New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-30
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE CENSUS.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS BY THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS BY THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE.
The following letter has been addressed on behalf
of the National Civil Service Reform League TO
members of Congress:
Dear sir; The bin for the taking Of the Twelfth
Gensqs M and now nr as eonsder
ton by the House Census Committee, provides:
First-That the Census Bureau snail in future be
an independent establishment. under The immediate
control OF the directOt and without the continued
Secondhand in the selection Of the statisticians.
clerks and other employees 20 be engaged in the
laws governing the selection OF similar subordi-
mates in other departments snail be suspended.
The director Is given practically unlimited power
~ ho u b 4, neryni,tnd ~ nrescyibe Donnnnnnet1
tive pass" examinations ror certain classes OF
a svs,em IL Absolutely ineffective either az a means
OF securing the most competent employees or a
measure for the exclusion CT political considera-
II is respectfully submitted that the persons be
employed for this highly important WORK should
peculiar expertness and skill The Civ Service
Commission has at hand the machinery Tor select
ing as large force may he needed through
careful competitive examinations. open on equal
the most practical and thorough tests that may be
desired. and to secure for the Government by this
clans tabulators and clerks The present head OF
the Census Bureau has stated that there IL no
cured or the evils that attended the taking OF the
II - a well-known fact that the census Of 1880
was an extravagant and imperfect piece Of work
II is also well established that the failures attend
ing Il were due in the main TO the manner In which
the bureau was organized. Commissioner Wright
has further testified that had the clerical force
been employed through the agency OF the civi
Service rules. and thus selected with reference 10
efficiency solely the census would have cost the
people 81 10000 less than It did A carefully pre-
pared report made to the National Civil Service
Reform League shows that this great Govern
mental enterprise was not only expensive beyond
all reason. but that the force was demorazed by
the very manner OF Its organization, and that the
actual results secured were in most part worthless
and lacking in public confidence. copy OF That
report s herewith inclosed.
IL the pending bill passed in its present form.
with the Census Bureau removed from the control
OF a permanent executive department. and with
appointments made I'm the manner proposed re-
turn to the conditions that gravely impaired the
usefulness OF the eleventh census would seem 10
be inevitable.
OF organization proposed be modified before the
bill is passed. that the supervisory relation OF the
Interior Department 10 the census work be CON
tinued and that the selection Of all supervisors.
oured o he made for special fitness. TO be ascer-
taincd so far possible. by competitive eXamina-
lions under the civil Service rules. II is signh-
cant that the establishment OF the Bureau on such
a bas has already been urged in the strongest
terms by many organizations directly interested
I'm the accuracy and mpartality OF the census
work including both the American Economic As
ISOLATION and the American Statistical Association
There can be doubt that "A movement In Con-
gress TO divorce the taking Of the census from poll
lies and create "A force especially ntted for the
important work 10 be performed Will meet with
general and cordial public approval Very respect
fnilv yours GEORGE M'ANENY.
New York Jan. =. 1899 Secretary.