The San Francisco call., 1897-12-16
LEGISL ALTON FOR THE NATION

the seal question. By the passage of the hill
amended as he suggested, the fur seal indus
try in London would be aroused and bring
to bear influences upon Great Britain whicn
might effect proper settlement OF the cues
ZION.
White of California thought the massage o.
such law as proposed would be unjus TO our
own people, unless assurances are gwen that
similar legislation Is 10 be enacted by other
countries, Canada in particular. In the course
OF his brief remarks White said ii was evident
that the Foreign Relations Committee was not
so belncose as II was year ago, but he hoped
that II would not force the country into such
legislation as would yield any righls or profits
now enjoyed By American citize as to the IeO-
pie OF other countries.
by unanimous consent the fur seal bill was
at this point displaced temporarily at the re-
quest OF Allen OF Nebraska, who asked for con-
sideration OF bill granting the right 10 the
Omaha Northern Railway Company TO con-
struct railway across the Omaha and Win
nebago Reservation in Nebraska. The bill was
passed.
Upon the resumption of consideration of
the Sc al bill, the amendment offered by Petit
grew defeated.
The bill was then passed by vote OF 81
to IA.
By agreement the bill to provide for the
twelfth and subsequent censnses was taken
up TO enable Lodge of Mas sachuse to sub
nit some remarks upon ii. Lodge said he
was aware that at the present time it was not
fashionable to say any thing in support OF the
civil service law, but that IL was considered
rather bad form TO attack the adminiStra ton
OF the law. He said that he had always been
and WAS now a friend of the civil service Iaw.
President Cleveland mad, at tie close OF mis-
administration, made an enormous extension
OF the Classified service placing about 10000
persons without examination under It's pro-
lection. Naturally such action, so la te in The
last administration, had put the present ad-
minis tTation under great strain, but il is
satisfactory TO note, said Lodge. that Presi-
dent Ichinley has bravely and courageously
dealt vita the question at the beginning OF
his administration, instead of waiting until
It's conclusion, as was the practice OF his pre-
decessor.
Lodge read extracts from a letter from the
Hon. Carroll D. Wright, ch!ef of the Labor Bu-
reau, IN which the expenses OF conducting the
Census Office were discussed at length.
The letter gives detailed estimate of the
saving that would have occurred in the com
pilaton OF the last census had the Census
Office ut that time been under the civil serv-
Ice. Tne inquiry from Senator Lodge was
prompted by the statement recently made by
Mr. Wright that S2,O0O,000 would nave
been saved by tins arrangement The esti-
mate tends to show that III reality this saving
would have amounted To nearer IS, 500, 900.
The comparison Is based on the work OF the
Census Bureau and the Department of Labor,
the latter under the civil service. Tables are
given by Commissioner Wright showing the
cost per 1000 ems OF selecting matter in the
field, OF preparing II in the office and print
Ing, engraving and binding. He holds that
tleIe is enough similarity in the work OF the
TWO departments to make this comparison
hold good in actual practice.
The results may be summarized as follows:
The total cost OF the census work, exclusive OF
printing and binding, had il been carried on
under the civil service, would have been
$3,325, 452 instead of $40, ,016 ,677, a saving OF
S6,42l, 245, while the COST, exclusive OF field
Iorce and OF priating and binding, in other
words, the expense OF the office force, would
have been 50 29S, ,S21 instead Of So $40 SAT, q
saving OF S3, 81, 025.
Wright refers TO his own experience as the
head of the Cansus Bureau, saying that a
chief executive officer cannot BE- expected 10
render the highest grade of service when in
addition TO his expert duties he is continually
harassed with political p'ace-hun ters, n con-
cluslOn, he says that during his jncumuency
the total number OF emp toyes on the rolls was
nearly 30 per cent greater than the total
number employed at any one time, showing a
constantly shifting force, q condition that
would have not existed under civil service
rules.
At the conclusion of Lodges remarks, Carter
or Montana chairman OF the Census Commit
tee, outlined briefly the provisions of the
proposed bill. Carter indicated the desira-
bIlity OF providing for the appoin tment Of the
director OF the census aud his immediate aids
soon p-ecticab e. The measure he de.
sired II understood, was purely preliminary
in character and made no provisions Tor the
great work OF the census, which would be
provided for IN another measure TO be pre-
sented later.
"Pu vote" said Chandler. "to apply the
Government, but l think that the system has
been unwarTantAbiy extended and made to
include persons who are not justly entitled 10
its protection"
Carter closed the debate by announcing that
he would press the measure 10 a vote as soon
after the holiday recess as possible.
The Senate then, on motion OF Quay of Penn
sylyania, went into executive session and
few minutes sfterward, at 4:35 P. NJ, ad-
Journed.