The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-22
PORTER kept AT WORK,
Trying to Bunco Alleged
Agricultural Infor-
nation.
FARMERS AND THEIR DEBTS
Papa Harrison Wants to Know How
His Dear Children Are Getting
Along-Costly Salaries
Continued.


publican party to keep in existence, and
possibly perpetuity, corrupt bureau OF
high paid officials whose labors have re-
suited in multitude Of lies, supported
an army of devotees to the G. o. p. but
have not accomplished anything else
Under ordinary circumstances the labors
of the Census Office should long ago have
ended, and the false records made by ir
filed In the Department Of the Interior.
This, however, is not the case. Robert
p. Porter, Superintendent Of Census, was
placed in his position because of his abil-
ity to distribute patronage where it
would do the most good, and, like a faith
full henchman, he did so. His only in-
junction was to follow orders, and to fol-
low oroers meant a gross misrepresenta-
ton of the statistics of this country
The latest act of this man Por6er is in
harmony with his past insolence and
fraudulent work, and it also involves the
administration as party to and indorser
of the scheme TO continue In Office an ex :
pensive bureau OF high paid officials. To
hoodwink the people into q belief that the
existence of the Census Bureau is neces-
sarY, Porter has, with the undoubted
sanction of the administration. iSsued
circular that for pure ana unadulteratsd
official insolence has never been paralelled
in this county. To make it more forcible
he has added TO the circular a printed
opinion of W. H. H. Miller, Attorney
General and law partner Of PresidenJ
Harrison.
WHAT THE DOCUMENT SAYS.
The circular sets forth that to ascertain
! the owners of farms ana homes and the
| amount of Indebtedness on those that are
| occupied by owners, the Census Otflce
| has mailed circulars TO several million
! owners. To this is added the false state-
| ment that "a large portion" of these peo-
| pie have responded promptly, aud the
\ paper concludes with this delusive san
| tence:-"If the persons VINO have failed to
report in regard to this matter, as re-
| quested will at once comply with the
| law, this Investigation Will soon be COM
pleted."
| 10 this appeal for pretense to keep up
| this expensive bureau, Superintendent
| Porter adds threat In the form OF an
| opinion from Attorney General Miller
| which reads thus
| DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
''WASHINGTON. d. c.
October 3, 1891
"SIR:-In response to your letter of the
255h ultimo with reference
| TO the ownership of farms and the amount
| of mortgage thereon, beg to assure You
| of the cooperation OF the Department of
Justice with the Census Office in purstt-
| ing the Investigation directed by the ACT
| of Congress, approved February 22. 1890.
| A prosecution has already heen instituted
| against resident of Iowa for refusing to
| answer the questions contained in the cir
1 cuIar sent to him, by the Census Office
Upon complaint of the Census office the
| United States District Attorneys will be
| instructed to begin triminal prosecutions
| against those persons whos refuse to am
l.~r, Ian nft,rh N ir-
| cular issued under the authority OF the
| law referred to. Very respectfully,
"W. H. II. MILLER.
ATTORNEY General
'sThe Secretary Of the Interior"
A BUREAUCRATIC THREAT.
1 The act referred to III this opinion pro-
| vides:-"That it shall be the duty OF the
| Superintendent of Census, iu addition to
| the duties now required of him by law,
to ascertain the number of persons who
| live on and cultivate their own farms,
| and who live in their own homes, and
the number who hire their farms and
homes, and the number of farms and
| homes which are under mortgage. the
amount of the mortgage debt and the
| value of the property mortgageu. He
shall also ascertain whether such farms
| and homes have been mortgaged for the
whole or part of the purchase money for
the same, or for other purposes, and the
rates of interest paid upon the mortgaged
| loans"
The law also provides that. of those re-
quested to supply the particu-
lars of information required.
NV hoever shall wilfully fail or refuse.
shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and
| upon conviction thereof. shall be fined in
sum not exceeding $780,"
A few days ago a resident of this city
received an envelope from the Census
Office containing the insolent demand for
this information, endorsed by the quoted
threat, and blank to be filled out in re-
sponse to the questions asked. The ques-
tions are put thus
IL Amount of mortgages, liens and all
other kinds of membranes on the farm
you owned and cultivated, or on tho
home you owned aud occupied, unpaid,
June /, 1890, not including interest.
80 Market value of the farm or home,
June /, 1890. Iflthere was crop lien, re-
port home value of crop when ready for
marker.
- Annual rate of interest actually
paid.
a. Object of the Indebtedness"
1t Is needless to say that this citizen
will not answer these insolent ques-
tions, and that they were only mailed to
the people in this country to make an sx-
euse for the continuation to pay the ex-
penses of the notorious Census Office.
| pnI n IliI pppGELp CuInQ