitted from the blank
schedules furnished TO Assistant Marshals The inquiry
to which Mayor Hall aludes is not provided for by
the act Of 1885, by either OF the acts additional to It.
No provision Of law exists for enumeratng cattle and
horses not upon farms and in consequence, the vast
numbers OF such animals kept in towns and cities
wholly omitted from the returns Of the census. Hence
have the absurdity of New York City reported with
less than 500 horses in 1860 At the Eighth Census,
an effort was made to supply this palpabe defect
Of the law, by calling upon Assistant Marshas
throughout the country to estimate the number of
these animals, in their respective subdivisions.
The results may be found upon page 1s2 Of the
volume Agriculture. Believing, as did, that one
man might possibly guess right but that 5000 must
certainly guess wrong did not think 1t desirable to
peat this attempt supplement the information afforded
by the agricultural schedule but have sought to obtain
by various methods, material enough to enable judi
cious satstcian TO estimate the number Of such animals
owned in the United States. One OF these methods
10 solicit information from the Mayors Of principal cities
throughout the country In many cities, all such animals
taxed by the head and the number therefore mat
ter Of record In Others it believed that the rounds
men OF tho police force could without expense undue
trouble in tho ordinary OF their daily duties so
far satisfy themselves TO the number Of such animals
within their respective beats 10 enable them to make
at least an approximate statement To this request the
Mayors of many OF the largest cities have obging
ly replied with the information sought"
How does this matter affect Marshal
Sharper Where does this explanation leave
Mayor Hall 7
a. The Mayor further asserts that
1.-The Federal Census just taken ia claimed to make ap-
parent that our population has not increased within the
past ten years"
AS this assertion is a naked, unequivocal.
brazen lie, the Marshal, through an excess of
politeness, passed it over in silence.
o. The Mayor proceeds to say that
their constituents the duty OF protesting against and
recfyng that sacrifice Of metropolitan position 10
partisan hostility 10 accomplish pheh his recent Census
pas manipulated"
To this vilifcation by scoundrel intent on
the frauds by which Gen. Grant was
cheated out of the Electoral Vote Of our State
and John Il. Hoffman foisted into her Chief
Magistracy, the Marshal thus responds:
-" believe IL would be well 10 test the accuracy the
Census and respectfully invite the Mayor OF the City
of New York 20 unite with In the appointment OF Mr.
Samuel J. Tilden Chairman Of the Democratic State
Central Committee, and Mr.. jackson g. Schultz. Presi-
dent Of the Union League Club, 10 review the Census
turns Of the Xth Election District Of the Sixth ward
whore tbs total number Of inhabitants Is found to be So