Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-15

Heroic Efforts Being Made 70 Urearth
Something Criminal.


wAsnISoToS, May l4.-J. A. Collins
of the farms. houses and mortgages di-
vision of the census office. was the first
witness before the special house COM
miltee engaged in an investigation OF
the eleventh census. He was asked II
be knew OF any Encouragement or
waste of funds Of the division. Mr..
Collins said that he had no personal
knowledge of waste or mismanage-
ment, but thought the division could
have been run to better advantage.
He thought the fault was ia the sys-
tern. superintendent Porter had been
under great pressure through members
Of congress seeking appointments for
their constituents, and ~ . conse-
quencs inefficient people were en-
ployed and competent ones discharged.
David Thompson, census agent IN
Philadelphia, testified that names were
unlawfu,ly added to his list of en-
ployes by the Washington Office. He
had been charged with being absent
from his ottice during the middle
OF the day, but the charges were un-
true, He was recommended for re.
nioyaI, but was merely suspended. To
>tfOW tlO 8uitlO>ity stSstitSt 4 utaouSi-
phia work Mr.. Thompson said that q
secret agent had been sent To- Phlla-
delphia to sift the census returns. Re-
ferring to the suspension Thompson
said that after conference with Mr.
Porter he was reinstated. Witness said
his principal duties in Philadelphia
were to look after matters pertaining
to manufacturer. hut he was relieved
from this class of work and ordered to
look to the minor matters. Witness
filed in evidence charges he had made
last year against the census bureau.
Witness in response to Representa-
tive J. d. Taylor said that his former
chief cierk, ]. L. Calhoun, succeeded
him and that Calhoun closed up the
Philadelphia work. Witness cited
matters as ''damnably improper" in
the Philadelphia case, the delay of the
work preventing him from verifying
returns, the taking of work from his
hands undue malice, lack of
respect by tho bureau, Withholding
pay from certain of mis- employees and
many other charges which he
reai in an interview from the Phila-
deipaia Ledger of July 7. 1891. He
characterized the tenth census as the
rottenest on record. In response to
further queries by Mr.. Taylor, witness
said that he was removed from his
position because he would not turn
over branches Of his work to men sent
from Washington 10 t1ke charge of il.
Hs did not tbink these men competent
to do the work.. In answer to Repre-
sentative ti.hian, Representative
Rebu-n. w'io took the stand,
said that IN October, 1890. Mr..
Williams apd another census Office en-
ploye caf.ed upon HIM in Philadelphia
and made iDs.nua;ions against Mr..
Thompson. Mr. Rsiburn read the COR
raspoaisnce 1ith Secretary Noble ask
ing for an investigation of tho census
Office and said the request w@ refused
aad he had tn appeal - the house Of
representatives. He said he had not
been solicited by any congress
man, democrat or republican, as
had peen intlmated, TO engage in this
matter. In regard 10 his motive in
tniYE:ng that tue depsrtm.ut dIscrim-
mated in the Pni!4delphla returns Mr..
Reiburn spoke OF the enormous differ
ence Of the returus of the last two Gen.
suees, and said that Brandinot and
Williams, who were engaged IN taking
the PniiAdeIonia returns Of 1880, wesc
directly interested and they did not
want the returns shown in full to the
COMMITTEES. Adjourned until Monday.