New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-16
CENSUS AND MERIT SYSTEM
MR.. LODGE STARTS A LIVELY DEBATE IN
THE SENATE.
A STRONG ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF HAVING ALL
APPOINTMENTS IN THE CENSUS BUREAU
MADE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSIONS LISTS

APPOINTMENTS IN THE CENSUS BUREAU
MADE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSIONS LISTS
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNbI
Washington, Dec. 15.-The question: y.
stricting or extending the merit sSs'e" VI Np
po,ntments In the public service, which seems
=. 49, &C.,, ,on, disturbing the serenity Of a
great MANY statesmen IN both branches OF Con-
e,rass oor,e % the front in a new phase TO-
a. t. .ha senate when Mr. Lodge, OF Massa-
o,..... a.,ad leave. out Of the regular order
a. ,-osor+ n searching and candid criticism OF
.hatl section in the so-called Carter Census Dill
which subjects appointees to the CHER o1llces
under the superintendent Of the census OF io''V
only 10 such examinations as the superih'ehu
ent NAV himself prescribe Mr.. Lodge anu
other friends Of the merit system In congress
are anxious to have all appointments 10 poe''
IN the Census Bureau made from the elesioi'
lists Of the Civil Service Commission ana favor
the insertion in the Carter bill OF CLAUSE ie
ouiring the usual Civil Service certihcauon from
all applicants for places in the reorsahizeo
census force.
CENSUS EXPERTS QUOTED
Mr.. Lodge to-day quoted Robert p Porter
and Carroll D. Wright, the two Commissioners
who had charge of the census or lo7o' as
strongly favoring the application OF civil Ser
vice regulation to future appointments IN the
Bureau and demonstrated from STATISTICS Iur-
nshed by Colonel Wright, the present COM
missioner Of Labor. that the work OF the census
could be completed at far less cost ana with
greater efficiency II the selection OF supor-
dinate force Of clerks could be made through
the merit system exclusively. MI Lodge
speech was clear. temperate and convincing ana
made a marked impression on the Senate.
Ii led too. TO the liveliest and most interest
ing running debate Of the present session. the
discussion being entered into with great spirit
nv Messrs Hoar Chandler, Allison. Hale. VIII
son (of Washington, Gear (of Iowa. Teller ana
Stewart and Carter (of Montana). Some OF MI
Lodges critics maintained that an equally EN-
Gent force could be obtained by means of exam
nations arranged by the census superlntend-
ent and cited the recent reorganization or the
library force by Superintendent Young as an
example Of efficient selection without the ala
of the Civil Service Commission. Mr. Lodge
met all points fairly however. and held MS
ground with success to the END
Mr. Carter, the author Of the BILL explained
that the appointments to be made under 1t were
not meant to exceed ten or fifteen, and de-
clared that the question Of putting the bulk OF
the census employees under the Civil Service
rules could be met later The present bill
was simply a preparatory step to beginning the
work Of the next census, and had no very gen
eral, application. It's passage, he said In
conclusion, would not be pressed until after the
holiday recess
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL.
Mr.. 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 better form to
attack the administration Of the law. He said
that he had always BEEN and was now, 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 forty thousand persons under Its
protection. Naturally such action. 50 late in the
last Administration, had put the present Admin
istration under great strain; but II was sufh-
Gent to note that President Mckinley had brave
" and courageously dealt with the question
at the beginning Of his Administration, in
stead Of waiting until It's conclusion. as was
the practice of his predecessor.
Mr.. Lodge raid that he would undertake TO
prove that TO take the census directors assist
tants from among those certified by the Civil
Service Commission would be the better and
cheaper method. He then read extracts from a
letter from Carroll D. Wright Chief OF the La
Dor Bureau. In which the expenses OF conduct
ing the Census Office were discussed at length.
and figures in Mr.. Wrights letter proved that q
great saving Of time and money would be made
if the employees were under the protection of the
Civil Service law.
Mr. Hale expressed the opinion that the work
of the Census Office could be done better and
more cheaply without the interposition OF the
Civil Service Commission.
Mr. Lodge replied that that point was fully
covered by the extracts he had read from the
letter Of Commissioner Wright
At the conclusion of Mr.. Lodges remarks Mr..
Carter chairman Of the Census Committee. out
lined briefly the provisions OF the proposed
bill.
Mr. Chandler said that the whole contention
of the advocates Of the Civil Service law had
been directed toward the application OF the So
called merit system TO the force of employees
in the Census Offlce-employes not provided FOR
by the pending measure. Nobody had any Idea,
he said Of placing the thirty thousand enumera-
tors required under the protection Of the CLASH
fed service, as their employment would be only
temporary "I'll vote" said Mr.. Chandler. ito
apply the Civil Service system to the clerical
force Of the Government, but / think that the
system has been unwarrantably extended and
made to include persons who are not Justly
entitled TO protection"
Mr.. Carter closed the debate by announcing
that he would press the measure TO vote as
soon after the holiday recess as possible.
The Senate then, on motion Of Mr.. Quay went
into executive session, and few minutes ar
terward adjourned.