The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-19
THE HOUSE.


Twelfth Census Work to He Done
by Public Printer.
Washington, January IS The house to-
day passed the senate bill To extend the
powers OF the director OF the census, after
striking out tho committee movement to
authorize the director to contract for extra
printing with private contractors. The
whole fight was upon that amendment. The
influence of the public printer and the
labor organizations OF the country were
employed against IL and after a lively de-
bate OF several hours It was overwheln4-
ngly defeated. The publication OF the re-
ports OF the Twelfth census therefore will
be made by the public printer as in the
past.
The house met at / o'clock today in or
der to give members an opportunity to at
tend tho ceremonies in connection with
the unwilling OF the statue OF Daniel Web
ster Saturday, February 3, was set aside
for paying tribute to the memory OF this
late Representative Ermentrout OF Penn
sylvania.
Mr.. Hopkins Ill) moved that the mouse
go into committee of the whole Tor the
consideration OF senate bill extending the
scope of the director OF the Twelfth cen
sus.
Mr.. Russell Comm said the opposition
to the bill was confined TO the house
amendment to the bin BY the house COM
mittee in regard to the printing. lie sug
gested that general debate be closed at !
o'clock. This was agreed to and Mr.. Hop
kins' motion adopted
Mr. Hopkins explained that the bill, with
the exception of the fourth section, met
the unanimous approval OF the census
IN atffb mn al h.. al
rector Of the census 10 contract outside OF
the government printing office for PRINT
ing the census reports. Mr.. Hopkins In de-
tending the section said the public printer
would be given as much OF the printing as
he could DO The rest could be as well
and completely done outside. lie assured
the house that the work would be per-
formed by union labor.
In response to question from Mr.. Shat
tue tOhio) he said he would be willing to
incorporate AN amendment requiring that
the work should be done by union labor.
Mr.. Wheeler (Ky.) asked why, II gov
eminent work was TO be let TO the lowest
bidder. there should be any opposition re-
istricting 1t TO tirms employing union La
Dor.
Mr.. Hopkins replied that he would ac-
cept the amendment to show there was no
hostility TO union labor.
Limiting this work to union offices"
observed Mr.. Sims tTenn.) is RANK class
legislation"
Mr.. Babcock (Wis.) asked what there
was to prevent a rat Office If II was the
lowest bidder from obtaining the work.
There is not a rat office in America 4"
retorted Mr.. Hopkins, (which can do this
work"
The debate continued until 4 o'clock.
many members participating on each side.
Mr.. Flynn (Okla.) offered an amendment
for the spportlonment OF the employees OF
the census equitably among the States and
Territories. He said every representative
had been allowed six appointments. He
had only two appointments.
III that amendment is adopted" aske 1
Mr. Lentz (ohio) will Il be possible to
have democrat appointed enumerator in
the North7''
III ! had my way replied Mr. Flynn.
there would not be democratic enumer-
ator North or South" Applause and
laughter.)
The amendment was lost
When section 4 was reported Mr.. Hop
kins. In charge OF the bill. offered the fol-
lowing substitute for Il:
THAT the public printer shall establish
in the public printing office division or