The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-30
Work Of the Supervisors and
EnumeratorS Criticized.
Annual Meeting Of the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League.
Lengthy Report Of Special Committee Al
legged Appointments on the Basis
of Political Patronage.
sreclal to THE MORNING. CALI

BUFFALO. Sept 29.-The National Civil
Service Reform League began its annual
meeting here to-day. In the evening George
William Curtis delivered the annual ad-
dress, which was applauded, notably his
commendation of Secretary Tracy's reforms
at the navy-yards
The report of the special committee
of the National Civil Service Reform
League, appointed to inquire into the
condition of the Federal civil service,
aud which will be read before the
league tomorrow at a meeting here, is very
extensive one, and deals wholly with the
last census. 1t quotes the civil service re-
form plank of the last Republican platform,
and declares that if any branch Of the ser
vice should have been kept free from party
controversy it was the Census Bureau. II
the administration has free choice between
non-political and political agency for taking
the enumeration, and chooses the latter, com
posed Of officials Of its own political faith,
the presumption is against the fairness of
the census so taken. The defective results
in the census of 1870 were directly traeeable
to the patronage system. The improvement
produced by the elimination Of Dartisanship
from the census is shown in the c0mpara-
lively satisfactory results and general con-
fidence in the census of 1880. This was
before the civil service law; but the essen
tial element of the civil service system
the exclusion of political considerations IN
appointmeuts-was largely observed.
APPoINTM ENT OF CLERKS.
do N fhn
report says that if he promise of the Re-
publican platform had any significance at all 1t
meant that the President would extend the
competitive system 10 clerks of the Census
Bureau when that bureau should be established.
Mr. Harrison, in cOneuTrlng With and accept
ing the platform, distinctly made this promise
his own. Th4 well-knOwn opinions of Mr.. Por-
ter who was selected by the President as Super
lntendent OF the Census made II certain that the
appointments would become, in great measure,
matters of political patronage. PortePs opp0Si-
ton TO civil service reform methods clearly ap-
pears in his testimony before the House COM
mi.tee on September 8. 1890, when he said civil
service reform methods "were creating system
of Darnaelesm." The act of March l, 1883,
directs that each Supervisor shall designate TO
the Superintendent a suitable person, aud with
his consent employ such person as an enumera-
tor, who Shal be selected solely with reference
TO his Illness and Without reference 10 political
party affiliations.
PARTISAN CONSIDERATION.
II this provision had been fully enforced COM
plants Of the partisan character of the census
could not Justly be made, but unfortunately the
Supervisors themselves were largely appointed
upon political Considerations, and the result was
many localities matter OF political patronage.
Careful inquiry by your committee shows that
while III some places political considerations had
no weight, yet Supervisors were influenced in
many other cases by partisan consideration.
Mrn were often chosen without reference to
their fitness on account OF their political services,
and In such cases work was often badly done,
aud in many Instances thoroughly discredted.
The committee then goes TO give at great
length reports from civil service associations in
different sections of the country. The general
Tenor Of the reports is that the work OF men SAID
to have ell appointed as rewa I'd for political
purposes was uutrustworthy.
NEW YORK ENUMERAToRs.
Much space is devoted TO New York, where,
says tile committee, The worst effects of tie pat
Tonagc system are apparent. C. A. Murray, \
Republican politician, was made Supervisor OF
New York CITY, ana circular letter from him is
quoted as showing Tue manner In which enumer-
will please forward 10 this Office list of appli-
cants That the Republican organization Of your
district desires 10 have named as census enumer-
ators." The men named in these lists sub
sequenily appointed aud, says the committee,
"it is evident enough that among them there
must have been q considerable number utterly
unfit for the wok, aud il is not surprising that
among them Police Inspe cIor ByrDes should rec
ogni1e well-Known criminals" The committee
goes over the disputes between New York City
ana the Federal authorities on the census, quotes
many Inaccuracies alleged to have been found in
the Government reports Instances incompetent
woJk OF enumeratOrs. etc.
OPEN TO SUSPICION.
In conclusion The committee considers the fol-
lowing pTol osi;iOns have been established as the
result OF their inquiries: E" That the refusal TO
apply the civil service reform system OF non-par.
tisau competitive examinations in appointments
10 the Census Bureau a violation by the
President OF a promise contained in The Republi-
can platform of 1888, and indOrsed In lis letter
OF acceptance; that IN the appointment of entm-
orators on political grounds, in open violation of
Section of the Census Act, great numbers Of
incompetent men have been engaged III taking
the census, and In many places attempts have
been made TO use official positions for the bene-
fit OF the party in power; that while In some
places the results Of the work appear free from
partisan color and 10 be aecuI ately and well
doue, yet in many places the work has been care
lessly and badly DONE ana Is open 10 the suspi-
| cion that partisan considerations have not been
| absent aud that. finally, there is widespread
| distrust of the accuracy OF the census, which
| greatly impairs Its yalne TO the country and
which is caused, In great measure, by the TACT
that the Census Bureau has been conducted on the
| spoils system. The committee expresses the be-
lief that no census will hereafter receive the con-
tidence OF the people until 1t has been wholly re-
moved from partisan influences.