The evening times., 1899-09-27

1t was reported yesterday uTon high au-
tkority in the Census Office that TIE Gen.
sus Bureau had decided to reject the new
tahulating machine for recording the next
census, and to accept the old and some
what antiquated device used in 1t9D.
When the new machine was first submit
ted 10 Director of the Census Merriam, he
CaLdidly told It's promoters that he per-
sonally desired to get the best, most prac-
ticable, and most efficient tabu!ating ma
chine that could be made, but taat the
acceptance or rejection OF the new machine
would be entirely III the hanGs of the
committee appointed to conduct the COM
petitive eXamina lions. Ia acco- dance with
his suggestions the new mat chine was put
in competition with the cd, and there
seemed TO be no doubt that the former
would be promptly accepted. 1t was
thought 10 embody the latest ideas AID
improy ements ef- such an invention and
was admitted generally to be simpler in
mechanism, cheaper III cost, more efficient
in operation, capable OF producing larger
and better results, and, what was regard
ed as q strong recommendation, il was ex
pected 10 reduce by large per cent the
number of persons required TO operate the
cid machine skilifully and satisfactorily.
The committee after much careful exam
ination," repoFietiAin fever of the cid ma
chine, and though the reasons for its de-
cision have not yet been made public, it
IS popularity thNught that the new ma
chine was rejected because it would save
a good deal of labor and thereby reduce
the number of employees in the Census
Bureau. IL has been conservatively esi
mated that no fewer than 1, 400 clerkships
would forthwith be abolished by the ac-
ceptarce and operation of the new ma
chine. So formidable a reduction in the
Census Bureau force" was, il is said, re-
garded with patriotic solicitude by the
small army Of Congressman now search
ing for appointments. 1t was through
their influence. II is thought, that the o,d
machine was retained and the new one re-
jected.
II am surprised and sorry to learn that
the 1880 tabulatirg scheme is TO be put in
operation again this year. said census
employe yesterday. Il am acquainted with
both machines, and from personal obser-
walton OF the operation of each / know
that the new machine is infinitely more
efficient and therefore more desirable.
Yes, it is true that the new machine would
drive out of Office large number of Gov
ernment employees, but that would be easily
compensated by gains in other directions,
TIE committees refusal to accspt the new
device reminds me of the Japanese preju-
dice against the introduction of steam fire
engines into Yokohama. Their houses there
were built of reeds and other combustible
stuff. and when fire broke out it demol-
ished the whole town. When the Ameri-
cans introduced the fire engines which
quickly put out the flames, the people gen.
orally rejoieed, but the Japanese carpenters
in Yokohama set up howl that was heard
half way across the kingdom. They pro-
tested against the nsw-fangled Yankee in
venIions on the ground that they ruinad
their business and put them on the brink
of starvation. 1t seems that those Japa-
nese carpenters would find large number
of ready sympGthizsrs up here in the Gen.
sus Bureau" continued the critic 'and not
a few, also, among the Republican Repre-
scntatiyes elected last year.