The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-08
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. 1879.
THE CENSUS OF 1S80-pRovIsIoNs OF MR.. cox's
The Census bill. introduced to-day by Mr.. s. S.
Cox and referred to the special committee the CEN
sus of 1885, of which he is chairman, has some novel
and interesting features. To understand them it
should be known that the law OF 1850 still exists. and
under it the census Of 1860 and 1870 were takon 1t
will still operate unless new law is enacted Efforts
were made in 1s69-70 by General Garfield and
others to secure new law fitted to our new
national conditions and resources. 1t passed
the House, but failed in the Senate. General
Walker. the Commissioner who administered
that law, endeavored by unusual skill and assiduity.
and with the help Of experts and by special work. to
supply its detects but there evident need of q
radical reform in the law of 1885,
MIR. cox's BILL.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Cox adopts many of the
views of General Walker. and among them this:-
That deputy marshals not fit. for obvious
reasons. for census purposes BY the Coz bill the
supervisors to be nominated by the governors OF
States to the Interior Department, and these super
visors designate the enumerators. This makes the
bill non partisan These supervisors are to number
$50, and of in many states there
will be more than The special expert
work is to be done by agents selected by
the superintendent and proper remuneration is pro-
vided. The bill limits the expense to S3.OOO,00O
The of 1870 cost S3,s6O,OOo. Owing to the
cheapness of labor and the general fall in prices Gen.
era Walker advised Mr. Cox that $1,000 900 sui
cient. One hundred and eighty thousand dollars will
be saved by dispensing with certain scrivener work
namely, the two copies of original returns and
schedules. Out Of this grew the idea of using this
saving for subvention so called to the States for
an additional census in 1888. The section provides
that any State will take five years after the
federal decennial and on the same plan and
schedules the federal government will defray half
the expenses properly reckoned.
1t is known that after the decennial censuses many
years elapsed before their publication, and the Stats
tics lost much of their emphasis. data for science
and legislation. Besides, some States. such as New
York and Massachusetts. had their taken in
five years after the federal census and these
became comparatively useless, because they were
taken different plan from the federal census.
Comparisons could not be made.
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL.
There provisions in the bill to take in careful
detail, the transactions Of corporations and conf
panes telegraph, insurance, express, railroad and
lake under penalties; also many items connected
with agriculture, labor wages bonded Indebtedness.
&c. These are novel items. Mr.. Mills, of Texas.
who is on the committee. suggested great heed in
getting the holders of United States bonds Mining
and fishing statistics are provided for. The bill
authorizes the superintendent to exercise great dis
erection as to the interrogatories in connection with
our productive industries One of the least signif
cant features Of the BILL but that will give rise
to most debate. is to compensation. This is based
Ov ronfy ipIa from the 10yy IF
PROSPECTS BILL
Mr.. Cox got leave to-day to have the bill printed
and leave to report at any me 1t is his purpose to
perfect it in committee and, if possible, have it
passed this session, though he says it VIII not hurt
If goes over, provided it passes before the holt
days next Congress. The census Is to be taken Of
the LIST OF June. 1850, and concluded in a month. In
New York and other cities of ten Thousand in
habitants it is to be taken within fortnight
to mako it as near photograph rs it can be of
the status Of the country. The main feature Of the
bill is that it provides for special. experienced
to gather the facts of our resources and business,
labor. wages, transportation insurance. debts, &c.
II it be passed Mr. Cox says he may hope for
intelligent legislation State and national, and
advance in American social science.
RATIO REPRESENTATION.
Whether the ratio of representation and the num-
Der of members of Congress is to be fixed by and
under this hill. Mr.. Cox does not say. He evidently
desires avoid that matter for the present Another
point that may provoke controversy arises under tho
fourteenth amendmcnt-namey, should those dis
ranchised in the States by poverty, ileracy, &C., be
counted in the ratio for members, and if so, how
Mr. Cox has General Garfelds authority in the de-
bate of 1s69-70 data for such proposition, but
he will confer with the committee and with the
ate committee of which Senator Morrill, is chairman
as to this and other points.
MANUSCRIPT AND PROOFS AS THIRD CLASS MAI,
MATTER.
Mr. Carlisle. of Kentucky introduced in the House
to-day bill proposing amendment to the Postal
laws allowing manuscript for newspapers and proofs
to be classed third class matter. The Post Office
Department has promised its cooperation in
ing action upon this bill this session. and the Post
Once Committee Of the House will favorably report
it at the earliest opportunity.
THE DAVENPORT INVESTIGATION.
The continued illness of Mr.. Hartridgc of Georgia.
who was named as the chairman Of the sub-commit-
tee of tho House Judiciary Committee to investigate
the charges against Commissioner Davenport. will
probably lead TO the appointment of another sub
committee. meeting Of the full committee is
called for tomorrow TO take the necessary action to
begin the duty assigned to that committee.