The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-02
THE CENSUS FARCE.
The Chamber of Commerce
Takes Action.
Mr.. pRoscH's EXPLANATION.
Railroads Have Taken Away Many
Laborers-Tacoma Returns Padded
The Recount Fraud.

The census figures published in the Posr-IS-
1ELLEGEScEE were the one subject of converse
ton in the city yesterday and only two opinions
were expressed on the subject: That Seattle's
population was placed tho low. or Tacoma's too
high There were many who did not hesitate
70 say that Seattle was placed too low at the
same time that Tacoma was placed too high
The only motive that hipdered demand for q
recount was an unwillingness TO question the
accuracy OF Supervisor Prosch's work.
The board OF trustees OF the Chamber OF Com
mercc took up the subject promptly. and dis
cussed IL ct considerable length. Mr.. Prosch.
who il a member of the board, very naturally
maintained tint his figures were accurate, and
explained the wide difference between the city
census and the United States census by the large
migration Of men who are legitimately residents
Of Seattle, to work on the numerous railroads
under construction in the Sound country. He
estimated that from s.000 to 5000 people, chiefly
1aborefs had left the city since the May census
OF these he eays, 200 are working at Kirkland.
while there are nearly 1000 on the Port Town
send Southern railroad. 800 TO 600 on the Fair
haven 4 Southern and Fairhaven & Northern
railroads, many on the Union Pacific in Pierce
connty, 1000 on each of the roads under con-
ssrucsion to Gray's harbor. 800 on the Northern
Pacific road to Durham, and that large proper
ton Of these were drawn from Seattle.
Finally, on motion OF Mr.. Whittier. committee
Of three was appointed TO consider the matter
with Mr. Prosch and report at the earliest pos
sible moment what action IL is advisable 10 take.
The committee Is composed Of Messrs Whittier,
Mitten and Chaplin.
The committee made several attempts to come
together during the afternoon, but failed, and
finally arranged to meet at $50 O'Clock this
morning.
In conversation with reporter for the Posi-
IETELLI6EEcEa, Mr.. Prosch said: "The figures
published in the Posi-. IETELLIGENcER are 200 to
900 less than mine, but tina. fact is probably due
TO errors in the additions made By enumerators.
NJ did not go over their figures
81 do not think it is difficult to account for the
decrease from the returns of the city census
taken in May The tide of immigration. which
comes in January, February and March, has
about stopped, only tourists are coming now,
and the immigration Is not likely to begin again
in full tide until fall At the same time large
number OF men have been drawn from the city
TO work on railroads to the north aud south,
those for the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific
having gone right into Pierce county, while
the anticipated railroad work in this city has
not begun yet II they had carried out their
promises, the Union Pacific and Great Northern
would each have employed 1000 men right in
the city aud these would probably have caused
the employment OF IS many more persons in
the city. But while this work has not begun
and have drawn after them the disreputable
classes which depend on them.
THE enumerators all swore that they would
do the work thoroughly, and said on their con-
science when they completed 1t that they had
done 1t properly and signed certificates to that
effect don't consider that / am justified in
doubting them.
''Mr. Whittier brought up the question at the
Chamber OF Commerce trustees meeting but he
and MeEsrs. Graves, Chaplin, Rochester and Nit
ten al said that they thought the figures were
about right and the other members did not
question the correctness of them. recount
was talked Of but nothing to that effect was
DONE
AS the papers have all been sent in TO Mr..
jenkins. there would be no way OF checking the
returns in case Of Q recount, and the only object
Of making 1t would be to pad the returns. We
can't take the word OF every Tom, Dick and
Harry that he has not been counted, and send in
his name without going over the papers to see
whether he has been counted or not. The fact
that the two districts in Tacoma for which a re-
count Is demanded are each put down at an even
200 is suspicious, and the only effect OF re-
count can be to pad the returns and perpetuate
fraud, for the Tacoma people can no more get
their first returns back to verify the recount
than we can"
The following letter from leading business
man Of Seattle 10 Of interest in this connection.
To THE EDIroR-The following little instance
proving the census farce I'm this city is one
among many that have come to my notice Mr.
II y. Phillips, councilman from the Third ward,
employs fourteen men IN his livery stable at
the corner of Filth and Pine streets Above the
stable are thirty-four rooms rented to families
The occupants OF these rooms and Mr.. Phillips
employees make an aggregate of nearly 100 per.
aous, and a census enumerator has not been
near the place.
The people OF Seattle win surely not permit
census taken in such manner to go on re-
cord without vigorous protest C.TC."
William l. Ellis, who lives at the southwest
corner Of Seventh and Union streets, states that
he was not counted In the census
+. NJ. Daulton, of Graham & Daulton, says that
the enumerator may have called, but did not get
the names OF his family.
A. Harker of 2,0i2 Fifth street. where there
are seven residents, says that no enumerator
called at his house
AL persons who know or believe that they
have not been enumerated are requested to send
to the Observation-Disclosures editorial rooms their
names. addresses and the number of residents
In the house.