New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-07
THE NEWBORN CENSUS CASE.
SUPERINTENDENT PORTER'S STRONG STATE
MENT.
HIS REVIEW OF TIE CONTROVERSY IN
TRUSTwORTHINEsS OF EsTIMNTES-t III.
COUNT NOT Likely ON THE STRENGTH

OF TAMNANY'S EVIDENCE.

he that Congress has the power to amend The Census
to provide for the remuneration of the popu
laon OF any Statc-a proposition which no sane or ID
telgent person will be likely to deny. Nv Bower
Appeared 20 feel that his presentation of tie case ~
to the second Ward on yesterday was inadequate. and
he therefore supplemented II by statements when
did not to be in wise material 50 far A. me
demand for recount Of the whole city is concerned
Ii appeared that many Of the afdavltN submitted are
in the handwriting Of the fifteen noarles before whom
they subscribed. and that the municipal enuh@h
ton of that ward was made by two police officers
Mr. Bowers was unable 10 give any satisfactory reason
why the police returns were not submitted 10y nm
a. part of his case and he showed disposition -
night shy when members of the committee pressed
him on that point He finally said, however. That the
returns would be produced before the commit" II Dc
sired.
Mr. Bowcrs's arguments have been so loose and dl'
cursivc and the socalled evidence which he has sub
mitted has been so weak and incoucu-ve that 10 must
have made only a slight impression upon tho com
nttee 1t is altogether probable that unloS- the Tam
many authorities present better and fuller evidence
than they have Vet submitted the Census Committee
will not recommend the adoption Of Mr. Flower 5
resolution.
Superintendent Porter did not have time 10 complete
hi, reply TO-DAY but far il went his answers Ia
the assertions Of the city authorities and their attorney
most conclusive not 10 say crushing ne ga mol
discuss any If the legal questions f. which MI Bowers
devoted much time. After calling attention 7" certain
unjust inference, suggested by the preamble 70 Mr.
Flowers resolution. meeting fha attitude ard a'tl"
Of the Census bureau regard To the pending c'n-
trovcr,v Nr Porter devoted himself wholly 10 r.
hear,inc the Official history OF the census OF N'"
York CITY. and Of the resulting controversy. and -
answering various allegations down 10 ana n'!HHli~
his memorandum i'm reply to the first preamble and
resolutions of the New York Board of Nlt which
momorandum has already been published IN The
| Tr buuo-a portion of It september il. and the rc
mainder November 20.
Mr. Porter Showed that. until Yesterday. D" mover
had been placed u possession of q single fact h' ih'
municipal authorities Of New York ln support Of ii'
d,mand fol a recount Of the popuE'. of iInt rN'h
city, despite efforts - Obtain such facts hy application
in the proper official quarters, lie recalled th' fat
that no COMPLIANT wa, brought 20 hi> motto" ohi
cally until september b. nearly nine week AFTER t'
| official enumeration wss published HAT every news
paper and other compliant prior =" that d''" h'N
been carefully Investigated by special age ~ "a"
Censl, Bureau with the result u adding 80 name
10 the original returns; that in the period u MIN"
/ weeks A, well A. i'm the time between Jur" ara
Tuy L. neither the Health Department Dor Ai}
other branch Il the municipal government hAH h'"''
any complaint whatever either o. supervisor pHrF'i'
whose Office near Or 70 the superintendent ' UT"
Consus lie also called attention 20 the f1oi that the
allegation, contained IN the preamble and resolution
If the Board of Aldermen were "i general nature
and wholly unsupported by evidence. - far ~ 90"
allegations rested upon tho report Of the c' hAi~iH
/ u Vital statistic, lie showed that the official
enumeration did no, indicai" large or ahH"F"-.
increase III the death rat" IF the ctt' A. ''HF''"
with the census of l-1O.
Mr. porter's answer completely refutod the charce
that he had refused or neglected - respond 10 f'
proper Request made by tie municipal adiht'l'-.
when their application for copie, Of ID" schedules
Tor the second Ward received N"vru1er II. there
were invent, f9ur Other similar applications ah"ih ~ H
/ luri mt Of ~ - r..