The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-22
TO GIVE BAIL FOR ABBLL
Relatives of the Maryland Enumcr.
ator Come to His Rescue.
Representative Eudd md the Census
od.ciaIs in Cousuitution-Tac For
mer Relieves the Enquiry Proceed
ing Along Unfair Lines.

Relatives of stephen A. Abel, the street
crossing policeman, arrested Tuesday on
q :i,charge Of having falsified his returns as
a census enumerator in st. Mary Coun-
tv. MARYLAND. arrived in Washington last
night to go on the prisoners bail Charles
Abel. cousin Of the accused. has under
taken to supply the necessary bond OF
5000 Unless his plans fail Abel Will ne
able to give bail this morning
Representative Mudd, Director Merriam
Assistant Director Wines, and Mr.. sloane
conferred together at the Census Bureau
nearly the entire afternoon yesterday II
is learned the four went over Abells re-
turns to the bureau and the report maae
by the Directors subordinates. which LED
10 the discovery Of the false names. Mr
Merriam subsequently characterized the
meeting rs IAN informal consultation
and indicated that no developments were
to be expected from it.
Mr. Mudd s attitude during the confer
ence was that the fullest investigation
should be made. but that the Census Bu-
reau had proceeded along rather hlogi-
cal lines 1t was most unfair, he argued
that men should be sent to st. MARY
County, who knew no one there ana WHO
were to duplicate in the middle ot winter
e. census taken in the early summer no"
could such methods fail to develop dis-
Erepancios?" Instead of relying implicit
ly on the services of men TO whom the
community was strange, and VINO were
strangers among the people of the c"un-
H.. he insisted that the bureau should CO.
operate with the enumerators
Where differences were disclosed let the
clerical force and the enumerators con-
fer. MIR. Mudd thought it probable that
in the majority of such instances, the
supposed discrepancies would be explain
ed to the full satisfaction of the bureau
It was Mr.. Mudd's purpose to stahd DS
lhe men who had taken the enumeration
He believed they had done their "orh
faithfully What took him to the census
Bureau was the earnest wish tha' s tiIcs
might have what seemed to him falr treai-
hent ~ -.
Within about week the bureau hopes
10 receive from DR.. Wines ana the t"eutS
clerks assigned to assist him the report
of the recount being taken in Charles ana
St Mary Counties The taking OF the
census required about thirty days, Dut
with eSperienced men and the certificates
submitted by the former enumerators 1t
is thought the task Of recounttnS the
two counties may be completed within a
fortnight. Dr. Wines returned TO Wash
ington Wednesday, spent. yesterday IN
consultation with Governor Merriam, and
left for ST. Mary County again last
night Frequent statements of conditions
in Charles and St. Mary Counties are
expected during the next ten days.
No new arrests have been ordered AS
the Director indicated in his statement
Wednesday. further proceedings will be
had as soon as the bureau is reasonably
satisfied fraud has been committed. Ii Is
known. moreover. that several of the
men named by Abel are within the Du-
reaus range of vision. But yesterday, ap-
parently, brought no information which
woald warrant active steps against
them. With the Assistant Director at the
front, however definite knowledge on this
subject may he expected within d few
days-either other enumerators will be
arrested on charges as definite as those
conclude that the other discrepancies he
tween the two counts are merely mistakes
and will not undertake criminal actions
against the other enumeratOrs.
Director Merriam and the attorney Cen
eral held a consultation on the legal as
poets of the Abel case late last night
Suspicion rests at present only against
the count in Charles and St. Mary
Counties. AT the Census Bureau there is
apparently no faith that the Maryland
census has been corrupted except in that
part of the State. Very likely, however
an informal examination will be made of
the certificates returned from other
counties in order that clerks may be IA
miliar with the conditions throughout
Maryland. should suspicion be directed
elsewhere Mr.. Merriam expressed the
greatest Willingness yesterday to correct
any errors detected in the State census
at any cost of funds and time His men
Wcrs operating exclusively in Charles ami
St Mary. he said. because notable irreg-
nldrlties had been found only in those
couaties. But the Census Bureau was
ready to send men who could be trusted
10 make recount OF any community that
reported fair ground for doubling its CEN