New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-14
MR. PORTER ON THE STAND,
POLITICS AND THE CENSUS SEPAhA1E'
NETWORK PRESENTED NO FACTS SUFFICIENT
To WARRANT A RECOUNT.

Robert p Porter. superintendent OF '"e
Census Bureau. was on tho witness s'a"" q" zoo
$4,000 ,o.tjfvipg concerning the census OF looo'
a. ,semhlv Committee on Enumeration ana
r.or,onment in Part ". superior Court il 'hc
committee had calculated to throw diecreon D" '"1
connt in New York City by Mr.. Por'ers 'esu"o"', "
f.u.d sicnaily for while admitting that m'S'"Ae
NIGHT have been made In some cases when "ouiu
sbow less tha3 the real population, ne p'o'eu '"''
o,h.r errors even in the police count, had b'en
made which if allowed. would increase the Pop"'"
finn fctttiousy Mr. Porter had agreed 10 De Pr'Ncn'
and testify TODAY. bnt as ono OF ms chi'"'c" "
seriously III lie allowed TO 90 on tne N'a'u w.
,erdav instead TO enable him to hurry basN - wash
ington . vac
The only members OF the committee present YES
te,day were Wright Holcomb. chairman. and Messr''
Farouhar and Hdreth. Franklin Bartleu' tie Gun"
mittces counsel. conducted the examination. ~
reply to Mr.. BaYtletts question: MI ro'''
said that hc was a journalist by profession anu
was still vice president of a company OWING "0
uap.r for which paper he wrote editoridly. lie hi
had experience before in census arar'' haN'"e "''
charge OF a division in the Census bureau J." i''
He expected inat the work OF the census bu'ea" vi
the census Of 1890 would be completed some "iV ~,
1902 His present force consisted OF about LUZ
.mn,oves some of whom might be discharged after
pex, August As by that time their services wonlo DC
dispensed with. About half OF these employees h"u
passed the Civil service examination anu dh La"
passed the census examination.
Mr. Bartlett asked II Charles H. Murray was NV
Amounted supervisor of the census in New-io'K as
CANDIDATE of the Republican party. Mr. Porter re
n,ied that there was no such thing as cdpoiua's
for an Office of that kind. Mr. Murray, ne SAID hau
been strongly recommended 10 him by pfonInen'
men, and after he had talked with MI Murray nc
was convinced that lie was just the man iof inc
place-young energetic and ambitious. lie had Sp-
pointed him solely because tic was d III ma" Ava Wv
place.
was he not Endorsed solely by Republicans = asked
Mr.. BARTLETT
cannot say as to that Mr. Porter replied "for
] do not remember all of the names Know 'ha' lie
wa, recommended by Colonel Ethan Alel senator
Hiscock Cornelius y. Bliss, and other men OF pioml-
ucnce and hi; standing in the community ihele
"a no Democrats urged for the place Inc only
u,ncr applicant Young man VINO was IOohi"s
for SNIP who did not press ms claims "heh
the nature OF the work to be done Was explained u
him."
when Mr. Murray called on you, was lie not ac-
,omrsnicd byN some political masnate!' asked Mr..
Bartlett.
.lnere we're no political magnates concerned was
the reply. " sir. Murray came to me alone
Continuing the witness said that politics had
little to do with The appointment OF any of the l75
supervisors i'll various parts of the country. 0ood
men were appointed regardless Of their political
Affiliations. A Mr.. Walker, of Newlork, a Democrat,
applied for place special agent and was appointed
He vas Endorsed by the New-IOrk Board OF Trade.
About One-haH Of the supervisors were Democrats,
and were Endorsed by Republicans and Democrats
Jointly. The other half were Republicans
WAS any Democrat appointed In doubtful
State I" Mr.. Bartlett asked.
Il don't know what you mean by doubtful
State the reply.
is it possible exclaimed Mr.. Bartlett :" that you,
a journalist do not know what is meant by doubtful
etatel'
AS Republican" the witness replied, IL might
have different idea from yours TO what states
TO be cassed as doubtful
"well, take New-York Indiana Connecticut
New.Jersey examples said Mr.. Bartlett; were
any Democrats appointed in those states p
Il presume there were, but could not say posi-
lively without examining the papers of the appli-
cants."
Where are those papers, and the other census
recordsl"
"ln the Department Of the Interior. They are
no longer in my possession"
A recount had been granted to cities because
the city authorities had presented specific facts show
ing errors in the Federal enumeration. Had New
York pursued similar course, a recount mi cht have
been ordered for that city.
Mr.. Porter said that specific figures OF any kind
had been placed before him by the New-YOrk City
authorities on Which recount could have been
dered. General statements and complaints were made
but these did not warrant the remuneration the
whole city. The Federal count showed the population
to be 1.5l3.50l while the police census made it
l,11O000. If the New York authorities had shown
the Census Bureau where of nearly 100000
names had occurred, by the submission Of district
schedules, the districts In which there were errors
would have been rccOunted and the additional names
added.
As the Federal census showed population Of BIB
.Ol, there was no need 10 count tudl number all over
again but only the 100000 alleged have
been omitted, which, upon VeTitCaOn. could have been
added. The errors OF 2,4ao names discovered by the
special agent sent ON from Washington were added To
the total before the official result was announced.
Don't YOU think ii would have been only iair for
the secretary TO have ordered recount 30 asked Mr..
Bartlett.
am not here" said the witness ." u SIT in iudg
ment on the secretary OF the Interior"
Don't YOU think. personally, that New York should
have had a recount ?" Mr.. Bartlett; asked.
In the absence of detailed knowledge Of the police
Count. ! do not was the reply.
Referring to instances where the ponce count shower
4 increase over the Federal census Mr.. Porter said
It, il the police schedules were pIdred be1ic MINI he
NmId show districts where tie federal count largely
exceeded that of the police in one district b\ al '>t
800 names. lie supposed that some errors were made
nv the neglect Of cilumeFaOrs by careessuc-N. fhc
an the remuneration offered. which, h" Thought. was
entirely inadequate. Better work could have been
done with money. Mr.. Porter Thought June
a bad date FOR taking q census inec We're probhhlN
people in the city In November or Apll
,han i'm lime. lie thought that November WOuld lie
more favorable date Tor taking accurate census
All over tic country than June lie lad opposed the
auctions ming mortgage ncebcdnes' an1 chr nc
diseases, aud thought they should be omitted nom
the schedules. -. - a., . -. -.
At tile close of Mr.. POrter's testimony the committee
adjourned until IL O'Clock this morning
TIN rnyrpTS