New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-23
SOME SENATORS AND THE CENSUS.

The Republican members Of the Senate Com
mittee on Census are Thomas II. Carter, or
Montana; Eugene Hale, Of Maine; Thomas {.
Plat. Of New-York; Charles W. Fairbanks, Of
Indiana, and Frank J. Cannon Of Utah. The
character Of the next census rests in the hands
OF these men. They can make the bureau
scientific workshop or political hospital They
can place their party before the people as hon
esty fulfilling its pledges, or treacherously
gaining power under false pretences. They
can individually say that they mean TO keep
their promises. or shamelessly avOw that they
care nothing for party principles and feel them
selves bound to keep no faith with the voters
who were foolish enough 10 suppose that their
declarations Of loyalty to Republican policy
meant something If these Senators, who have
II I'm their power to make the Census hill CON
form at once to the requirements Of good gov
eminent and of the Republican platform, fail
TO do so, and turn the census organization over
TO the sposmen. they will confess that their
party promises and party loyalty alike mean
nothing when placed in the scale against selfish
interests and petty patronage.
There is no middle ground in this matter.
The Senators must follow their principles or
swallow them The St Louis platform. to
which each one processes allegiance. Is une-
ouivoca in its terms. In the sOlemnest Ian
euace it declares that the Civil Service law
shall he thoroughly and honestly enforced and
extended wherever practicable" Does that
mean anything or does it not? Some Of the
members Of this committee were delegates TO
the St Louis Convention. Perhaps they will
tell us what they thought at the time Of the
platform they adopted. Did they regard it rs
mere huncombe? If anybody had asked them
i'm the campaign Of 1896 whether they meant
what they said or intended to repudiate It after
election would they not with the most vrtu-
ous protestations have avowcd their utter de
,otion 10 that sacred confession Of faith: They
have got to remain devoted now or confess that
they were deceiving the people then. If the
Civil Service reform plank was put into the plat
form with n dishonest purpose they can con-
fess II no more clearly than by voting to re-
tain the spoils features Of the Census bill. In
that case there IS no reason TO suppose they
would not vote for free silver If their own
political interests would be promoted thereby
VIII Senator Plat or Senator Hale avow
that he recognizes no obligation on the money
question? The Senator from New-lork Is
most strenuous advocate Of regularity. What
the organization has ordered that he does
Kickers and Independents are base in his eyes.
1 Surely he will not be the man 10 kick against
/ his party platform and refuse to do in the TAX
/ ing of the census VIVA, the National organlza-
/ ton gave the most sweeping pledge TO DO.
/ 1t is perfectly pracicahi" 10 put the Census
Bureau under Civil Service rules. Mr.. Porter.
who took the last census under the political
patronage system. and whose affiliations have
/ never been with the despised ''rcformers' de-
nounces the plan he had TO follow. He IS n
| thoroughly practical politician. but experience
makes him m advocate Of the merit system.
/ Commissioner Wright takes the same view.
With these men who know saying that the
bureau ought TO be put under the Civil Ser
/ vice law. il is nonsense to pretend that the
/ extension Is not practicable. 1t Is practical
| bic to organize a Census Bureau in accord
ance with the rules 10 organize any one OF
the many other bureaus in Washington. The
work Is not hastily begun nor quickly term-
mated. over year IS given for perfectlng the
system and getting ready to take the census,
and then the bureau will he occupied for several
years in compiling the returns For such en-
ployment experts are needed. II would he dis
graceful to give these places TO political hacks.
Our rulers are much concerned with the good
government they are going TO give our de-
pendents A good preparation for that under
taking would he some common honesty and
good faith in governing at home.