New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-17
THE QUEER CENSUS INQUIRY
SUPERVISOR MURRAY BLOCK IHE EAAL.
REFUSING TO ANSWER WITHOUT THE ADVICE
OF Ills COUNSEL.

REFUSING TO ANSWER II THE ADVICE
OF Ills COUNSEL.
The Assembly special COMMITTEES on Enumeration
and REINFORCEMENT resumed It's sessions III Fart H.
.uncrior Court. at IL O'Clock yesterday morning.
Wright lIolcomb presided. as usual. Charles H. Mur'
ray. local supervisor Of the census. was agdi! called TO
I'm. stand. and he expressed a willingness to answer
all question, that the committees counsel hal any right
TO ask. HIS interests were cared for again by Mr..
Mott.
Wrangling began within a minute after Mr.. Murray
took the stand. Mr.. Bartlett, for tie committee,
asked the witness to compare his division OF the city
for the purposes OF enumeration with the election dis
,ricis a, published By The Uity Record with the Oh
jcct Of seeing whether the census agreed with those
election districts. Mr.. Murray stepped down 10 the
reporters table to compare the schedules, ana whilc
lie was thus engaged Mr. Bartlett called MI. wilson,
president of the Board Of Health, To the witnes'-stand.
Mr.. Mott catered Into a whispered conversation VII hr.
Murray. 10 which Chairman llolcomb objected on the
ground fiat Mr.. Murray was still on the witnessStind.
Mr.. Mott denied that Mr.. Murray was on the stand, and
insisted that he had a right 10 confer with Inn. This
was after Mr.. Wilson had been sworn. Chairman
uolcomb arose and pounded vigorously with his saycl,
while Dir. Mott simply looked at him with calm won
dermcnt. When lie had finished pounding, Mr.. Mott
asked blandly " IOI can't nave TWO Witnesses on the
stand at once, can you!"
Chairman IIOlc0mb pounded with his gavcl some
more, and then b%rusqucly told Mr. Mott that he would
not be permitted to make any further Interruptions.
This was somewhat ludicrOus, as Mr.. Mott had scarcely
had a word to say in rcmonstrancc to the picpostcrou5
position OF the chairman. Then Hr Mott asked if
be was not to be allowed TO object 10 questions con-
corning the official conduct Of Mr.. Murray. Mr.. lIol-
comb rcpHel " Not until the committee knows what IL
is that the witness has been asked to say. Further
more, the witness will not be permitted to ask You
every time whether he shall answer a question or not
With q humorous assumption Of humility, Mr.. Mott
asked if he would lie allowed 10 remain in the room aS
the Witness counsel, and as the representative OF
tile United states Attorney General. Chairman
Holcomb said that Mr.. Mott could please him
self. Il made 10 difference whether lie stayed
or went away. Mr.. Bartlett declared that
if the committee were to be subjected to Interruptions
by Mr.. Mott, it would be better 10 rule AT once That
Mr.. Mott lad 10 standing before the committee. Mr..
Ilolc0mb agreed to this. and ordered Mr.. Murray To
the chair and 10 answer in regard to the comparison
Of the city's divisions. Mr.. Mott directed the witness
not 70 answer the question, As it related to his duties
a. supervisor.
Chairman Ilolcomb became absolutely crimson in
the face with anger at this objection. and proceeded to
exercise his muscular right arm with his Innocent
looking gavcl. When he mad shown that his o!hcial
dignity was all in his gavcl. lie pcremptorIly ordered
Mr.. Mott, who va, leaning back IN his chair,
TO sit down. Mr. Mott suddenly continued to sit down,
and Mr.. IlOlcOmb ordered the witness to answer the
question. At this Mr.. Mott put on his over
coat, muttcring that he would withdraw from
such a lreposterous proceeding, and he left the room.
Mr.. Murray now put a block In the way Of the com
mittce by refusing t. answer any more questions with
out consulting his counsel. Mr. Bartlett objected. on
the ground that the counsel had no standing before
the committee. Mr.. Murray persisted In his refusal
10 answer more questions, whCreupOn Hartman iIOl
comb announced that Mr.. Murray examination would
be suspended until Friday.
As Mr.. Murray LETT the stand he wa, served with an
order to be present on Friday. and then 10 produce al
document, In his possession relating 10 the census in
quiry.
Tnc examination Of Nj. Wilson wa, resumed. lie
cxpll!ucd in detail the scope OF the work OF the Board
Of Health. and the duties % its commissioners and
bureaus. lie sad it Wa impossible for a death 20
occur IA the Gty without The Board Of Health knowing
Of IL. There were. he said. $3.50 tenement houses ia
New York. according 70 the INSPECTION Of December,
lass. Tenement house Inspections, were made semi
annually. All houses hav4a- three or more families
were CHASED a, tenement houses, but THIS did not IN
clude the big apartment houses. The 1880 tcnc-
ncnt houses contained 2r7,972 families, or a total pop
ula,lJn oil l%.JgO,7Ol. H. December. lo-J, the number
Of tcaeincuthou,c, had increased to 3o,l3i. These
figure, were obtained. Nr. Wilson sa.d. In accordance
with a plan for the collection Of vital statistic Tor the
census OF l-gO, a. agreed upon b. the Board u
Health, and Dr.. John =. Billings. representing the
Federal Census BuFcau. The figure, were forwarded 10
Washington, and, Nj. Wilson said, were nov IN the
possession Of the Federal authOnue,.
\ vOlumiuOu, CORES %r"ud"utc Lad taken place, Nr.
wilson SAID, between TN ccu-G, officials and the Board
Of lI,iil. and AT one time nine ,lcIa, were specially
cmDlut Il by the Board 10 compile Information required
by the census Bureau, which Information WAS desired
by the Federal authorities A. a guld" for other large
cirr,. Mr.. wilson sad that the preliminary estimate
by The Board Oi Health Of the population ~ the cty
was IGI3OOO. This estimate wa made before
supervisor Murray's estimate VI 1877 900 wae pub
Isncd. The tenement house Inspection between jar.
ualy and July, l-gO, showed - 80 tenement houses.
with an estimated population Of l~,2HJ,Jii. This,
however. was not proof of the incOfrcctncss OF inc
Federal census. MIR. Wilson said, and other conpuja
tiDns made showed an Increase IN the death rate Ol
1880, in some wards, as compared win uc dciut rate
OF 1853.
While Mr.. Wilson was stil on the stand. the com
mittcc adopted resolutions Of regret al the d"tih OI
General sherman, ana ont Of respect 10 hs memory,
voted 10 adjourn TO Friday, at IL a. III.