The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-14

Vide field OF inquiry ard irvssxa snuen
Iao9r. with cumbersome details. 80
heaFy esd the inquiries bsirsien taa elev-
enth census that two OF the ceasus ~
ports are still incomplete and at leas,
ore Of Them WIFI nos bg published unyEl
some intefiaIss firne in the future.
The other. and apparently the better
opinion. IS that The census should - i'm
i'eo N its scope 10 an enumeration OF the
population and the collection Of stats
Ties directly concerning tae people and
not specially relating TO their business
aIaIFS- Statistics eight Or ten years old
are or little value in this rapidly moving
age. Facts collected are Of no value
10 the country until made public and
where the field Of inquiry Is SO broad as
70 retaTd the publication OF the reports
for many years after the intorma ,ior, is
Collected. the work Is rendered valuesass.
1t Is quite probable that the twelfth
census viii be confined 20 an S,surns-a-
lion OF the people. supplemented bv A few
pertinent inquiries as 10 age. nativity and
social relations OF the individuals In
formation concerning farm mortgages,
manufacturers. internal trade and kind
red subjects Of special interest from an
economic point Of viw can be collafea
from year 10 year through a statistical
bureau specially organized for the pur-
less expense than through the agency Of
the census bureau. the work of which
should De promptly done and speedily
reported.
Much discussion has been provoked by
the proposal 10 select emDloyes for the
census bureau through the agency Of an
examination TO be devised by the director
OF the census. Many persons contend that
selections for the census service should he
made through ha
machinery. The senate bill provides for
examinations in accordance with A nlaa
10 be devised by the director OF the GEN.
sps- The measure was not conceived in
hostility to the civil service. but arose
from conviction on the part of the COM
fnittee tnat the director charged with the
work and responsibility for its perform
ance in a manner satisfactory 20 the conn
try should certainly devise a scheme for
Inc examination of employees destined to
prove more satisfactory and effective han
would be the results evolved by the gem
efai systems of examination employed by
the civil service.
IL must be borne in mind that the cen
sus force Is temporary. II wiI OF naces-
slty be increased very rapidly and Will
quite as rapidly be decreased when the
work shall have been performed The di-
rector should have wide discretion since
charged with very important task re-
curing prompt and vigorous action. Au-
thority 10 dismiss any employee from the
service without making any explanation
should rest with the director Ii clerks
about 10 be removed are given authority
TO demand trial to ascertain whether
cause exists for their removal or not the
THE of the director would be monopolized
by succession ~ petty hearings. 10 the
great impairment OF his usefulness
The taking OF the census should be
pressed forward with The yigor of an act
I've army campaign. and any rule regu-
iation or sentimental scheme calculated 10
impair the vigor or impede the progress OF
the work should be promptly and uncere-
moniously rejected. The individual inca
pable OF prescribing proper rules and reg
ulations for legitimate inquiry into the
fitness Of applicants for employment In the
bureau would be obviously incompetent
TO discharge the important duties of di-
rector | think il will be found thai con-
gress will show little patience with the eff
fort to overload the bureau and hammer
its operations for the mere purpose of ca
tering 10 an overwrought sentiment in IA
vor Of the existing civil service law Wig
or and efficiency of service must prevail
over sentimental considerations