New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-28
ANGRY
THEMES ARREST LOUDLY DENOUNCED.
NO MORE CENSUS E~SUMERAToRs CALLED TO
TILE WITNESS TAN

no MORE CENSUS E~SUMERAToRs CALLED TO
TIE WITNESS STAND.
Tic Assembly Committee on Enumeration and Reap
portiOnment, appointed to PICK ha"s N 'e feucta1
Census Of 1890. resumed It's session In Part II, eu'
pcrior Court. Yesterday morning, with Wright Holcomo
the chairman. as usual, presiding. AS was to be ex'
uectDd. the arrest OF Alfred b. Theme, the census
cnumcrator, who confessed himself to be guilty OF max
ing a false certificate while t~esthying before the COM
mIttce. with the evident intention Of assisting the
committee in its search for something discreditable, had
an extremely irritating effect on the nerves OF inc
Democratic majority. Before the session began CHAir-
man Io.comb denounced the arrest OF linehle d > "
persecution by the Federal authorities, although 10 was
presiding when Theme testified TO making a laiso 'c.'
tincatc. Franklin Bartlett, the committees couiSe''
also, was much pcrturbed, and appeared restless
nervous during the preliminary hours. Mr.. MOtl, t"e
representative Of the Federal Department Oh 'uS"oo'
sat quietly at the reporters table, calm ana appareHuS
epioyiuc the perturbation Of the committeeman VINO
lad deemed it within their province hfSt 10 CaecNS'
the Federal authorities and then 10 snub theHl'
For a few minutes after the committee was oalou "
order tho proceedings were quiet enough oh'ou
States Commissioner Shields was the tlst Wllhess oaNu
70 the stand, and In reply to Mr.. baruetVS que'"Vo
lie testified that in 1880 he issued warrants i'' ~
arcs; Of 125 persons OH the complaint OF ehumciao'''
for violations of tho census law OF 1882 III leAuSt"s
TO answer questions. At that time he was h"V oaieo
imam to issue warrants for the arrest Of any cnnhlefF
TORS. He issued one for the arrest OF A. b. lmemo on
February "a, who was the only enumeraVoF "mo h"u
been charged with violation of the census ACT me'ho
he said. was charged with Issuing a false ceruhcdte'
At this point Mr.. Bartlett fairly boiled over uhaoie
longer to restrain himself. lie proceeded TO eodteSs
the committee in the most imprisoned manner.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen Of the committee
he said at is proper to. draw your atlcnuoh an
OUTRAGE that has been committed, TO an imam! WH'"
has beon uerpetrated. ! alude 10 the arrest OF 'hleme'
co. u- -D.1r am his arrest MIS- DOt
made in vipdicatlon Of the majesty Of the law, but II Is
a vIDdlctve persecution intended TO intinidate other
persons who might be summoned mere " "9 sun.
Themes certificate was made hNe mohVhs "7o' "1
been published and not until now mas IL peeH 'IAf
lengcd.'
Mr. BARTLETT WAS too excited, perhaps, 10 call at
+ention 70 the fact that the Federal authorities mlsht
never have known that Themes certificate was IAse
had he not appeared before the committee ana sworn
that he had not enumerated all the people III III
district.
Mr.. Bartlett continued: " 1 care not for whom or by
ubon This action has been taken. 1t is not for per
iury that Theme has been arrested; it is for daring 10
come here and tell the truth. Theme was uhhho"h
to NE until he appeared here last Friday nc Ca"c
10 my Office the day before he was arrested ana told ho
that he had heard Of his impending arrest thd' TIC ""e
a DOOR man and feared he was 10 be prosecuted lr nav
ing testified before this committee. l appeared as coul,
sci for this humble citizen alter his arrest as ! "Vuiu
fUr any cuzcn I'm ueed of counsel, under direction OF the
cont. do not charge him a fee. nor did | appear III
his defence a. the counsel for the committee. l COZ
!ess that hitherto l believed That the errors III wv
Federal census brought out in this examination were
errors Of negligence or malfeasanCe. Dut "hen q uVs,
pOlic attempt II made TO punish a witness, l leel tid
more serious causes are TO be found.
Mr.. HildNeth, one of the Republican members OF te
committee, when Mr.. Bartlett paused here LOT Dreatn,
asked lin if he did not know that Themes oath as an
enui1eratOr did not prohibit him from divulg1ng any,
thing that was revealed 10 him during his Official
duties. In Vply, Mr.. Bartlett declared that INC
enumerators were not required 10 certify mat they han
accurately enumerated their districts. me WORD
accurately. he said, did Tot appear. Mr.. iilidreih
said that other words which meant the same tnlns dM
aupear. and Theme had sworn before the committee
flat when he made his certificate he knew
he had left unenumeTated. 400 persons in MS district.
Mr.. Bartlett did not continue his dcnunclatoTy al
dress. but instead, offered in evidence an article from a
newspaper which denounced the committee for us
0bulldGzing" tactics. while in another column was the
text " 4 soft answer tIrncLI away wrath Tine arucIe
and the text We're placed on record.
The committee adjourned until III O'Clock this morn
ing