The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondence

of tribulation with our census bureau
and its work on the last census. In
spite of all the averments and expla-
nations made from time to time by
the superintendent and his under
officers. there is no Disgusting the fact
that some of the work of this bureau
is unsatisfactory. Complaints have
continually come in from various
localities and from different indus
trial interests that the reports of the
bureau touching them were grossly
VIGOROUSLY inaccurate, and to such
an extent has this feeling prevailed in
some instances that a recount at the
expense of the aggrived parties has
been undertaken. Besides this the
enormous expenditures of the bureau
and the unprecedented delay in get
ting out the reports demand some
better explanation than any so far
given. The original act providing
for the taking of the tenth census
fixed three million dollars as the max
imum cost of the undertaking. AD-
preparations enormously in excess of
this sum have already been made,
and more money is still wanted
Congress has made several appropria-
tons for completing the work." but
does not appear to be in hurry in
making the appropriation of 100000
now so urgently asked for, and some
members favor thorough investiga-
ton into the five million and a-half
dollars already spent by the bureau
before any more money is appropria-
ted. Charges are openly made that
it has been Improperly spent. and
that besides inefficiency, there has
been corrupt use made of the funds
appropriated for the bureau. A prop
ositiOn is under consideration to APP
point a commission to revise the re-
ports already in type, with power to
throw away the reports of special in
dustries which have been proved to
be full Of errors. A prominent mem
Der of the census committee hit the
nail square on the head when he said
that there seemed to be strong in
clination upon the part of certain
scientific and philosophical gentle
men connected with the census to
prpare elaborate works upon special
topics. which they wished to have
published at the expense of the gov
eminent, principally for their per-
sonal gloriication. and not for the
legitimate purposes of the census. He
said he thought the committee were
unanimous in requiring that the
scope of the census publication now
in preparation should be clearly out
lined and confined to practical limit,
as was contemplated by the census
act. Secretary Teller. has telegraph
ed General Francis Walker to come
back to Washington and clear up the
work he left in such deplorable
state. The bureau has been practi-
cally without head for some time.
The tariff question is occupying al
most the entire attention of Congress
now and there is wide difference of
opinion as to what will he the result.
The Republicans generally are deter
mined to get bill through if possible,
though there are some who are not
in accord with the measures now
pending. Senator Logan is working
hard to unite Republican Senators
upon the leading items of the senate
bill. and expressed regret at the adop-
ton of the free lumber amendment,
which he thinks will have tendency
to set the lumber producing sections
against the non.timber growing local.
tiles. The Senator by the way has
been numerously thanked and mem.
oralized by various grand army Or
CARNATIONS for his course on the Fitz
John Porter bill. News from the
states where senatorial elections are
still pending is eagerly sought every
day in the senate chamber. If Sena-
tor Ferry should fail of reelection it
will not be necessary to take up
collection in his behalf He is esti.
mated to be worth anywhere from
81 900. 900 to 81 500, 900, and can skimp
along without his senatorial salary.
The senator made lumber while the
sun shone. Senator Window will
contrive to pay his grocer's bills from
the interest on his 81 200, 900 or 80 and
lay up little for rainy day, should
an ungrateful state put him on the
list of retired statesmen.
The unusual activity of social cir
cles at the capital extends to the
White House, which is now as live
ly as it ever was. There have been
two state dinners within two weeks
and Tuesday evening there will be
a grand rush at the Presidents first
public reception. At the state dinner
to General and Mrs. Grant the old