Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-06-12
Correspondence From the Capitol.
WASHINGTON. June 10 100

The machinery for taking the census
for 1890 has been put in motion all over
the United States. Superintendent Por-
ter anticipates early returns to his office,
so that the work of tabulating can be
entered upon and completed within a
reasonable period. All the preliminary
matters have been arranged, blanks pre-
pared, enumerators instructed as to their
duties, and all that remains to be done
is to collect the data which it has been
decided shall become part of the cen
sus. 1t requires 43, 900 men as enumera-
tors to gather the requisite information,
and each of these is either employed in
definite locality or upon some special
topic. This, however, does not include
the additional thousands of clerks en-
| ployed in collecting and tabulating the
! returns made that will come back from
/ all over the country as the result of the
labors of the enumerators, so it can be
seen at a glance what corps of men it
requires and what immense sums of
money must be expended to accomplish
this undertaking. 1t is not anticipated
that much trouble will be experienced in
obtaining answers to the questions that
are to be propounded, but where refusals
are met with they will be at once re-
ported and steps taken to enforce the
law. The superindent is not given any
discretion in the matter, but is made OBJ
ligatory upon him to report each and
every person who fails to comply with
the requirements of the law to the proper
| persons whowi institute vigorous prose-
cution against the violators of it, and
they become liable to fine of 500. 1t
Is thought that some trouble will be ex-
perlenced in securing answers to the in
quiries regarding mortgages, as well as
those concerning special information in
relation to disease, about which phys-
clans have recently given opinions and
will decline to furnish it. No exceptions
Will be made in propounding the ques-
tions or harsh measures resorted to in
enforcing the law, but where it becomes
plain that the provioions of the law are
Intentionally being violated then the
parties so offending will be called upon
to take the consequences.
~
! One of the most interested lockers on
at, and conscientious critics of, the pres
ent sessions of Congress is an old gentle
man and politician of anti-war times
who is familiar picture at the Capitol
and in the lobbies of the chief hotels,
who, though past the three
milestone of his journey through life
still retains his vigor and that brightness
of intellect which once distinguished
him. Usually attired in suit of black,
with gray hair and beard, slightly stoop-
ing form, and usually cheerful conuten-
ance, ex-United States Senator Thomas
l.. Clingman was once the idol of the
people of his native State, North Caro-
lima. He served Buncombe county in
the Legislature; then he was sent from
the Buncombe district to Congress, and
just before the war broke out, in 1861
was occupying his eat in company With
his colleague, the great William A. Gra-
ham, in the Senate. The present Sena-
tor Vance was at one time in the lower
House. After delivering a speech in
the Senate in favor of secession, Senator
Gragam resigned, followed the fortunes
of Jefferson and others, and served in
the Confederate Army wearing the rank
of a brigadier. The General takes life
philosophically, and radiates between
North Carolina, Washington and New
York. He does not cherish in his heart
the bitter animosity engendered by the
war and he loves the Union as it is. He
takes great pride in the resources of his
State, and has specific and original views
on the silver and tariff questions.
~
AT the beginning of every Congress the
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds make a solemn compact with
some caterer to keep the restaurant of
the House of Representative during the
season. One express condition of the
contract invariably has been that no in
toxicating liquors shall be sold, and one
invarable practice of the caterer has
been to sell all sorts of intoxicating
liquors. Speaker Reeds order that no
more liquor traffic should be carried on
in the House restaurant is to be inter-
preted in a Pickwickian sense. 1t simply
means that hereafter gentlemen will be
expected to sit down to their drinks, in
stead of standing at the bar, and that
the former custom of serving whiskey in
tea-cups is to be revived.
~
Senator Carlisle seems to be taking
hold of his new business as though he
understood it. As a member of the FL