New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-10-14
THAT MAN PORTER.
An Outline Of Some Of the Microcepha-
lous Methods Employed by the
Census Superintendent.
His Very Peculiar Treatment of News.
papers Which Have Criticised
His Bungling Work.

WASHINGTON, Special. Oc::. u For the
past year when the inaccuracies ofthe CEN
sus were attacked Supt. Porter felt COM
PEELED to eend his work which was under
tire at that particular time Now he cam
not say anything about the census without
entering into a general denial of attacks
from every quarter. Why the census is not
we'll taken is no mystery. The appoint
ment of such man as Porter explains ev-
crything. Why he was selected is the mys-
terry. .r-ssE
distinguished journalist Of this city at
the time. but now connected with an inf1u-
entail Western daily, said that Porter was
appointed because he would make a show
ing in favor of the protected monopolies
and aid the great manufacturers, nc matter
what else he made of his statistics. Presi-
dent Harrison has for the most part been
very careful in his appointments, but he
has made mistakes, and the appointment
of Porter was the worst Of all in that direc-
ton. Tosgiye a man of such avaricious
tendencies place where he can use his Of
fee forehis own private advancement is
bad thing. While Porter has been superin-
tending the compilation OF his inaccurate
census he has also been engaged in outside
work which has netted him good income.
It is known that he was salariad man on
leading Philadelphia paper and that he
held SIMILAR position upon third-rate
paper in New York. The allegation is also
made that he has been drawing salary
from Baltimore paper. Of course man
with census on his hands has not the
time to fill the other important positions,
but with the aid OF the stenographers en-
ployed by the government and the in:or-
nation which the men employed by the
government were every day sending in it
was possible to get up very readable edito-
rial article. for daily papers. 1t has bsen
stated recently that all these editorial con-
nections OF the census Office have been sew.
cred.
Ofcourse this is not question that can
be taken into consideration in case the
next congress investigates the census Office.
The mnaittee appointed for this purpose
will have to ascertain the methods en-
ployed, the discrimination which has been
palpable, the slipshod manner in which
the vital statistics and the comm ercial sta
tistics have been gathered, and upon the
whole to sho " to the world that this census,
which has cost us so much money! uni ust,
unreliable and unworthy the consideration
of those who have use for its figures in
measuring the progress of the United
States. The other schemes which have en-
gagged the attention Of the superintendent
need not be considered. The conduct of
the Office, the gross indecencies alleged to
exist, the selling OF positions and the
whole general management of the Office
will make scandal enough without going
into the side speculations OF the superin-
tendent.
The INNCMEEABLE PETTY THINGS
which the superintendent has INDUCED in
never will be considered. And by these is
meant the little dirty tricks of the superin-
tendent and his hirelings toward people
who have in any way incurred his dis
| pleasure. A few instances OF these acts will
be sufficient to illustrate.
A Northwestern paper had incurred the
superintendents i'll will by criticising his
work. The correspondent of this paper
was aware that the census office was about
to issue = bulletin OF Importance to his
section and waited for it daily. Consider
able importance attached to the bulletin
! and an agreement was entered into with
the Associated Press that it would not
be given out until 5 o'clock in the after
noon, SO that it would be for the morning
papers alone, as they would handle the
most fit. Besides what was sent by the
Associated Press the correspondent of the
paper which was in distavor with Porter,
prepared column of matter of local i'm
port on the same subject. Porter sent an
agent of the census Office to the correspond
ent of the opposition paper who
| did not know that such a
! bulletin was in preparation. and
| had him come to the census Office and get
the information which the others industry
and intelligence had brought to light Not
only this, but the opposition correspondent
represented an afternoon paper, and Porter
got the information to him to beat not
| only the paper he disliked. bus also anoth-
er leading afternoon paper and the Associ-
| ated Press. He claimed aiterward, when
| the Associated Press agent and the other
| afternoon correspondent made omplaint,
that th e information had been given ont
under seal OF confidence, but it had been
| violated; but the fact remains that Porter's
prejudice is carried so tar that the hirelings
/ OF the office will stand around for hours
waiting to give the opposition paper in
| formation from the census office which the
| paper that is in disfavor with Porter may
have obtained. Very small business.
I Another instance is that in VIII; CHI the
superintendent is down on Western paper
| for criticising his methods, and he retains
| in his employ man to furnish small pa
| rers i'll the same section information local
| to that state, where the large daily is pub
] lished in advance Of the time when it can
| be obtained by the correspondent O the pa
| might be extended indefinitely, but they
| are sufficient to show the s,.alI caliber Of
| the man who is engaged in the great work
of taking the eleventh census. There are