New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-02
THE ATTACK ON THE CENSUS.
SUPERINTENDENT PORTER REPLIES TO THE
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE.
SLIGHT BASIS FOR THE CRITICISMS MADE AND
scAST RECOGNITION OF THE GOOD
WORK DONE

SLIGHT BASIS FOR THE CRITICISMS MADE AND
scAST RECOGNITION OF THE GOOD
WORK DONE.
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE Posts prints the follow
ing: Robert p. Porter, Superintendent OF the Census
was seen yesterday by reporter OF The POST regard
ing the special report on his bureau by committee Of
the National Civil Service Reform League. When
asked his views on the report he said:
From the report, the committee have apparently
made careful inquiry, through the machinery of their
ASSOCIATION, throughout the country as 10 the charac
'er OF supervisors and enumerators appointed ana the
manner In which the work. was done When II is
remembered that the supervisors and ther Office STATS
probably number 500 persons, and the enumerators
comprised an army Of about 90 OOo the result OF this
inquiry viii strike fair-mnded people of both political
parties as vndication, rather than criticism of the
Eleventh census. The committee are frank enough to
ADMIT that in some places political consider aons had
no weight and the work was on the whole we'll per
ermed.' The census fairly well taken, In Massa
chusets and in the Ist District Of Maryland In this
district was fortunate enough TO appoint friend OF
one OF the gentlemen who signed this report, and an
excellent supervisor he made. The work in Bangor
Me- and in Newburg, y. " also meets the approval
OF this committee The committee claims to have ad-
verse reports from Madison, Wis. Norwich Conn.,
Bunalo indianapolis and Geneva, n. Y. Upon exam
nston, Of what do the reports consistl The report
from Madison says that OF the enumerators were
competent and some quite the Only one case
Is mentioned and that OF an enumerator who could
not spell Samuel 'Canada' and lawyer, As a re-
suit the census disappointing 10 the citizens At
Norwich, Conn.,, IL found that the enumerators
were men who ready for odd Jobs given in the way
party jobs usually are Tho committee apparently
overlook the fact that it Is impossible to obtain the
highest grade OF talent with the tempting offer of two
weeks work once In ten years, at compensation vary
Ing from 81 25 to So per day
Nearly page is devoted to some general criticisms
In relation to the work at Buffalo. The chief cause Of
complaint here seems to be that the Census Office on
receiving complaints about the enumeration sent
special agent 10 Buffalo and corrected the defects
The less said about Buffalo. perhaps, the better
for the committee, because II happens that
the supervisor for this district was appoint
ed solely on account OF the fact that he
was OF those supervisors which the
Committee proudly points to having been appointed
with the utmost impartlalty and without regard 10
partisan service, by General Walker in 1880 As this
gentleman took this district in 1880 the appointment
was in Civil Service one. In indianapolis the
Committee seem to have unearthed negro lawyer
enumerator who did not come up 10 their standard.
The accuracy Of the enumeration however IS not I'M
peached the gentleman employed to investigate for
the committee frankly says the results Of the enumea
hon are satisfactory, this city showing heavy rate OF
growth lie also pays the Office this high
plHlenb' Every complaint was investigated, ana the
name added to the list II not already there. What
more than this could Democratic or even Mugwump
supervisor dot" exclaimed Mr.. Porter.
AT Geneva he continued no complaint is mafe
Of the enumeration, though here the committee unearth
letter from Congressman 10 an enumerator asking for
a list Of voters The instructions this point were
positive from the Census Office and no enumerator who
violated his oath Of ONCE would have remained in the
service moment after the matter had been brought TO
~ ntatfer yrh ho
was Instant dismissal would have followed the slight
est infracon Of this law and enumeator could have
remained In Ignorance OF it, as it was brought to his
attention in various ways. Even to insinuate that
enumeratOrs were allowed igrorantly or wifully to
viciate tbs any other law instruction does the
census Office great injustice, for the books cor
Iespondence give the lie to such nsnuaiion
No facts be brought out to show otherwise, and
l challenge these gentlemen to produce the proof
And this, with post norton Of the Tammany
charges against the census, which ] have answered
before Congressional committee and before the state
committee, comprises every ota Of data that the Civil
Service Committee present against the Eleventh
Census can only say that hope every far-minded
Democrat and every census doubling Republican Gf
there be any Of the latter will read every line Of this
report and then pass udgment the manner In which
the Eleventh Census has been taken. They will not
advanced and performed By the Identical selected
by General Walker ten years ago-DemOcrats. Repub
means, AuBWuMps, ara GIOtecl!Ohlsts.
They will not find any reference 20 the selection Of the
1900 or 5000 special agents taken absolutely with
ont partisan bias. They will not lind wDUi in
praise Of the 5000 splendid clerks, fully thousand
Of whom have passed alike the Civil Service and
They will not find any mention Of the
. 800 young people who passed the examine
ton. No. They viii only find scant praise, such a.
fairly we'll done etc, In this document, but the
absolute absence Of anything that impugns In tho
slightest degree the work Of the Eleventh Census as
a whole, sustains for instant the cOwardlv !
malicious and malconent attacks Of the
will, Indeed, be gratifying alike % Republicans and
Democrats who know how we'll and how honestly the
work has been done.
why, in the entire South the committee can point |
10 complaint against the census. The only two !
reports the committee give from the South COM
Let the representatives from the South
speak for themselves Of the Eleventh Census. And
they will speak when the time comes. and the words |
they will utter that the fairly honestly
and carefully taken, lot only In their section, but all
Dvcr the country"