The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-30
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Hugwump Attack on Conduct
of the Census Bureau.
GOV. RUSSELL RENoMINATEo.
dassachusetts Democrats Strongly
Against Free silver, while Colorado
Republicans Favor such q Policy.

BuYrADo. Sept 2o.-Ths National Civil Service
Reform League began is annual meeting here
today. In the evening George William Curtis
delivered an address, which Hss spplauded,
notably his commendstion of Leeretary Tracy
Courageous reforms at the navy yards
BUFFALO. n. Y. Sept. 2o.-The report of the
special committee OF the National Civil Service
Reform League, appointed TO inquire into the
condition Of the federal civil service, and which
win be read before the league tomorrow at its
meeting here. is 8 very extensive one and deals
wholly with the last census. 1t quotes the civil
service reform plank of the last Republican
platform, and declares that il any branch of the
service should have been kept free from party
controversy, IL was the census bureau. IL the
administration has free choice between non
political and a political agency for taxing the
enumeration and chooses the latter, composed
OF officials of its own political faith. the pre-
sumption IL against the fairness OF q census 80
taken. The defective results in the census OF
1870 were directly traced 10 the patronage
system. The improvement produced by the
elimination Of psrtisanship from the census Is
shown in the comparatively satisfactory results
and general confidence In the census o. ISo5- IDS
was before the civil service law: but the essen
tIaI element OF the civil service system, the ez-
elus.on OF political considerations in appoint
menis, wa largely observed. Coming down to
the present census, the report says:
II the promise Of the Republican platform
had any significance at all, II meant that the
president would extend the competitive system
10 clerks OF the census bureau when that bureau
should be established Mr. Harrison, IN con-
curing with and adopting the platform. dis
tinctly made this promise his own The we'll
known opinions OF Mr.. Porter, VINO was selected
by the president as superintendent OF the cen
aus, made il certain that the appointment would
become la great measure a matter OF political
patronage. Porters opposition 70 civil service
reform methods clearly appears in tbs testimony
before the House committee september g. 1850,
when he said the civil service methods were
creating system OF bzrnaeIsism-" The act Of
March ], 1889, directs that each supervisor shall
designate 20 the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES persons
and with his consent employ such persons
as enumeratOrs, who shall be selected solely
with reference to their fitness. and without re-
erencc TO political party affiliations II this pro-
vision bad been fully enforced the complaints
OF the partisan character of the census could
not Justly be made, but unfortunately the SUPER
yisors were themselves largely appointed upon
political considerations, aud the result was that
the appointment Of enufnerators in many
Localities a matter OF political patronage Care
fEl inquiry by your committee shows that while
In some places, political considerations had no
weight, yet supervisors were influenced in many
other cases by partisan considerations. Men
were often chosen without reference 10 their tit
ness On account OF their political services, and
In such cases the work was often badly done, in
many Instances thoroughly discredted-
The committee then goes on TO give at great
length reports from civil service associations in
different sections of the country. The general
tenor OF reports are that the work OF men said TO
have been appointed a reward for political
purposes was untrustworthy. Much space is de-
voted TO New York, where, says the committee,
the worst effects of the patronage system are ap-
parent c. III. Aurry, Republican politician,
was made surveyor OF New York city, and a cir
cular letter from him is quoted as showing the
manner in which enumerators were selected.
This letter says: "You will please forward
this Office list Of applicants that the Republican
mr. zatf1 rf~ a
named az census enumerstors. The men named
In these lists were subsequently, appointed, and,
says the committee, il is evident enough that
among them there must be a considerable num-
Der utterly UNFIT for the work, and it il not sur
prising that among them Police Inspector
tyrnes should recognize well-knovn criminals.
The committee goes over the dispute between
New York city and the federal authorities on
the census. quotes many inaccuracies alleged
70 have been found In the government report,
snd instances incompetent work OF enumera-
tors, etc. In conclusion the committee considers
that the following propositions have been estab-
Hshed as q result OF their inquiry:
That the refusal 20 apply the civil service re-
form system OF open non-partsan competitive
examinations In appointments To the census
bureau was violation by the president OF the
promise contained in the Republican platform
O. 1855 and Endorsed in his letter of acceptance;
fhat by the appointment of enumerAtors on
pollccal grounds, In open violation OF section
OF Inc census act, great number OF incompe-
tent meu have been engaged In taking the cen-
sus, ana In many places attempts have been
made to use official positions for the benefit of
the party In power; that while in some places
tine results OF the work appear free from
partisan color and 10 be accurately and
well done, yet in many places the
work has been carelessly ana badly done, in
open suspicion that partisan considerations
have not been absent. ana that, finally, there is
Widespread distrust of the accuracy of the CEN
sus, which greatly impairs its value 10 the conn
v. =
fact that the censu. bureau has been conducted
OIL the polls system
The committee expressed the belief that no
census will hereafter receive the confidence of
the people until it has been wholly removed
from partisan influence