New-York tribune., 1898-01-06
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
HE DTBE
CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND THE CENSUS BUREAU
Lively sKIRMsH OVER shcRE-
TARY SHERMANs REPLY.

| bill and spoke briefly on H.
Mr. Carter Rep Mont). chairman Of the Com
mittee o. C.nsus then called mp the bill providing
for the preliminary arrangements for taking the
| twelfth and subsequent censuses, and offered 4
committee amendment TO Section providing tna'
the Presden; instead OF the Secretary OF the IN
terror should approve the examination the director
may prescribe for his subordnates named IN the
bill.
Mr. Cockren Dem. MOI sharply attacked the
amendment He said that the Offering OF sucn an
amendment and the consdera'ion OF the section
RS Il had been changed by th' committee proven
that the Republican party was making square
and unconditional surrender the Civil Service
question.
Mr. Hale Rep Me) thought that the Senator
from Missouri dd not properly understand the
position OF the committee. The committee
through NJ. Hill. did not make an attack on the
position OF the Republican party on the CiVii ser
vice question II provided for the appointment
Of director Of the census and thiry-onc subordi-
mates and he thought that those places o"E"'
to be filed as provd for In the BILL
Mr. Jones dem. Ark) charged tnat IN the taA-
ing Of the Gems suses Of 1870 1850 and 1890 frauds per
haps unintontioual so far as the responsible cen
sus officials were concerned. had crept in These
frauds were due TO incompetent and dishonest
men who had been employed IN the work
NJ. Hale pointed out that II was manifestly I'M
possible r. -ecct the census cnumerators through
the provisions Of the Civi Service law.
In
Bureau in the past Mr. Allen Pop) asked those
IN charge Of the bin II It were fact that dispo-
stion had been manifested TO spin out the work
simply that some people might draw salaries
ONLY REAL CENSUS WANTED
In replv Mr. Hale said that the eleventh census
and nernnps previous censusos had been too ex-
tensive in scope. that the Bureau was fairly
buried beneath mass OF Information on many
subjects that could not be ntelligently handled
lgc EraC
not only expensive bu, really prolonged the neces-
sarv details OF the census. He was In favor or
taking real census and nothing else
Mr. Teller (Sn Rep. COLI spoke AT some length
in slipport OF the idea that tho Census Bureau
should not be partisan affair and that its en-
ployes should be placed in the classihe' service
lie was particularly anxious that hone' compe-
tent men should perform the work OF the mex;
census because he had knowledge OF Intentional
Measurements and intentional frouds that had been
penetrated by one statistical department OF the
Government in making out tina; the worlds pro-
duction of silver was s0GD@0 larger than It
actually was.
Mr Allison Rep.. Iowa.. In requesting that the
h,l with proposed amendn ents be printed. said
he was opposed and would vote against the
fstansniIdi ain9snlndcn, IN ee lie was decidedly Of the
opinion that the Bureau ought TO be attached TO
one OF the regular Departments OF the Govern
ment.
SECRETARY sHERMAN's REPLY.
Quite Unexpectedly lively debate prec!pi
tated lust at the close Of the session Mr.. Carter.
in charge Of the BILL said that he would have
the measure printed with amendments that had
bccn offered and for that purpose would consent
N have II temporarily laid aside. He then moved
that the Senate proceed to consideration OF execu-
tive business.
Pending the passage Of that motion the Vice
President laid before the Senate the reply Of Sec
retary sherman The Senate resolution requesting
Information to the appicaiion of the Civh Scr
vice law in his Department. Secretary sherman
recommended in his reply that certain places I'm the
State Department be excepted from the operation
OF the civil service law.
Mr.. Cockrei t'ei.. Mo- WAS on ms feet IN
stantly. Coming rom sceTe'ary Sncrman VINO
served long ye&rs in Congress, ms comTiluication
said hc The President himself. as Secretary
Sherman vel knows has ample authority 10 mod
OF his Secretary OF state. The eXte@son OF the
operation OF The law has beer made from time 10
For a Secfetary Of State TO come TO Congress for
such relief as Mr Sherman requests when his own
nowor 10 act iq presumptuous
MIR Allison said hat. in making his reply. secre-
tsrv sherman had simply compl. with the
plict reyes. Of the senate. and he had the resou
ticns or suggestions for mod!hcatlOns that Cabinet
think that Senators ought to crticise members OF
the Cabinet for furnishing TO the Senate precisely
Mr. Cockrel thought IT was 'ca,ch" rcsolu-
tion which had been framed by the Senator from
Illinois tMr Cullom). but he thought Il
necessary 10 consume the time Of Congress IN the
discussion o. rhls question. unless there was A de-
Sire on the part OF the Presidents party tie his
Mr. Culora pep. m. the author o. the rcsolu,
ton calling for the information. - tho of
w2 y9me ,bs TsfGRv hc was in %G %G he @ p sc@se sSr @
lie was free TO say. howeycr that notifications in
Mr. Cuom was interrupted by Nj. allen Win
and daily violated hy the neads Of the Governm"nt
departments. AS II Is now administered" said
he III is n Kissing and byword among the people"
Resuming Mr Cullom SAID he had no informa
tion as 10 specific Violations Of the law. bur ne
s4 h" vas Satisfied hat tho aIthoriies we're very
far from carving on, the original Intention Of the
Nj Jonrs Dem, AK, declared It was evident
that the authors of the law had not intended that
heads Of Govcrnment pepariments. lie held THAI
the executive heads of pcparments ought to have
reference to the action operations of the civil
At s1o p NJ on motion of Mr.. Garter the SEN
ate went into executive session. and soon after
ward adjourned
MR.. PORTER REPLIES TO Mr. WRIGHT
Washington. Jan. 5-senator Gall'nger to-day
presented 10 the Senate 4 reply bv r. T. Porter
former Superintendent % the Census. 10 the re-
cent statemen; Of Carroll d Wright IN relation
to the Of the Eleventh Census ana secured an
order TO have the communication printed AS a pub
lie document Mr Porter takes especial exception
TO Mr WTisht's contention that a large sum could
have been saved y .hc ccrsls had been conducted
under the classified service He says this condition
could have affected only the salary ron. and az
east $1,000 Of iAe amount disbur.el on account
OF salaries was pnd - l.rsons who had passed ex-
of salaries Of persons who would haye been ex-
GUIDED under the Ciyil Service rule. lie calls at
tention 10 MT Wright's Insertion that from 32Oio-
90 $5v1ej0 could have been snved. and pro
rounces his conclusion absurd "a Wow ~ these
facts
MIR. BRYAN's NoMGNATIoN REFERRED
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE name Of Char.es Page |
Bryan. 70 be Minister to China. presented TO |
the Senate In executive session to-day and re- |