Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-06
the Census Bureau and It's
Management.
The Subject Of Spirited Dis
cussion in the House.
The Debate Not Conducted on Strictly
Partisan Lines.
A Western Pork acker Urges the En-
actmeDt of an Anti-Option Law.
Various Bills FavorabIy
Reported.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WAsHlNGfoN, Feb. 5.-The census
bureau, its management and the extent
to which it has been subordinated to
political ends, were the subject of two
hours spirited discussion in the house
today. While the discussion in gen.
eral way was upon party lines, the
superintendent of census was not with
out supporters on the Democratic side,
Stone of Kentucky being among the
champions OF Porter's efficiency and
official zeal.
Speaker Crisp called the house to or
der himself today. The speaker was
hoarse, however, and his voice was in
audible. Finally he left the chair
and yielded the gavel to McMillin.
Fithian of Illinois sent to the speaker
bill for reference placing farm imple-
ments on the free list. 1t was ordered
printed in the record.
The house then went into committee
of the whole on the census deficiency
bill.
Sayre of Texas, in charge of the bill,
made an explanation of its provisions,
and brought the charge of extravaganza
against the administration Of the bureau.
He said hundreds of men and women
who never ought to have been employed,
had been employed at the instance OF
members oil congress. Had the superin-
tendent of census been left to operate
his bureau without pressure from out
side, to put in Office large number OF
incompetent persons, the expenditures
would have been much less.
Henderson, of Iowa contended that
the Office had been economically admin
iBtered.
Sayre said many employees drawing
500 month were unable to discharge
their duties. He believed committee
should be appointed to investigate the
Office.
Dingley of Maine regretted that the
gentleman from Texas made charges
against the superintendent of CEN
Hus, never made before the
committee on appropriations. 1t
seemed to him such charges
made from anonymous sources, should
have been brought to the attention of
the committee. He believed the super
intendent faithfully performed the duty
intrusted to him. If the expenditures
of the bureau had been increased, it
was due to the fact that congress had
imposed upon it the new and unheard
of duty Of inquiring into the private
business of citizens, and compelled them
TO disclose the amounts of their farm
mortgages.
DUNCAN of Ohio opposed an appropri
alton for the census bureau until the
charges were answered satisfactorily
It had been said that tons and tons o.
statistics were destroyed after compila
ti0n, and that lot of punching ma
chimes (the invention of relative) which
could be purchased for $40 had been
employed at royalty Of So.
Cooper of Indiana criticised the cen
suH office on the ground that it discrim-
mated against certain limestone indus
tries of Indiana in favor of others.
Stone of Kentucky paid high trib-
ute to the ability and efficiency of the
superintendent of census.
Sayres offered an amendment appro-
priating $ll5,514 for the subsistence of
the Sioux Indians, and calling upon the
secretary of the interior to report to the
house the names of all the employees
under the direction and supervision OF
the Indian bureau.
The latter clause of this amendment
was the first general legislation incor-
porated upon an appropriation bill, but
no objection being made the amendment
was adopted.
The committee having arisen, the bill
was passed.
The private calendar was then taken
up for consideration, but no progress
was made, and the house adjourned till
tomorrow, when eulogies will be deliv-
cred upon the late Representative Lee
OF Virginia.