The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


Mr. DAVIS (dem.) of N O., rose TO a question OF
privilege and stated that he had been represented as
rejecting upon the Collectors of Internal Revenue mt
Chicago and st. Louis, in o speech made by him q
few days ago. He disclaimed any intention of SO
doing.
The SPEAKER recognized Mr. Wood, (dem.) of N. T.,
for reports from the Committee OH Ways and Means.
under a previous order OF the House.
Mr. Cox. (dem.) of N " to point of order
that the special order the consideration of the
Census bill.
The SPEAKER overruled the point of order. and
after some further discussion Mr.. Cox raised the
| question of consideration.
The House. by vote of yeas 81. nays 1876. refused
TO consider reports from the Committee Ways and
Means.
| Mr.. HALE. (rep.) of Me-. then antagonized the
| Census bill with motion to 60 into Committee Of
the Whole on the Legislative Appropriation BILL
| This motion was defeated--yeas III. nays 123--
ana Mr.. Cox, OF New York, reported back Senate bill
for taking the census with House amendments.
| Mr.. HALE, OF Maine. made point of order the
bill, and it was referred to the Committee Of the
| Whole.
The House them at forty minutes past twelve went
| into Committee OF tho Whole Mr. Goode, of yir-
| GINA, in the chair, on the Census bill
CENSUS
Mr.. Cox explained the provisions of the bill. It's
\
| dispatch and precision--to secure the maximum of
statistical results with minimum of annoyance,
delay and expense The superintendent of the
| had stated that under tho provisions of this bill
| the census could be taken with much less expense
law Of 1850. Under that law the United States mar
shals were the supervisors of the census This had
| been changed by the present bill. which provided
that the supervisors should be nominated by the
Governors of the respective States in which the
sus is to be taken, and appointed by the Secretary
| of the Interior. There reason why marshals
| APPOINTED processes
should be made census takers There would be. he
of such contests was the influence exercised by fed
cral ofiicehoders. 1t would be happy day for the
President and the people when the power of the
President to appoint such officers postmasters
| and census takers was modified or abolished.
| IMPORTANCE OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
It was not necessary to impress upon the House
the Importance OF exact knowle ic OF the mineral
resources of the country. The bill provided that
knowledge of all the other industries of tho country
As the country looking forward to better con-
dition Of its ndusries as the prospect Of skilled
mechanism progressing moro brilliantly every
month; new markets were being opened to Ameri-
enterprises; the national credit dependent
the mineral and other resources of the country.
no expense could be great for the collection and
exhibition of those industrial facts by which the
| capabilities of the foremost country in the world
could be gagged. II this bill passed these min
eral and other evidences of wealth would be photo
graphed as nearly as possible not every tenth year.
but every fifth year. showing the wonderful re-
which were the basis Of the nations credit.
contentment and standing in the world;
it would be well taken, standing the threshold of
new century. pouring the oil of good feeling into
the wounds the Republic had suffered during the
great civil war; might lie not hope that the statistical
result would shine for all the world and that it might
be said of the Republic what Napoleon said to the
British Ambassador who had expressed doubt to
| the existence Of the French Republic
II say to you that the man who disputes the exist
ence this Republic disputes the existence of the
sun in the heavens, and the misfortune is with him
who is blind not to the splendor of the
| in the heavens and tho power OF the other on the
| earth" (Applauseo
| APPOINTMENT OF SUPERVISORS.
Mr. GARFIELD. lrepl OF Ohio thought that the bill
| would be impossible to take respectable census
under the old law. and new law was imperatively
necessary While he favored the general features Of
the bill there were some that he objected to. As
much as he desired to the bill passed he would
which transferred the power to appoint supervisors
from the Secretary OF the Interior TO the Governors
! OF the States. He argucf that such bill would be
in direct violation of the constitution He hoped
that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox, who
had done so good work and who deserved 80 well
BILL There had been such thing as ballot box stuff
ing; there might be such thing as census stufng.
and Congress should leave the appointing power in
| man over whom il had some control and whom it
could punish If frauds were committed.
Mr.. Minis (dem.l of Texas. argued that the Sec
ton alluded to by Mr.. Garfield was not unconstt,,-
tional. Not only was it constitutional. but it was
essential to . fair and perfect census.
ton unconstitutional. and argued in that direc-
ton. He opposed to the section also the
| be appointed political grounds Give him the
appointment Of the census takers in Massachusetts,
| aud let him them colportcurs or campaign
| literature and there would be liveer campaign in
than there had been last year. laugh
around and distribute the literature which his
paign committee might get out hc was quite certain
| that he could carry the State.
| 10 the lay against distributing bad literature.
Mr.. BUTLER, Of Massachusetts, If they carry my
friends speeches have no doubt of it. He went on
| To
appointed from one political party and the next from
another, and 20 on.
| Several mernbers-How about the greenbackers?
| Mr.. BUr1ER-There is occasion for this emo
ton, gentlemen p.aughter) If ] can get the re-
| publicans to work against tho democrats and the
democrats against the republicans the success of the
| nationals will be secured
| Mr. RYAN, (rep) of Kan, member of the Census
Committee spoke in favor of the general features OF
the BILL but opposed the section giving the power of
appointing supervisors to the Governors OF the sew
| eral States.
Mr.. MASxIso. (dem.) of Miss. a member of tho
committee, spoke in favor Of the bill, and at the
close OF his speech the bill read by sections for
| amendment. The first amendment was that reported
| by the Committee on the Census. transferring the
power of appointing supervisors from the Secretary
| Of tho Interior to the Governors Of the several
States.
shall fail make tho nominations OF supervisors be-
fore the LIST of April 1880 the Secretary Of the In
Mr.. ,CoSsER. rcpl OF Mich, said that tho amend
ment OF the committee was to take away from the
| nationai control anu give 20 otate coptrOi the
cnumcrators merely for political purposes. aud he
moved to amend It as to strike out the clause for
the appointment OF supervisors by the Governors.
| Hejectci-yeas 10s Nays Ill. nl ~
| GENERAL ByTrxn's COMPROMISE
Mt BUTLER. OF Massach usetts, offered substi-
| tutc for the amendment amendment providing
| that the appointment of supervisors shall remain
with the Secretary Of the Interior. each alternate
supervisor appointed to Be Of different political
party 70 be certified by the Secretary OF the Interior
Tho substitute also provides that each alternate emu
mcrator shall be OF different political party and
| makes 10 Unable offence for such cnumcrators 70
discuss political questions distribute any printed
| matter other than what pertains 10 their Office.
There" said Mr.. Butler, "is non-partsan prop
osit,on: now let both sides vote against it,
| U.sughtcr.)
| Mr. RANDOLPH, (dcm.) of Tenn. asked Mr. Butlcr
~ he wanted TO make IL Enable offence for 10
| discuss politics.
Mr. BurLER-No; but when takes an Office
| which should be nonpolitca he takes II under tho
law that requires that he shall not IL for political
purposes Both parties committed TO that prin-