The times., 1899-02-07
THE House PASSES
A CENSUS BILL
1t Is Not a Substitute for the
Senate Measure.
Mr.. johnson Wants the Bureau Tn
der Civil Service,
One Million Dollars Is Appropriated
With Which Ia Garry
on the Work.

The bill for the Twelfth Census was
passed yesterday in forty minutes under
suspension of the rules. as an original
House bill and not as a substitute FOR
The bill on the same subject passed by the
Senate.
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois called up the bill
and in explaining its provisions, he stated
that the committee had left it TO the Di-
rector TO fix the size Of the supervisors dis
.ricts. The enumerators' districts We're not
to contain a population greater than 4,0o0,
and ne thought Jb2, they would be made
smaller.
Mr. Shafroth OF Colorado asked that in
formation as 10 mortgages should be in
rluded in the list of subjects to be inquir
ed into Mr. Hopkins explained that the
committee had been obliged TO limit the
number of the subjects. The mortgage
enquiry OF the Eleventh Census had cost
Dyer 81. .0G0. .OG0. and mad been nearly value
less after ii had been obtained, the condi-
lions in regard to it having changed in
the interval between ascertaining and
publishing them. Five great divisions of
statistics had been prescribed whose re-
turns must be published within two years,
while a large number OF subjects were
prescribed whose consideration might be
taken up after the first five had been
completed.
Mr. johnson of Indiana said that he de-
sired TO enter his earnest protest against
the bill, ii being. in his opinion, a marked
retrogression. Mr. Porter, Director of the
last Census. had stated. after the eXpira-
ticn Of his office, that the work would
have been far better performed under civil
service Carroll D. Wright had stated that
the last Census had cost TWO millions more
than was necessary. had been rendered un-
reliable and had been clogged with use
less supernumeraries by the spoils sys-
TEN.
The Census, Mr.. Johnson continued, was
most important measure. II was the
sign board that pointed along the path of
the national life and on it depended the
representation in Congress
The examinations" prescribed in the
bill were. he said a fraud. calculated to
enable number of incompetents TO get
into Office. When the II 7asure came to ths
President for his approval he with many
others, would look hopefully for veto.
Mr.. Shsfroth again spoke briefly in favor
OF ascertaining the extent of the farm
mortgages OF the country, but Mr.. Hop
kins replied that most people would con-
slider such question a piece of imperti
nence.
Mr.. Marsh here interje-ted i question as
TO whether the bill was intended TO ,oser
the Filipinos whereat the House laughed
nightly. the news that the Treaty had
been ratified having percolated through the
House few moments bsfore. The rules
were then suspended, and the bill was
passed by a vote of 147 TO AZ
1t provides for temporary and inde-
pendent Census Bureau, under charge OF a
Director of the Census. TO be appointed by
the President and approved by the Senate,
and who is to receive 5000 a year. There
is 10 be an assistant director at $4,000
five chief statisticians. who are 10 be per-
sons of known and tried experience in
statistical work, at So 600 each: a chief
clerk, one disbursing clerk, and one geog-
rapher, at $500 each; five expert chiefs OF
division and Two stenographers. at 81 600
each; Ten clerks of class four, fifteen clerk
OF class three, twenty clerks OF class two.
and such number of clerks of class on,
and of clerks. copyists. computers. an !
skilled laborers. AT salaries of not less than
s600 nor more than $1,000 per aunum 10
be appointed from time TO time, as may be
found necessary for the proper and prompt
performance of the duties required.
All these appointments are TO be subject
10 such examination as may be prescribed
by the Director of the Census such ex-
animation relating solely TO the charac-
ter and fitness of the applicant for the
special position to be occupied Employees
in existing branches OF the departmental
service. under civil service rules. whose
services may be specially desired by the
Director of the Census, may be trans
ferred without examination; but not more
than fifteen transfers shall be made. and
al the end of such service the employes
so transferred may be eligible TO appoint
ment in the Departments without addi-
tiOnal examination when vacancies exist.
There are also to be a captain OF The
watch at $3.50: two messengers, and a
number of watchmen. assistant messen-
gers, and laborers, al $500; messengers
charwomen. and so on. These are 10 be
appointed without examination
The Census is TO be restricted TO in
quiries relating to the population, to NOR
tally, to the products of agriculture and
of manufacturing and mechanical estab-
lishments. After these are obtained, tn,
Director may collect statistics relating Il
the special classes. including the insane
feeble minded, deaf, dumb and blind: Il
crime, paupsrism. and beneyolence. in.
cluding prisoners. paupers, juvenile de
linquents, and inmates Of benevolent ant
refoTmatory Institutions. TO deaths an'
births in registration areas: 10 social sta
tistics of cities; TO public Indebtedness
VALUATION, taxation. ana expenditures II
religious bodies. TO electric light and pow
er. telephone and telegraph business; /,
transportation by water. express business
and street railways; to mines, mining an,
mineral, and the production and lalu,
thereof. including gold, in divisions o
placer and vein, and silver mines. and th
number Of men employed. the ayerag'
daily wage, average working time and ag
gregate earnings in the various branches
4 az
dustry.
Six months before the date OF taking tn
Census the supervisors are 10 be appointed
who shall appoint the enumerators wit
the consent of the Director.
Each supervisor will receive Sl25 an
from 81 10 $40 per thousand OF pOpula
tlon enumerated. Enumerators are TO b
paid not less than nor more than 3 cent
for each living inhabitant and for eac
death reported: not less than l. nor NOR
than 20 cents for each farm. and not les
than 20 nor more than 30 cents for eac
establishment OF productive industr
enumerated and returned may be given i
full compensation for all services. For al
other subdivisions per diem rates are t
be fixed by the Director according 10 tn
difficulty OF enumeration or other consid
erations pertinent thereto; but the com
pensstion allowed TO any enumerator
not TO be less than 50 nor more than s
per day Of ten hours actual field work
One million dollars is appropriated 70
the cost of the work.