The times., 1898-01-10
MONDAY, JANUARY 10. 1898.
Against the Census

A Republican statesman who, strange
as that may seem, is rather friendly to
The Times, complains to us that our
position. in demanding Il non-partisan
and an honest census in 1900.
is subversive Of all party precedents
and is fragrant and cruel attempt to
deprive the Republican politicians of
one of their best chances to reward
those who have helped their ambitions
in the past and are expected TO do so
scme more in the future,
Our esteemed and distinguished
friend is under the erroneous impress
sion that, if conditions We're reversed,
and a Democratic administration were
in power. this journal would not be
found insisting upon a non-partisan
census. In this he is completely wrong;
but. aside from that, il is not likely
that he would have called our atten-
tion 10 what he is pleased TO call our
political Inconsistency were it not for
the ineXorable fact that there are no
toriously, enough Democrats in the
Senate and House of Representatives
to render it absolutely Impossible for
the present Administration to impose
another fraudulent and mendacious
partisan census upon the country, sup
posing that they perform their plain
duty in the premises.
The idea of partisan organization
and control of a national census. es-
pecially Of such one as We ought to
have at the close of the nineteenth
century. is obnoxious to every concep-
ton Of good government or of COM
mon decency. As we'll might it be
urged that the books of the Treasury.
or OF the Interior Department, should
be manipulated SO as to produce ap-
parent results favorable to the party
in power. rather than to give a true
account o. the receipts, expenditures
and transactions of government Be
ycnd this, amy party in temporary con-
Urol of the national power should
be on notice To avoid the least thing
calculated to excite suspicion that its
statistical agencies are used for any
but legitimate purposes and to discover
and publish truth. Our opinion on this
subject would be exactly the same if
a Democrat lived in the White House
and there were none but Democrats in
either branch of the Congress.
We must have a non-partisan census
IN 1900, and il must be under non-par-
tisan-or say. bi-partisan-jurisdic-
tion and supervision, without the
possibility of Executive influence
or interference. a commission of
three or five experts, all but
but one selected by the representatives
Of the two parties in the Congress
the odd man to be selected by the per-
sons so appointed. would, perhaps, be
an easy way to reach the desired con-
summation. Then the census commits |
sion having been appointed, the sub
ordinate officials 10 be intrusted with |
.he details of the work should be aD- |
pointed upon merit aiCnc, a1testcd by |
proper examination and withaat the |
slightest relation - politics.
With a census orsariiZaIio:i of that |
character the nation might hope to |
get something in return for the mill |
lions itmust expend on the undertaking, |
worthy of the cost and reliable enough |
TO be of some actual use. il would be |
superiiuous to reiterate the statement |
Inal the GOIltI NGitSNS Ndo OllS
of the kind. and 6 repetition of it, or, |
for that matter. of some of its inside |
social phenomena, ought not and must /
not be tolerated.
1t is within the ability and power CT |
the Democratic members of the two |
houses to accomplish the good work we /
present for their consideration. They |
know ii is. We know il is.