The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-16
RELIEF FOR KLONDYKERS.
Interesting Senate Debate on Pelagl'
Sealing.


Committee providing for the prohibition
of pelagic sealing by Americans. The
provisions of the measure were explain
ed by Mr.. Davis, chairman Of the For
eign Relations omm.ttce, who said that
It was in aid of negotiations now pend
ing among the representatives of the
governments of the UNITED States,
Great Britain, Russia and Japan. Mr..
pettigrew (South Dakota), sharply an
tagonized the measure saying this coun-
try had already suffered more than
enough humiliation on account OF the
seal business, and that he favored the
settlement of the question by killing al
of the seals, as they appeared at the
rookeries of the Pribyloff islands, if by
the first of June next Great Britain
also had not agreed to the prohibition
of pelgatic sealing. He offered an
amendment to that effect, but It was
defeated. The bill was passed by a vote
of 81 to IA. The session closed with a
spirited civil service debate upon the
bill presented by the Census Committee
providing for the appointment of a d.
rector Of the census and 81 employees
who should form the skeleton of an
office force for the twelfth census.
The concurrent resolution adopted by
the House providing for a recess of
Congress from Saturday, December Is,
1897, to Wednesday, January 5, 1893.
was<laid before the Senate and referred
to the Comm ttee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Mcbride, (Oregon) called up MS
resolution authorizing the Secretary of
war to purchase food and supplies, and
to transport such supplies as may be
offered for the relief Of the American
miners and other sufferers IN the valley
of the Yukon river, In, Alaska, and APP
propriating $250,0O0 TO defray the neces-
sary expenses. An amendment to the
resolution providing for the transporta-
ton Of the supplies by means of reindeer
was adopted. The resolution was refer
red to the Committee on Militar.
affairs, Mr.. Hawley its chairman, prom
Using it should have prompt considera-
ton.
By agreement, the bill to provide for
the twelfth and subsequent censuses was
then taken up to enable Mr.. Lodge,
massachusetts, to submit some re
marks upon it. He said that he had al
ways been and was now a friend of
the civil service law. President Cleve-
ton, made an enormous extension of the
classified service placing about 10000
persons without examination, under its
protection. Naturally such action so
late N the last administration, had put
the present administration under great
strain, but it is satisfactory to note.
said Mr.. Lodge, that President Neck in
ley has brayely and courageously dealt
with the question at the beginning of
his administration, instead of waiting
until its conclusion as was the practice
of his predecessors. Mr.. Lodge then
read extracts from a recently published
article by Hon. Robert p. Porter, d.
rector of the eleventh census, indica-
ting that by the selection of his assis-
tants by the director the expenses of
admin 'stration of the office were in
creased.
Mr.. Lodge also read extracts from a
letter from the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright,
chief of the Labor Bureau, in which
the expenses of conducting the census
office were discussed at length. Mr..
Wright's conclusions being that it would
be much cheaper to the government for
the census office employees to be under
the classified service.
Mr.. Lodge was of the opinion that
the statement and figures in Mr..
Wright's letter proved that great saw
ing of time and money would be made
if the employees were under the protec-
ton of the civil service.
Mr. Hale, (Maine), thought that the
work of the census Office could be done
better and more cheaply without the
interposition of the Civil Service Com
mission.
Mr.. Lodge replied that the point was
fully covered by the extracts he had
already read from the letter of Com
missioner Wright.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Lodges re-
marks Mr.. Garter (Montana), chairman
of the Census committee, said that he
deemed this a proper time to outline
briefly the provisions of the proposed
bill. He said it provides merely a
skeleton of preliminary organization
for the taking of the twelfth census. The
bill provides that there shall be at the
seat Of government a 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 by the
President and confirmed by the Senate,
whose salary shall be $4,000; there shall
be also an assistant director, to be ap-
pointed in like manner, who shall be an
experience statistician and whose sal
airy shall be $4,000; there shall also be
appointed by the director chief clerk,
salary $4,000; five chief statisticians,
salary $4,000 each; one stenographer
salary, $4,000, and, until the office shall
be classified, such number of employees
not exceeding thirty-two as the director
may find necessary. All employees be
low assistant director shall be appoint
ed by the director, subject to such ex'
animation as he may prescribe and moi
otherwise.
The bill further provides that ths
/ twelfth census be restricted to sucl
specific topics as may be authorized by
Congress and that the director repor
his recommendations as to topics ant
methods as soon as practica BILE. The bill
carries an appropriation of $4,000 t.
! put its provisions into effect.
i Mr.. Carter indicated the desirabilit!
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