National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-08
THE CENSUS OFFICE.
Volunteers TO Continue the WOrk-Whaf
General Walker Says.

Although the clerical force of the Gen.
sus Bureau has been reduced during the last few
months from fourteen hundred to six hundred
employees it is found that the appropriation mace
by Congress for the completion of the work VIII
not admit of the payment of salaries to the present
force beyond the 18th instant and the work Is
yet far from being completed. Upon the
recommendation of Superintendent walker,
and as the only available means of averting an en-
tire cessation of operations until next winter, the
Secretary of the Interior has issued circular TO
the employees of the Census Bureau in which, az
ter reciting the fact that the appropriation Is
nearly exhausted he says that if they desire 70
continue upon the work of the Census once as
volunteers, expressly disaYowing any claim against
the Government in consequence thereof, and Sig
nifying willingness to leave the matter entirely
with Congress, they will be permitted to do So
This arrangement will continue in force at the
pleasure of the Department so long as the inter-
est of the service may seem to require. 1t IS be-
ieved that under this arrangement the services OF
an efficient force can readily be retained.
In an interview yesterday General Walker eX-
planned how it has happened that the last con-
gressional appropriation (S5OO,OOO), although the
full amount that he asked for has proved to be in
sufficient to complete the work as he supposed 1t
would:
"My estimate was too low for several reasons"
said General Walker. 81 desired to finish the
work with as little expense as possible in the first
place, and cutthe figures down as low as thought
we might squeeze through with. Then had no
starting point from which to calculate. The census
of 1850 was so much wider in range than that of
1870 and covered many more subjects, that there
was no comparison between the two by which an
estimate might be made Matters are handled in
the present that were never touched in 1870
and then the inquiries over the same fields as were
covered in 1870 have been more extended. For
example: In 1870, under the head of agriculture
there were only forty inquiries In 1880 there were
104. When made my estimate of 100000 for the
completion ofthe census there remained good deal
of field work to be done. This work, of course,
foots up in expense much more than Office work.
There was no basis upon which could make even
a reasonable estimate to how much it would
cost The cost in one section of the country, owing
to surrounding circumstances, varies much from
the cost in another section for the same class of
work. So the money was expended. l made
mistake possibly in not reducing the force some
months ago TO 200, and working along with that.
A desire to complete the work early as possible
led me into that mistake. The matter was finally
reduced down to this: Either to disband the
force altogether for eight months until Con-
gresS could provide, or go along with volun-
teer force and complete the work by the time
Congress met. 1t would have been pity to dis
organize. The force has been very efficient and
has worked admirably. 1t would be much trouble
to get such body of employees together again.
have one division Of $50 men whose every average
Of work is higher than the best man employed in
$50 and the Office then was regarded very eff
Gent Naturally was DESTROYS of going On. 1
consulted with the President, the Attorney-Gen-
nd the SecraiaD" "f -" T"+nri"n f.'in.- -:
GS-N
agreed that the best plan would be to work with
the present force as volunteers and get through
with the census as early as possible. For these
reasons the volunteer force is organized"
GLOW about the miscellaneous expenses
asked the reporter.
ave have sufficient funds on hand to cover
them. We only suspend the payroll for a few
months.