The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-16

Il
! for the relief Of The American miners and
! other sufferers IN the valley OF the Yukon
river in Alaska and appropriating sZ0'oo
An amendment To the resolution. provid-
ing for the transportation OF the supplies
BY means OF reindeer was adopted.
THE CENSUS.
The resolution was referred 10 the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, Mr.. Hawley.
its chairman promising IL should have
prompt consideration. BY agreement. the
bill 10 provide for the twelfth and subse-
quent censuscs was then taken up 10 en-
able Mr.. Lodge (Mass) TO submit some
remarks upon IL.
He said that he had always been. and
was now, a friend Of the civil service law.
President Cleveland had, at the close OF
his administration. made an enormous
extension Of the classified service. placing
about 10000 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 IL Is satisfactory TO
note, said Mr.. Lodge, that President Me-
Kinley has hravely and courageOusly
dealt with the question at the beginning
OF his administration. instead of waiting
until its conclusion, as was the practice
OF his predecessor.
Mr.. Lodge then read extracts from
recently published article by Hon. Robert
T. Porter. director OF the eleventh census.
indicating that by the selection OF his
assistants by the director the expenses
Of administering The Office were increased.
Mr.. Lodge also read extracts from let
ter from the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright, chief
Of the Labor Bureau, I'm which the oN-
penses OF conducting the census office
were discussed at length. Mr.. Wrights
conclusions being that II would be much
cheaper 10 the Government for the census
Office cmuloyca 10 be under tho classified
service. Mr.. Lodge was Of the opinion
that the statement and figures I'm Mr..
Wrght's letter proved that. "A great saw
ing OF time and money would be made II
the employees were under the protection OF
the civil service.
Mr. Hale Niaine) thought that the work
or the census Office could be done better
and more cheaply without the interposi-
tion Of the Civil scrvicc Commission.
Mr. Lodge replied that that point was
fully covered by the extracts read from
the letter Of Commissioner Wright.
THE BILL.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Lodges re-
marks Mr.. Carter (Montana). chairman
of the Census Committee said that he
deemed this a proper time 20 outline the
provisions Of the proposed bill lie SAID
II provides merely "a preliminary organi-
zation for the taking Of the twelfth cen-
sus. The bill provides that there shall
be at the seat OF Government = census
office. the duties OF which shall be the
taking OF the twelfth and succeeding cen-
cuses. The office shall be I'm charge or
a director, who shall be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate
whose salary shai. be s. 200. There shall
he also an assistant director 20 be ap-
pointed I'm like manner. who shall be an
experienced statistlsian. and whose salary
shall be $1,000; there shall also be ap-
pointed by the director chief clerk. sal
airy $500. five chief statistcians, salary
5000 each. one stenographer, salary
s. 600, and, until the Office shall be clas-
siled. such number of employees. not ex-
cecding thlrty-two. as the director may
find necessary. All employees below the
assistant director shall be appointed by
the director. subject 10 such examination
as he may prescribe. and not otherwise.
The bill further provides that the
twelfth census be restricted 10 such spe-
cihc topics as may be authorized by Con-
gress. and that the director report his
recommendations as 10 the topics and
methods as soon as practicable.
The bill carries an appropriation Of S75,-
coo 10 put IT'S provisions into effect.
Mr.. Carter Indicated the desirablity Of
providing for the appointment Of the di-
rector Of the census, and his immediate
aides as soon as practicable. The meas
ure. he desired IL understood. was purely
preliminary In character and made no
sus. which would be provided for in an
other measure 20 be presented later.
Mr.. Chandler (New Hampshre) said
that the whole contention OF the advo-
Gates Of the civil ~rrvice had been direct
ed toward the appasati0u OF tho so-calied
merit system to the force Of employees
In the census offlce-employes not pro-
vidod FOR by tho pending measure. No
body had any idea he said. of placing the
80 600 enumeratOrs required under the
protection of the classified service. as
their employment would be only tenn
porary.
nouncing that he would press tho meas
ure 10 "A vote as soon after the holiday
recess as possible.
The Senate then on motion Of Mr.. QUAY
Rennsylyanial went into executive sess
sion. and a few minutes afterw1rd ad-
journed.