The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-12-22
Congress Preparing For The
Next Counting of
Noses.
A CHANCE FOR THE SPOKESMAN.
The Census Bureau Is Not Under The
Civil Service Rules and
Affords
Convenient Asylum For Political
Hacks - Obstacles to the WhaIers'
Relief Expedition.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-[Special. I'm .
little more than two years the twelfth CEN
sus of the United States will DO taken, and
congress Is already making preparations
for 1t. 1t has been decided that the en-
ployees of the census bureau shall not be
selected through civil service competitive
examination. The friends of civil service
reform were anxious to have the merit
system applied to this important work,
but they knew it would be useless to make
the effort. Such large part of all the
government employment is already under
the civil service that very little is left for
the spoilsmen and politicians, and these
gentlemen have been waiting for the CEN
sus work TO find places for their hench-
men. In taking the last census some 5000
or 1000 persons were employed here In
Washington alone, and they were appoint
ed through political influence. Although
the character of the men who made the
census enumerations out in the country
appears to have been pretty good, such
was not the case in the Office of the bureau
here. 1t Is within the mark to say that
the census cost 81, 900, 900 or perhaps &c.,
O0O, 900 more than 1t would have cost If
the merit system had been adopted in hir-
ing clerks here.
Eleventh Census Scandals.
The bureau was made sort of hospital
for the poor relatives of senators, con-
gressmen and others possessing influence.
Men were employed at good salaries ire
spective of their usefulness. Women were
given places to please their patrons and
friends in official life, and IL all the SCAN
dals that lurked underneath the roof Of
the census Office had been laid bare the
good public would have had great shock.
The eleventh census cost the government
about 81 800, 900, which in the opinion Of
experts is several millions more than Is
necessary to secure the proper result
One reform which congress seems de-
termined to make is to limit the number
of subjects which the census shall inves-
tigato. In taking the eleventh census
pretty much every sort of inquiry known
to the Investigator of industrial and social
conditions was made, and often at an ex-
pense wholly out Of proportion to TIE
value Of the n aterial secured. The prlma
and constitutional purpose OF census >
to ascertain the population Of the country,
and while many other things Of impor-
tance may properly be inquired into the
feeling is now very strong In congress
that there should be a limit upon tho
number Of special inquiries made. Some
of the statis les gathered at great expense
in the last census have not even yet been
published, though 1t Is nearly time for
new enumeration. Senator Carter, chair
man of the census committee, pertinently
suggests that statistics s or 10 years old
cannot have much value.
Limitations of Renders.
In the opinion Of competent authorities
the government is making a mistake in
depending upon reindeer as the motive
power for the relief expeditions which are
being sent out to suocor the crews OF whal-
ing ships caught In the ice to the north OF
Alaska and the miners on the Yukon
river. The reindeer is a good draft ami
NAL when the conditions arc just right,
but he Is aqueer beast In that he balks at
the slightest provocation. He Is contrary,
prankish and ugly. When he has it he
is difficult to control. He may go along
for day or two all right, and then he
will turn and give so much trouble that
only native drivers can do anything with
him. The reindeer has an unfortunate
habit of running away at night. Twenty
years or more ago Baron Nordenskiold OF
Sweden took q herd of reindeer to north
Spltzbergen and wintered there, intend
ing to start with sledge expedition over
the ocean ice toward the north pole dur
ing the next spring. But one stormy
night all his deer escaped to the mountains
and none of them was ever recaptured.
This is a risk which the relief party that
Is now on the way to Alaska in the Bear
will have to run. II they succeed in land
Ing their supplies and getting away on
their long Journey to Point Barrow with
their reindeer herd, the first thing they
know their animals may conclude to stam-
pede to the mountains. II this happens,
the expedition will be ruined. Another
difficulty with reindeer Is that they can
not 1.-Two on the country unless grass or
moss can DO found, and II Is difficult to
find grass and moss In winter when the
snow Is so deep. Practically all the prov
ender will have to be taken along, and as
q reindeer must have four or five pounds
OF food per day 1t Is easy to sec that he
will soon eat up all he can draw.
Advantages of Dog Power.
With dogs as the motive power there Is
tho advantage of being able to feed them
whatever can be shot-bear, walrus, seal,
foxes, anything II worst comes to worst,
dog can be fed TO dog. In case OF emer-
genoy dog can be kept alive and In har-
ness ON less than pound OF food per day,
and even with this small ration he Will give
good work The experienced men here
think the war department would have
done better to depend upon dogs rather
than reindeer as their motive power In
these two relief expeditions.
There Is also doubt as 10 the adyisability
Of sending the expedition toward Point
Barrow to relieve the whaling crews A
we'll known arctic traveller said today 10
would be easier to reach the north pole In
the spring, as Lieutenant Peary proposes
20 reach Il, than 10 take slodgo oxpodi-
ton from st. Michaol's to Point Barrow.
II the crews Of the imprisoned whaling
ships have not enough food to last Thorn
through the winter about which there IL
some doubt. they can easily save them.
selves by marching south along the coast
till they reach the natives and the mission
stations Il Is much easier for them TO
march south with little TO carry than for
a relief expedition. heavily laden with
stores, 10 go north 10 them, Besides, II
the whalers took the matter In hand early
enough they could have started ON theif
southern journey as early as last Septem'
Der, whllo the relief expedition will not DO
able 10 set out overland till about Jan.
or m tho dead Of the dark arctic winter.
WALTER WKLLAAN.