Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-16

War to purchase 1000 ana supplies, anu
to transport such supplies as may be Of
fered, for the relief Of the American
miners and other sufferers in the Valley
of the Yukon river in Alaska, and APP
propriating $4,000 to defray the neces-
sary expense.
An amendment to the resolution, pro-
viding for the transportation OF the sup
plies by means Of reindeer was adopted.
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs Mr.. Hawley,
it's chairman, promising that IL should
have prompt consideration.
BY agreement, the bill to provide for
the twelfth and subsequent censuses was
then taken up to enable Mr.. Lodge, of
Massachusetts, to submit some remarks
upon 1t.
LODGE ON CIVIL-SERVICE LAW.
He said that he had always been, and
was now. a friend of the civl-service law.
President Cleveland had, at the close of
his administration. made an enormous ex-
tension Of the classified service, placing
about 1000 persons, without examination,
under its protection. Naturally such ac-
ton, so late in the last administration
had put the present administration under
great strain, but it is satisfactory to
note. said Mr.. Lodge, that President Nc
dealt with the question at the beginning
of his administration, instead of wait
ing until its conclusion, as was the prac-
tice of his predecessor.
Mr. Lodge then read extracts from
recently-published article by Hon. Robert
p. Porter. director of the eleven census,
indicating that by the selection Of his as
sistants by the director the expenses or
administration of the office were In
creased
Mr.. Lodge also read extracts from a
letter from the Hon. Carroll d. Wright,
Chief of the Labor Bureau, In which the
expenses OF conducting the census ONCE
were discussed at length, Mr. Wrights
conclusions being that it would be much
cheaper to the government for the census
office EMPLOYEES to be under the classlned
service
Mr. Lodge was Of the opinion that the
statement and figures In Mr.. Wrights let
ter proved that great saving OF time ana
money would be made If the employees
were under the protection Of the civil
service law.
Mr. Hale. OF Maine, thought that the
work OF the census office could be done
better and more cheaply without the IN
tarnosition of the Civil-Service Commls-
SION. Mr.. Lodge replied that that point
was fully covered by the extracts he had
already read from the letter OF Cominls-
sioner Wright
TWELFTH CENSUS
Ar the conclusion of Mr.. Lodge Ic-
marks Mr.. Carter, OF Montana chdH
man of the Census Committee. salu tIat
he deemed this proper time 10 Outline
the provisions of the proposed DILL lie
said il provides merely preliminary Or
ganization for the taking Of the twelfth
census. The bill provides that there shall
he nj the seat Of government census
Office the duties OF which shall be the
taking of the twelfth and succeeding
censuses The office shall be In charge
of a director, who shall be appointed py
the President and confirmed by the SEN
ate, and whose salary shall De So'Vo'
There shall be also an assistant director
TO be appointed i'm like manner, VINO
shall be an experienced statistician, ana
whose salary shall be 5000. There snail
also be appointed by the director
chief clerk. salary $500; five chief sta
tisticians, salary 5000 each; one stenoS-
rapher, salary 5000, and until the once
shall be classified such number OF en-
ployees. not exceeding thirty two, as the
director may find necessary. All en-
ployees below the assistant director shall
be appointed by the director, subject to
such examination as he may prescribe, |
and not otherwise.
The bill further provides that tne
twelfth census be restricted to such spe- |
cific topics as may be authorized by con- |
gress, and that the director report MS |
recommendations as TO topics ana me-
thods as soon as practicable.
The bill carries an appropriation or |
s75.o 600 TO put its provisions into effect.
Mr. Carter indicated the desirability OF |
providing for the appointment OF the |
director OF the census and his immediate |
aides as soon as practicable. The mea- |
sure. he desired II understood, was pure |
ly preliminary in character. and made no |
provision for the great work of the CEN |
sus, which would be provided for in an |
other measure to be presented later.
Mr. Chandler. Of New Hampshire. said |
that the whole contention of the advo- |
Gates OF the civil-service law had been |
directed toward the application Of the |
so-caIled merit system to the force OF |
employees In the Census Office-employees |
not provided for by the pending measure. |
Nobody had any idea, he said. OF placing |
the 5000 enumerators required under the |
protection OF the classified service. as |
their employment would be only tempo
rary.
nouncing that he would press the mea- |
recess as possible.
The Senate then. on motion OF Mr.. |
Quay. OF Pennsylvania, went into execa- !!
ward adjourned