Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-16
TAKING ASHEvILLE's CENSUS.
Senator Vance Replies Rather Sharply
to Superintendent Porter's Letter.

Senator Vance has replied to the recent let
ter received from Census Superintendent Por-
ter, in which the latter calls his attention to
the statement of supervisor that the people
Of Asheville were evading the duty of answer
ing the census questions and calling upon the
Senator to use his influence with the people SO
that the census work will not be interfered
with. Senator Vance expresses surprise that
Mr.. Porter should attribute so much importance
to the supervisors letter: IF indeed he wrote
it, which / am inclined to doubt as 1 am In
formed by Representative Ewart that he was
not at home on the day OF its date. regret
also the readiness which you evince to believe
evil OF the people of Asheville, n. c., on the
mere report of enumerators whose chief COM
plant seems to be that they are not making
more than $3.50 per day. These enumera-
tors do not state in how many instances the
people have evaded them, nor do they profess
to know whether the excuses made by the
servant at the door were genuine or pre-
tended They evidently are of the opinion that
1t is the duty OF every householder in Asheville
to sit patiently IN his house from day to day in
the expectation that the enumeration may posi-
bly, call in order that he may make more than
$50 per day. l protest against making the
people of Asheyiile' responsible for the I'M
known few who send a servant to the door say
ing, There is no one here who can give in the
dealt with Individually. and the law-ablding
people of Asheville' should not suffer in their
reputation for the misdoiug of few. lam sure
your own sense of justice will suggest the i'm
propriety of holding the citizens OF AsLeville'
responsible for an anonymous circular that is
neither signed by responsible name nor shown
to have been distributed with anybody's appro-
baton. | have not heard anything from the
citizens of Asheville and have no information
on the subject save that which is contained in
l..fta ht,%
that the whole matter is exaggerated aud that
you will find 10 more difficulty in taking The
census there than i'll any other city.
If your enumerators know how to behave
themselves they will meet with no trouble in
the discharge of their duties.
Il cannot conclude this letter without adj
verting to statement III the conclusion of
yours that everything had been done which
was III your power to have competent men ap-
pointed as supervisors aud enumc rators. Per-
NIT me to say that you might have consulted
and advised with those who are intimately ac-
guainted with the country and the people and
who were members Of a political party differ
ent from your own.
Il have received information, both by pri-
vate letter and the public prints. that in
quite a number OF instances in North Carolina
enumerators who had been appointed and were
at work had been removed tor no reason ex-
cept that they were democrats, and republi-
cans. sometimes colored men, were put in their
places.
This, you will admit is calculated to irritate
the people and impress them with the idea that
the census is not to be a fair one. OF course
this Is an incorrect idea, but where 50 much
has been done to excite peoples displeasure it
should serve to make you charitable toward an
occasional display Of reese ntment
'Of course. if satisfied that there is any real
trouble in obtaining d proper census of Ashe-
vile, such influence as l may have with those
people shall be freely exerted to assist your
officers