Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-15
THE NEXT CENSUS.

A Washington special to the Gin
cinnati Commercial says
There are one hundred and fifty of
these supervisors to be appointed, and
the pressure for the places is great.
particularly in the Southern States.
The pay is only $500.
Some months ago it was given out
that supervisors Of census should be
selected without regard to politics.
Fearing that this would be improper
as regards the South, where the repre-
sentation in congress will be a matter
Of dispute, a party Of Republican
senator's called upon the President and
asked that none but Republicans be
appointed in the South. They were
not entirely satisfied with the Presi-
dents attitude, and it is about settled
that Democrats will be appointed in
nearly the whole South.
We ehaveyetto hear ofthe appointment
or probable chance of single Demo-
crat as supervisor in the South. 1t is
presumed that all the honesty and ca
pacity for such work is lodged some
where in the Republican party. The
Republicans perhaps do not look ten
years ahead, but they may be making
precedent which they will have
cause to regret in the future. 1t is
not a certainty that they will control
the government forever, and it would
be wise for them to adopt no rule
while in power that they would not be
willing to abide by when in the mi
nority and relegated out of Office The
work of taking the census should be
done honestly, and so fairly and open
ly that no dispute or doubt could
ever arise as to its accuracy.
The appointment of men of
known integrity and ability
whose names would command the
confidence Of the community in which
they live, would be the surest method
to satisfy all honest men that there is
to be no trickery in the taking of the
census. The South desires no advan.
tage in this matter, but merely an ex-
act enumeration Of the population,
and such other statistics as are called
for. Senator Harris, we understand.
has proposed or will propose an
amendment to the census bill, provid-
ing that lists Of the census in each
county shall be exposed at the county
court clerks Office two weeks for
inspection and correction. This would
give some guarantee that the enumer.
ators would be careful in making up
their lists, and it is likely that in all
thickly settled counties and neighbor
hoods some citizens would be found to
take an interest in the record and
scan it for mistakes. If the admin
istration insists on making thi:
partizan business whereby
some sections are to be cut down in
representation that others may gain in
proportion, we hope that Senator
Harris amendment, or something like
it, will prevail, that we may have some
little protection. Another amendment
is proposed by Senator Harris which
we heartily approve. 1t provides that
duplicate copies of the census in each
State shall be filed with the
Secretary of State at the
capital. This would afford
the people Of the various States an
opportunity to inspect their own cen
sus returns long befoye it would be
possible for General Walkers bureau
to make consolidated report, and in
the event that the returns sent to
Washington were lost on the way OIL
destroyed by accident, they could be
replaced from the copies at the State
capitals.