Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-05
ST. PAUL's COUNT.
The Citizens Committee and Mr.. Porter
Talk to Secretary Noble.

For some days past committee representing
the chamber Of commerce Of St Paul have
been at work in the Census Office examining
the evidence upon which the recent order for
a recount of the population was ordered Today
they presented the results of their examination
to Secretary Noble. An interested group was
gathered about the secretary's desk while the
conference was in progress. The st. Paul
committee, consisting of Mr.. George
Cochran, ex-senator Mcmillan and Messrs.
Castle and Driscoll, we're seated on
one side and Superintendent Porter,
Prof Gannett, Mr.. Chittenden, Mr.. Wardle,
Mr.. Hyde and other census office officials oc-
cupied the opposite side. A fringe Of news
paper men surrounded the group and two or
three stenographers recorded what was said.
TEE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The report Of the committee was presented
by Mr.. Cochran, who had been made special
agent Of the Census Office In order that he
might have free access to the schedules. The
report dissected the evidence of irregu-
ONCE and which were based mainly on
an insurance map OF the city. It was shown
very conclusively by the committee that the
map was unreliable, but it was frankly stated
that the returns from nine districts were so inn
perfect as to warrant q recount or a thorough
completed. 1t was argued that the imperfec-
lions existing in the st. Paul census were prob
ably mother different in quantity or quality
from those found in the census of other cities.
and which might be said to be an incident OF
the present method OF taking the census.
The committee expressed qualification that
the Secretary and the census officials had made
no imputation OF fraud upon the citizens of st.
Paul, and stated that they had been given
every facility.
sUPT. PoRTER's STATEMENT.
Supt. Porter in his reply stated that any in
accuracies discovered in the St. Paul census re-
fected upon the Census Office aud not upon
the people Of that city, rs the work was done
by the Census Office. He said that including
the nine districts admitted by the committee
to be defective it was found
that there were thirty-four districts where,
owing to Implications Of names and to other
causes, the schedules we're so defective as to
justify him in maintaining that there should
be an entire recount Of the population OF the
city; In verifying the results there had been
made in the Census Office an alphabetical
arrangement OF the names put down on the
schedules and while this work was not as yet
complete, still in the letter G. alone they had
found Implications amounting to per cent.
As rapidly AS possible, he said, this examine
ton would be completed and the results made
known.
THE SECRETARY WILL WAIT.
Secretary Noble, in summing up the results
Of the conference, said that his order direct
ing recount was Of course founded upon in
formation furnished by the superintendent of
the census. He said that Mr.. Porter had
conducted the affairs 'Aof that great
bureau with skill and judgment, and
the accuracy and efficiency Of the work was in
his opinion, something marvellous. He, there
fore. was not prepared to resclnd the order.
The evidence upon which he had
based his order, even upon the ad-
mission of the committee, was sufficient
to cast suspicion upon the entire census. He
therefore wanted the investigation that was
now being made by Mr.. Porter Of the st. Paul
schedule to be continued and when that was
done then he would determine whether to
rescnd his order or not.
This terminated the conference and the COM
mi,tee, after thanking the Secretary for his at