Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-28
Washington Special to Chicago imesl

Washington Special to Chicago imcs.l
It is not everybody who believes
that the continuation Of the census
work after the appropriation had been.
exhausted was perfectly legal, or is
confident that those who have accept.
ed vouchers for their services will
eventually be paid in cash. Promi-
nent among those who think this way
is Mr.. Joseph q. G. Kennedy, of this
city, who took the census of 1850 and
of 1860, receiving high concentrations
for his work, and who had been often
identified with important statistical
matters. A Post reporter who spoke
to him to-day on the subject, asked
him to state the grounds on which he
based this belief. In the first place,
he said. "the law distinctly stated that
il should not be lawful for the Secrs-
tary of the Interior and the Superin
tendent of the Census to incur any OK
peuse or obligation beyond the amount
appropriated. That was plain and EN-
phatic. There should have been one of
two things done either the Superini
tendent should have kept the work
within the bounds Of the %appropria
ton, or, when the latter gave out, the
work should have b.
STOPPED UNTIL CONGRESS RECON-
yENED.
/ Think that any head ola department.
or bureau who would prosecute sach
a device as the sO-called voluntary
vouchers deserves impeachment or Tc
moVal. | think that any one who in
vests the capital Of other people OF
his own in such unlawful paper mani
tests a want of regard for the public
interests by completely 10 an evident
violation of law.
"Were you surprised, asked the
reporter, AT the resignation of Gen.
Walker and the collapse of the census
fund.-
mo, sir, l was not" he replied.
Il represented to Congress as a GER
tain result what has occurred | knew
that money appropriated as wildly as
that was would fail to affect what was
promised. In spite of warning from
the more experienced, Congress ap-
proved of pernicious changes in the
we'll approved law Of 1850, in belt-
Ting matters Of most value for
"UNEssENTIAL BUT COSTLY DETAILS,
for which many, | claim, will never
see the light. Look at the facts.
More than $i,0O0,0 600 have been ex
pended on a census promised, in
rapidly Of completion to be photo
graphic, and in its cost not to exceed
$1,000, 600 to complete, print and dis
tribute; yet before a single volume
appears the Superintendent disap.
pears"
You are certainly willing to ac,
knowledge that there are some matters
Of importance in the ~census2"
Beyond a doubt. The labOrs of a
host of scientists, the enormous sum
expended, and the great number of
specialists employed should, and
doubtless will, result in the publica-
ton Of much of interest. | believe,
however, that for the most part these
matters viii not be german to a CEN
sus, which should consist Of facts and
not theories. The census bulletins
have been
CONSPICUOUS FOR THEIR INAcCURA0Y,
but have attracted timely attention to
many errors. On January 7, 1881,
Secretary Schurz communicated to
Congress the complete return of the
population Of each State and Territory
on June /, $780, On the 18th Of
January. 1881, General Walker re
ported that the returns Of population
were received at the Office on the 18th
Of January, 1881, completing the tenth
census Of the United STATED In this
report the population is given for each
State and Territory, and in not an In
stance do the figures correspond With
the population as it vas printed re.
Gently in General Walkers report.
These are facts that, if properly fol-
lowed up By a committee Of ~investiga-
ton, | think will surely lead to some
interesting explanation as to where the
vast sum appropriated for the census
has gone"
10 what do you attribute this col.
lapse in the appropriation"
"One Of the causes was certainly
the wild investigations into geodesy
and like subjects, which we're only
german to permanent bureaus Of quite
a different nature. / thiak, however,
that
THE MAIN DIFFICULTY
originated in the entire want Of ap-
probation on the part Of General
Walker Of the cost and labor involved
in a matter about which he wrote and
spoke with such confidence as to lead
members Of Congress TO reach con.
illusions Of which now they must be
heartily ashamed. For instance. Sen,
ator Morrill,, Chairman Of the Senate
census Committee, stated on the 7th
Of February, 1879:
I'VE limit the entire expenses e
a one lump sum; and added: What
is now proposed will be less than un.
der the law Of 1850. In fact. with
10000, 900 more inhabitants, it is Il
cost over 100000 less. Senator
Stanley Matthews, of the same com
mittee, stated that the work will b
accomplished at an expense Of from
100000 to S500,000 less than under
the act Of 1850. Similar statements
were made in the House. What i
theresult2
THE APPROPRIATION
already made for the tenth census OK
ceeds the entire cost of the two cen
suses Of 1850 and 1860. Nearly ST.,
000,00O has been expended in excess
Of the appropriations, and the Census
Office conlesses bankruptcy at a mo
ment when neal one thousand clerk
aud innumerable special agents, theo.
rists and experts r engaged on tn,
work.