The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-27
Census EnumeratOrs Again, Letter
from General GrOut,
ST.. JoHNsBURy, VT, June %, 10

ST. JOHNsBURY, VT, June %, 1900.
Editor Of Waterman and Journal:-You
evidently misunderstood what l said the
other day. l said thiss That Judge Ross
and myself recommended to the supervisor
Wheelock and Peck for appointment as
enumerators at Hartford. But he recon-
mended to the director the appointment of
Darrah and Stevens, and that 1 requested
the director to send for Wheeler and Peck's
test schedules that he might judge for him
self who ought to be appointed, the test
schedules OF Darrah and Stevens having
been forwarded by the supervisor with his
recommendation for their appointment.
also said that the result was, Wheeler and
Peck were appointed by order Of the direc-
tor. Such at least are the facts, and in
tended to state them to you correctly at the
time. To these facts as stated to you need
only add that l said to the director that
did not ask for Wheeler or Peck's appoint
ment unless their test schedules justified it,
and IL they did desired their appointment
AS to the East Montpelier case, where
person outside the town was designated to
take the census, and which was referred to
by you the other day, will say: That asked
the director in that case to send for test
schedules of the only applicant ] knew any
thing about from that town, namely, John
M. Willard; and If thought by him fit to
take the census thought it better to APP
point him rather than send a person from
outside and it seems he did appoint him.
AS to the right of members or Senators to
meddle in the census appointments will
say That the director is constantly con-
sulting them. He at least sent for me sew
eral times and / conferred with him as a
part OF my duty TO the people represent
or course, all census applicants could not
have an appointment and 1t is natural that
the unsuccessful should not feel as happy
as those who succeeded Regretting that
you should have imperfectly understood
my conversation the other day, am,
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM w. CIRCUIT.
lin respect OF the foregoing, it is proper
to state that Representative Grout called at
the JOURNAL Office recently to explain the
matter of the Hartford appointments, and
correct some Of the statements OF Roland
e. Stevens in his letter published in the
JOURNAL OF June 9. General Grout was then
asked to write out his explanation which
the JOURNAL would cheerfully print. This
he seems to have concluded he would not
do. The editor OF this paper, in the course
OF his experience in political and other al
fairs, has become accustomed TO listening
attentively and understanding accurately
what is said to him. His statement of the
substance OF General CIRCUITS conversation
was brief, and Is believed to represent ac-
curately what were its essential facts. The
General Is now given the personal statement
he had previously been asked to make to
hNOlus any pObblDio VI n
standing Whatever discrepancies there
may be between the foregoing statement of
General Grout, and that which was pub
lished from Senator Ross in the JOURNAL OF
Saturday, these are left for the Opponents
themselves to reconcile.
When supervisor OF census district is
appointed, and intrusted by law with the
duty OF selecting and appointing enumera-
tors, the question naturally arises in this
| connection, why his action in particular
cases should be subjected to such close scru.
tiny at Washington, and why he himself
should be supervised and his appointments
| overruled practically through the interior
| ence OF members of Congress? The district
| supervisor Is In close contact with the
sources OF information, outside OF the test
| schedules, as to the fitness OF the persons be
selects as enumerators. 1t seems idle to
| to claim that the schedule of Stevens or OF
Miss Leonard could have shown inferiority
in fitness In any particular. to any competit