Evening star., 1899-03-25
THE CENSUS BUREAU
Two Chief Statisticians Appointed by
the Director.
CONSTANT DEMAND FOR PLACES
Character of Examination to Be
Passed.
POLICY OF SELECTION

Two important appointments were made
by Director of the Census Merriam this
| morning. Both positions were those Of
chief statistician.
William c. Hunt of Massachusetts, was
appointed to the first position. Mr.. Hunt
was in charge Of the population division of
the eleventh census. and at the present
| time Is statistical expert in the depart
ment of labor. He has had considerable
experience In the matter Of census taking
and was one of the important officials In
I the Massachusetts, bureau Of labor for sew
eral years and assisted In the taking Of
the state census In 1885.
The other position was. given to Mr.. Le-
Grand Powers Of Minnesota Mr.. Powers,
| 1t will be remembered was ut one time a
| candidate for the position Of director Of
the census and received the Endorsement OF
the Minnesota delegation When he learn
| ed. however, that Gov. Merriam was being
considered he promptly withdrew bis appif-
cation. Mr.. Powers Is at present secretary.
of the Minnesota bureau Of labor and is an
+ expert statistician on agriculture. He Is a
man of fine affair Inents. broad knowledge
Of affairs, IN general and will make, IT is
stated, valuable acquisition to the census
force.
1900 Applications for Places.
Hundreds of applications are being re-
ceived each day by the census bureau for
positions. The bureau. as has been print
ed. occupies the major part of the sixth
floor Of the new Columbian building 9th
street. and Chief Clerk Childs is kept busy
all day long receiving applications. Ad-
Joining his room is the private office Of the
assistant director, DR.. Wines, and here the
greater portion of the administrative work
Of the office Is conducted. Director Mer-
riam occupies the corner room adjoining
nr nd hn fc hoofa frpy, until
o'clock by men of influence who want po-
sitions for some constituent. Everybody
who hopes to get a position under the
twelfth census wants to know everything
there is to be told about it. In a statement
made today by Director Merriam, the act of
March 3, which provides for taking the
census. is referred to far as its import
ant features are concerned, which are of
interest to applicants for appointments.
In addition to the director and assistant
director, provision is made for five chief
statisticianS, who :1ali be men of tried eX
perience in statistical work. at an annual
salary of $4,000. I wo of these statisticians
were appointed today. 1t also provides for
one chief clerk, disbursing clerk and a
geographer at an annual salary of 50 500
each. The chief clerk has been appointed
and those who know say that Mr.. Childs is
an ideal man for the position.
Director Merriam says that these posi-
tions just mentioned have all been filled,
and it is useless for applications to be
made for them.
rive EXPERT cnle1S OF division AMI two
steEographers. at annual salary of
5000 each. are provided. These chiefs Of
division will be the personal and official as
sistants Of the statisticians, and it is re-
quired of them that they possess expert
knowledge on the subjects of inquiry and
report, as well previ jas experience in
the government service. and superior Quail
it!es for the organization of the large force
OF clerks. The two steaograDhers mention
ed have already been selected although not
yet named. Other stenographers, it is said
will be needed in the office, but none OF
them will rank higher than clerks o. class
1'a ana Will receive but s1,20o per annum.
The Clerical Force.
There will be required. in addition to the
appointments named, ten clerks of class l.
"fo will receive a salary of 81, 800; fifteen
of class 3. at $1.6OO, and twenty Of class 2,
at 81, 400. Director Merriam states that it
will be the policy of his office to selec;
these from the clerks and employees of
lower grades after they have entered the
service and demonstrated their fitness
Ihere Will also be appointed such number
OF clerks at 81 100, clerks at 81 600, copyists
at $S4O and 500, conputers at $7a0 and
skilled laborers at $3.50 as may be nec.s-
sary.
The director is authorized a,so to appoint
a captain of the watch, at $40: two mes
sengers and such number of watchmen as
slstant Watchmen, messengers and labor
ers, at $6o0, and of messenger boys at s4Ou
quired. All of these employees except the
captain OF the watch, may be appointed
out cannot be promoted without passing
an examination.
An important statement in this connec-
ton was made by the director today when
ne SAID that large proportion of the work
IN ms ONCE would be performed by persons
employed at the rate of $50 a month, or
else under appointments limited to short
periods This class of employes he saws
can be largely selected from the residents
or the city of Washington and it's vicinity.
and points out that it will hardy be worth
Wn1ie Tor persons residing at a distance 10
Apply Tor positions Of this character
II Will be seen. he says, that the law pro-
yides Tor only sixty-tWo appointments In
Inc Inc census s once at compensation to ex-
ceed u 20 per year. OF this number forty-
nVe WIZ be reserved. as has been stated 10
De nj ed by promotion from the lower
grades of service in this, Office and the
other seventeen have been Practically de-
cided upon. 1t will be the policy OF the
once to appoint all employees at a lower
grade than that which they may ultimate:
~ nope to reach by the faithful and pro-
hcenf performance of the duties assigned
to them
The Examinations.
All the foregoing places will be filled by
appointment only after passing the exam
ination prescribed by the director in ac-
cordance with the Authority conferred up-
oa him by the fifth section of the act, in
the words Following: The chief clerk and
the chief staustieians provided for in sec
ton four of this act. and all other employ
es authorized by this act, below the assist
ant director Of the census, shall be ap-
pointed by the director Of the census, sub:
ject to such examination said director
may prescribe" /
The examination to be prescribed by the
director will have special reference to the
fitness OF applicants to fill the particular
position and perform the particular duty
involved in the character and class OF an i
pointment sought by each of them. Due |
Eotice OF the time and place Of such exam
ination will be given in advance through
the public press 1t will be necessary for |
all persons applying for permission to un-,
dergo this examination to be able to write a |
fair and legible hand. to have a sufficient i
knowledge of English spelling and to be
q BILE to perform all the ordinary arithmeti-
cal computations. The examination will not
be less difficult than the examination pre-
scribed by the civil service commission for
appointment to. clerical positions in the
classified service The lowest marking
which will enable an applicant to pass will |
be seventy-f1ve. From the list of eligibles
there will be selected such as appear to be
most likely to render capable and efficient |
service In the office. without regard to the
scale OF marking at which they pass, and
special after ton will be paid to the general
neatness of their examination papers and
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