New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-01
GovERNoR HILLS CENSUS VETO.

| GOVERNOR HILLS CENSUS VETO.
It seems to have been an unfortunate accident
for the Democratic party that tossed Governor
| Hill into q place intended for a statesman
To gain petty personal advantage he sacrl-
fees alike the interests of the public and OF his
party. That is the only explanation which can
be given of his remarkable veto of the Census
bill. He informs the Legislature that it must
adopt his narrow views or he will suspend the
| Constitution of the State. His views are the
outgrowth of a petty attempt to secure i'Itle
patronage, ard are in direct conflict with all
precedents since the passage OF the census Id"
of 1915, and in opposition to the course OF Gov
| ernor Tilden and the Democratic Assembly Di
1875, and to the action of the Democratic
| House Of Representatives of 1879. Inc Tow
| ernOr was not even sustained altogether by the
votes of his own party representatives III the
| present Legislature. But rather than recede
| from his untenable position he declares that no
census shall be taken, although the COnstltu-
ton commands that one shall be taken this year
u under direction of the Legislature" The
| Governors entire course in this matter has been
that of an unwarrantable assumption of power,
and he ends it with veto in which he perverts
the facts.
law on the statute books since 1855 directs
the Secretary of State to appoint census
enumerators on or before the first Monday In
May, and requires the taking OF the census to
begin on the first day of June. Governor HUI
recommended the Legislature to change the law
and empower the various county CLERKS 10 ap-
point the enumerators That attempt to divide
responsibility was for the purpose of securing
little patronage by taking from the Republican
Secretary of State and giving to the Democratic
county clerks il New York, Kings and certain
other counties the appointment of enumerators.
Fooled in that attempt the Governor suddenly
discovered that the enumerators must pass
Civil Service examination. BY his order. and
with the approval of the Secretary of State, the
Civil Service Commissioners classified the
enumeratcrs so as to require them to pass
non-competitve examination. Some time later
the Governor ordered the Commissioners to
change the classification of enumerators
80 as to require them TO pass a COMPETE
tive examination. This would require
AN outlay of $1,000. The Commissioners
protested against it on account OF lack OF
time and money, and because 1t would bring
Civil Service Reform INTO contempt. General
Walker, recognized authority and the Super
inteDdcnt of the Federal Census, gave it as his
opinion that such examinations for the short
time the enumeratOrs were to serve "would be
unnecessarily clumsy and costly and actually
objection and inappropriate" The Clvli
Service Commissioners we're obliged to obey the
Governor, and now in his veto he attempts to
make it appear that their action was voluntary
one. The Legislature refused that apprOpra-
ton. because it would BIO a waste Uf money and
would defeat tie operation of the law which re-
quires the census to be taken in June.
An act passed by Congress in 1879 affirmed
that the State census is subsidiary to the
Federal census, and directed the payment from
the Federal Treasury of one-half the expense of
the State census when it shall be so taken as to
be available for purposes OF comparison with
the Federal census That act requires the
census to be taken in June Secretary Lamar
reoaired under it tho filing out of four
neutrality-suspicious. agriculture, manufact-
ure and mortality, for which he would pay the
State about $4,000. To secure this Federal
contribution it was necessary to waste no time
i'm useless and costly competitive Civil Service
examinations, as recommended by the Cover
nor The Legislature, therefore, passed an act
simplifying the schedules used in 1875, limiting
the time of enumeration in cities to two weeks
instead of the month occupied in 1875, and
otherwise reducing the cost to the State OF the
census to about 100000 in comparison with
the 1891, 900 expended under Governor
Tilden's administration in 1873. That is the
bill the Governor vetoed.
In doing SO he says that such census would
cost the State 100000, which is palpably in
correct. Being simpler it would not cost so
much as that of 1875, and he ignores also the
Federal contribution. The assertion that such
statistics other than an enumeration of popula-
ton, are worthless is ridiculous. 1t Is not
likely that the Legislature will take any
| further action on this matter. The enumera-
ton of the inhabitants would undoubtedly in
crease the Democratic representation in the
Legislature from New-York and Brooklyn. and
that party can thank the Governor for defeat
ing it. The Republicans having discharged
their duty can afford to let the Governor assume
the responsibility of defeating constitutional
| requirement.