The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-10-29
ARE THESE THINGS TRUE?
The National Democrats" Charges
Against the Census Office.

WASHINGTON. Oct. lS.-The Ma
tional Democrat in its issue to-day, un-
der the head Of Scandals in the Census
Bureau" says:
"Nhy did Porter take the trip to En-
gland at the time he did: Was 1t be-
cause of ovcrwork? His boon compan-
ions looked upon him as a very healthy
and vigorous man two days before he
left, and all who have knowledge of his
method in the conduct ofhis Office are
surprised to learn that he overtaXed his
brain or permitted himself TO be wor-
ried in the least, so far as the official
cares of his office were concerned. One
thing is sure: Porter's health at the
time he left was the very best.
did he take this trip for private spec
ulation? While the reason Of his hur.
ried departure is known, it is only nee
essary to state at present that he had
not shaken the dust of Washington from
off his feet before Secretary Noble be.
gan a hurried but earnest investigation
Of the Census Office. The full result
Of this investigation has not as vet been
made known but the Secretary has al.
ready satisfied himself that hundreds ol
positions IN the Census Office under
Superintendent Porter have been farmed
out, one woman securing over twenty
places which she has farmed out to wo-
men who pay her large percentage Of
their salaries: that wholesale liquor
dealer was given a $2,400 place because
he furnished bondsmen for the Disbur-
sing Clerk, (himself being one,) and
presenting many cases Of goods to Sup
erintendent Porter; that hundreds Of ele-
ctrical machines were contracted for by
Porter at $6 per day for the use Of each
machine, and that this contract was
with relative of Porter's.
Numbers of these machines were
found to be useless, and are stored away
in the ninth story Of the Ninth street
building. Not one Of the machines full
filled the conditions of the contract.
They were to tabulats the enumeratlons,
giving sex. color, nativity, sc. With
the exception of adding, they were total
failures, and the entire work must be
done over.
''The Secretary had discovered that
because Of a very favorable case to the
owner Of a certain building, the owners
carriage calls morning and evening fol-
Chief Clerk Childs. The wife of the
driver Of said carriage is on the pay roll
at $50 per month, in charges Of the
chairworlan; but, as she is unable to
read or write. poor white woman keeps
the record for her. The white woman
gets but $50 per month.
THE Secretary has learned that sc
many empty bottles that had contained
liquor were being thrown out of the
back windows of the Ninth street build
Ing into the narrow alley that it was
positively dangerous to the employees
below. and that they had filled protest
since which time the empty bottles have
been packed in boxes. covered with pa
per and carried out IN the night.
He has learned Of rich suppers anc
grand blow outs at Cabin Johns anc
Glen Echo, where employees, male anc
female, were driven directly from the
Census Office at all hours of the day
and night. One noted supper, for 8
favored few, recently cost the favored
contractor Of the electrical machines &
very large sum of money.
THE Secretary has learned many
other things that he may not deem il
policy to tell, but there will be an IN
vestigation when Congress meets in De-
cember, and then the people will learn
Of the disgraceful methods that prevail
| in the Census Office"