The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-15
Another Sensation spoiled.

fishing n lengthy piece OF alleged news
which not only does not contain 4 sin
elc item OF truth, but furnishes a strik-
ing example OF how INSCRIPTIONS even
so great y Democratic journal as tho
Herald can become in its efforts to cast
reproach on u Republican aIministra-
ton. Having failed by II campaign of
villilication and SANDER t. induce the
country to believe that Commissioner
Raum has mislnanaged the Pension
Bureau, the Herald las turned its at
tcn.ion TO the administration OF the
Census Bureau By Commissioner Por-
ter.
This time this scli.constitutcd watch
dog OF the public treasury is not salts
fed with the general charge and long
exploded chestnut about the census be-
ing carclessly taken. 1t makes the
more serious charge OF gross mismaI,-
agcmcnt, if not dishonesty, in the hand
ling Of the expense account OF the
Bureau. In doing this tho Herald COL
lcctcd under a Washington date an
aggregation Of i%alschoods regarding the
cost OF the census which were SO glar-
ing that it is . wonder that anybody be-
lieved them.
Superintendent Porter, ina published
statement, shows up the Hcrald's mis-.
statements in such 4 way MS to place
that journalin q ridiculous position and
tofurnish the Republicans with an eli
iective weapon with which 10 combat
Democratic lies about tho census. His
statement is interesting. Here are
some features OF it:
The Herald charged that. it will take
four or five years to complete the work.
Superintendent Porter says he will have
it ready for the printer. by the..closc Of
next year. The Herald said Congress
has been asked for IN appropriation OF
three million dollars, and with that the
work can DO half finished. MI. Porter
calls attention to his published report
in which he only asks for one million
with which he will complete all the
work.
The Herald said:
"Thc Superintendent OF Census has three
thousand OF the small printing (Dunch!ng)
mach npg on which he DWpS ShIn ON 70 md },uS
not paid u cent"
Mr.. Porter shows that, instead OF
SS75,000, the machines cost $4,000 and
the Office does not owe a cent on them.
The Herald said:
1.-THE Superintendent has one hundred and
twenty OF the larger machines on which lie owes
nyenr and half rent, which nj 81 900 n year would
be Siso,000, making the total Indebtedness Of the
bureau on these machines Sj55,000 and neither
contract nor vouchers on file in the Treasury
Department to show It"
Mr.. Porter shows that tho total in
dcbtcdncss OF the Census Office for this
purpose, 'instcad OF being S5555,0OO as
stated by the Herald, is not one dollar.
The vouchers are paid every month.
Such u sum is preposterous if every
machine contracted for was used for an
entire year ut iull rental the total cost
would only reach $4,000 per year.
When machines are not used We do
not pay Tor them"
Mr. Porter continues:
The laYatd says that the census of 1887 cost
S;,COV.CVJ. The appropriations show TIA. the
engraving, COS. $!.S5S 80. and The printing,
bindins and engtaring q ,G!S.ilj, mailing n TO-
tai OF s3,Si ,4Gj. n'tac cost OF tic cellsuU OF lSSJ,
inGlucins r.in:ias, binding aud engraving.
The lt-ab. SArSLhet the census has already
cost onc.thirl iioic lnan TIC cchst. vi lSSU. The
appropriation ;hl.s lar for &c ceosIs proper, OK.
c.u,ivc OF printing. DinGinS md engraving. has
been $4,000; OF this AmoNnr at lees: S-G0,etO
hiS been expended Tor ll!iliT'cS required by the
irtccn: CeasuS &c: which we're not rcluitcd by
I1:Iacr crnsuGcs, ara G,uu: 300 COL remains mi.
cSpcl'led. 80. "a 4 matter OF fact, the present
census. Instead OF nrr.ns ..lICn!r cost oIe-;hird
or about s., CO. co. more than the census Of iSSO,
or 9."6 cents per capita. cs against O.GS in 1880, or
nlecrelsc OF s.. cents per capita. As the popu.
lI,ion daring this period nGs increased about Is
Per cent, the cos; Of the present census on the
same bns.S OF increase, exclusive OF printing,
binding and engraving. should be Ei.D6h.6S7.
The increase from lSi0to 1850 was nearly ono
cent per capita. Allowing n similar increase for
the last decade tue cost of tho present census,
exclusive ~ printing. blndins and engraving,
ard OF the additional Inquiries required by Con-
grcsS and appropriated for separately. should be
about sG,T0J,G0Q, and | expect 10 complete the
census aud have 1t ready for She printer Tor less
,hnn this sum. Any other statement Is iulsc und
misleading.
The iirGit says: The census appropriation has
Ill been ypcnt, which Is not true. There is 10 the
credit OF the several census funds SSSj.OO0,
and the accounts OF the office arc all paid up to
date.
So -,