New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-14
ON THE WRONG TRACK.
INFORMATION, THEREFORE,, REFUSED.
crvsrs INVESTIGATE BLOCKED BY sUPERN
rENDEXT PORTER AND SUPERVISOR
MURRAY.

y, ascertain and report the best way OF Obtaining
correct enumeration Of the population OF the state mel
araIn Yesterday in Part Second OF the superior OouI'
In nroceeding with its work the Democratic majority
% the committee seems impressed with the idea tha'
It's only function is TO investigate the manner IN "ch
,bo last Federal census was taken in this city. TO
mat end Charles IL. Murray, the supervisor OF uic
Ce,sus in New York, kept on the stand all day
Yesterday but without bringing out any facts wl'h
which the public is not already familiar The manner
In which little was accomplished, however was
Interesting. .
All Of the members of the committee present
with Wright IIolcomb in the chair. The others are
Perciva Farquhar, C. r. sutherland, Wilbur H. SeIecN
and r. NJ. Hilarch. Franklin Bartlett appeared d.
counsel for the committee and John .. MOl was
present to take care Of MI MuTays interests lhero
was an evident spirit of hostility, on the part OF INC
committee to Mr. Mott from the start Before ule
proceedings began Mr. Mott asked permission 10 MANI
a statement Mr.. Bartlett objected, unless MI Mot'
would state specifically in whose behat he aPpe'ou
Mr. Mott replied that he was present by orecuon VI
the Attorney General of the United states ChaiEh"
JIocomb declared that that not sufficient srouiu
TO entite him TO be heard wilereupon nj 9lo'' '"
That he represented Mr.. Murray Mr.. Mo't 'neH S'lu
that Mr. Murray had been instructed that he heeu ho'
answer any questions in relation TO inc manner vi
taking the last Federal census, or produce any uoou
meDts or papers in connection thereWlui' ITO Pi0
ceeded 10 tell the committee how an investigation Vi
made but was interrupted by Mr. Bartlett, VINO oo'
,eced TO having any statement of that kind made 10
the committee. An animated discussion lohO"0u
which resulted in the committee sustaining Mt barV
let's objection Mr. Ildreth cast the Only Aes"'i'o
vote 49,. -,
Mr. BARTLETT then wanted to know If Mr. Mott hau
any naner Of instructions from the United states Gov
eminent. and Mr. Mott said he had "Wlll you
produce it 2" asked Mr.. HOlcomb and Mr. MotV olu'H
replied. " | will not" Thereupon the chairman ruieu
that Mr. Mott could not be heard, ana MI D"i"
proceeded with his examination OF the WINES AZ
reply to questions Mr. Murray sara that a' ''o 10
session of tn, committee he had received teegapiHo
instructions from Mr. Porter, directing him TO answer
oil ouestions but since then he had received written
instructions to the contrary. He produceo MI roi''
letter was directed to read it to the commi'ee' anu
complied. 1t was as follows ,,
Nv dear sir: Your letter of February . Is ieceNeu'
and I'm reply beg to say that when teegrapheu you
nm saturday 10 answer all questions l was suffering
uuder The misapprchensOn that the legislative coiV
tee referred 10 had been appointed for Tie purpose "
Investigating the several methods OF ehuhe'"uoh ~
a,ccrtaining the best way TO take STATE CELSIUS
ing learned however from the action OF inc ooinnit''
On saturday and from your letter OF the 9'h' u'".
,l,o pnr,se is 10 investigate the action OF Inc ohI'ou
STATES laws am of opinion that II Is not necessary
for YOU or for any other United States ohcla' "
answer either to the process Of the committee or any
questions that may be asked relating 10 your o''4
a.
" The census of New-YOrk as well as lhe CENSUS Vi
any other norton of the country, be investigated
bv any properly constituted authority. All DoohS'
papers correspondence and facts relauhg thcleVo '
omen 10 the freest public inspection through suc prop
cry constituted authorities, and am IeduS "V "S
time 10 hive the fullest facility for such ah
investigation While As census expert there Is no
ohiection TO YOUR giving any testimony you may THINK
proper YOU are hereby instructed not to answer any
questions or produce any papers touching upon NouI
official action as supervisor OF the census ohouIu
nny attempt be made TO punish you, the Dls'rlc'
Attorney has been directed at once to apply ior
writ of habeas corpus in the Federal Court, with
view Of obtaining your release. You will please confer
with Mr.. Mitchell in reference to this letter.
"ROBERT 7. PORTER
Chairman Holcomb became red in the face as the
reading Of the letter went and at the emu he ue-
clared tnat it was impernence and ought not 10
20 on the records. Mr.. Hlldreth called attention TO
N, fact that il was the committees counsel who had
called for Tie letter. and, therefore, 1t should DC
recorded in the minutes. Mr.. Bartlett himself favored
puttnc il ON the record, and it was 50 ordered MT
Murray replied to the questions OF MI Bafleu ana VI
Chairman Holcomb good naturedly. Mr. Murray was
asked about a mistake in adding the census re-
turns and the discovery of the error by MI WILSON,
the chief clerk. The correction of this error Mr.
Murray said reduced the total by $4,000 names.
By advice of his counsel, Mr. Murray refused to say
how many Of the census enumera'orS nc hhe" per
I'm the various districts by request of the Republican
loader, Chairman Holcomb insisted that Mr.. MURRAY
shopld answer but the witness positively DEFINED
and Mr. HocOmb directed Mr. Bartlett TO draw up
the proper papers for reporting MI Murray 10 tho
Uouse ard having him punished for contempt ScV-
eal other similar questions were asked. all Of Wlch
IN. witness refused to answer. lie replied. however
READILY to all questions which did not Involve MS
official action lie refused to produce any documents
and the attempt compel him to do SO "a9 ap-
parently abandoned. The witness SAID he dld hot -
ceive a salary for his work as supervisor Du' was
compensated at the rate of III for every looo hahc'
sen, 10 Washington. Naturally, he sad. II was MS
,or.opa, interest 10 make the population appear as
large A. possible.
Mr. Mott had interrupted Mr.. Bartlett several times
with his objections, and the committees c0lusel De
came evidently irritatcd. Mr.. Farquhar then took
hand in the proceedings. 81 object sea me- 70
Mr. Mott saying any thing, except TO oblect to any
Questions put 10y Mr. Bartlett or to an answer DS ui
WITNESS"
Mr. Mott said he only asked for courtesy IRON inc
committee and if that was not to De ACCORDED ne
might as well withdraw. Mr.. Holcomb declared uiat
the committee had no wish 10 withdraw The courtesy
Of the committee but he thought Mr. Mott should not
intcrrupt Mr. Bartlett frequently. Mr.. barIie''
remarked that the committee had shown Mr.. Mott
more courtesy than the Federal authorities had ex
hibied to the committee
A. an expert Mr.. Murray testified that a census
NJ populatiOn only was simple mdt'cI, Dut WIZ"
statistics of various kinds had to he collected IN con
nection with the enumeration, it became an elaborate
- In his opipon a state census should be Of
the popuation only, leaving ont altogether the Cd
iectonable questions about chronic diseases mort
cages ETC. As long data about diseases and mort
cages were collected. however, he believed that all
smeh documents should be KEEP. secret. III.
referring TO his preliminary estimate OF ut p'psHIda
zion last Tne MIR Murray said that about the mdHie
of June many reporters came 10 MN lO an i va
NJ the cjtys population. lie asked ana was sFSh.eaj
oernisson by Mr. Porter 70 make an eSunde O% r,
~ IN returns then i'm from the cnumer1to>. IilN
ESTIMATE was 627 900, but that was reddced by tho
error i'm addition by 10000 names ot1er errors ulS
ooverad reduced the total OF the population, as SHOWN
Nv the Official schedules, 10 l313,3Ol Mr. laIue'.
,6an asked witness to make an estimate Oi WHbt
thc nonulat0D of the city on June ]. loOO, ana
the witness smilingly replied, About ne wa,