New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE CENSUS.
LETTER SENT BY THE SECRETARY OF THE
NATIONAL REFORM LEAGUE TO MEM
RI.RS or TILE SEN ATE
BEERS OF THE L. 5. SEN


The following letter has been sent by the secre-
tary OF tho National Clvil Service Reform League
to the members OF the United States Senate
February 49, 1899.
Dear Sir; The bill for the taking OF tie twelfth
House of Represcntatveg. provides in effect that
In the selection OF the statiscians. clerks and other
employees for the census work the operation OF ne
civil Service laws governing the selection OF such
subordInGtes in other departments, shall be sus-
The attention OF the public has repeatedly been
called to the fact that unless this nportanI torce Is
organized basis OF merit and special htness,
ara without regard 10 political opinions IS, or LAM ANNA a.
the census Is bound to be greatly impaired. M, ne
inclusion OF the bureau In the classified service for
OF the Census; Mr.. Porter. and by the present IL
rector Commissioner Wright. II has Deen recon-
Economic Association and the American Statistical
Association. By chambers OF commerce ana boards
cations and public journals In all parts OF the couh-
j, has been shown by both Mr.. Porter and NIr
Wright that unless the Director is relieved from the
duty OF patronage disposition which the bnl M M
poses upon him ne cannot possibly give 10 MS
more important duties the time that they demand
sus under n similar suspension Of the CIVIL Service
rules. brought the bureau almost wholly under NE
influence Of politics that many incthcieni ana ON
crW!se unfit persons were appointed TO the cierl,a
force, that the cost OF the work was greatly IN
many mpoptaHt Respects nooriousiy Gnsatisfac
tory. II has been shown also that the pan 90 0i
pass" examinations which was employed IN ItNp
and which the pending bill proposes 10 establish
again. was wholly ineffective, either as means ol
securing the most competent employees or as
measure for the exclusion Of political considera-
tons in their selection. , "a,
Tho House committee. in Its report on tns DIi;
referred 10 statements made by representatives. or
the civil Service Reform League at pubic near
Ing and pronounced In favor of the SUSPENSION Oh
tho rules for tho reasons first. that these repro
scntatives admitted that the selection or cnumer-
ators through examination was not feaslDle' anu,
second that the plan Of pass" examine ions LOT
clerks and others seemed certain 70 secure better
results than open connection. The Lfagu" mas
never commended that enumeratOrs should be- Sc
iecied under the rules The propositions that have
been made by II and by other bodies relate only 10
the clerical force The inter failure OF tn" non,
competitive plan. has been said. has been proved
beyond question wherever II has been employed
There can be doubt. as the onlcerS cnatSeu
with thcprevous census work have declared. that
the VA ue and accuracy Of the work now 10 De IN
dertaken must depend the subsection OF the
bureau 10 the general Civil Service law. The recog-
milton OF expert ability I'm the choice OF supervisors
clerks and stasticians and the utter exclusion OF
politcs as "A consideration OF appointment. are dc-
cared bv those most familiar with the SubJect
technically TO be essential. would urge most ear
nestlv Oh behalf OF this League. that the Dill he
amended before its final passage by the senate 80
as TO provide in terms for practical competitive eN
animation open equal terms 20 all cltllens VINO
are ca nddates and applied in every case wn"re
the apulicaton OF the civil Service law Is prac-
ticablc. ,.,, ,,.r
II II IS thus guaranteed that this vitally lmpor-
tont work shall be conducted on non-partsan'
business basis-on the lines approved ana urgent,
Commercial authorities Of the cOuntry-there can
be no doubt that that course Will meet win nearly
nonular approyal ! am yours very truly,
GEORGE MANENN, secretary