The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-20
GOVERNMENT
PLACES.
Many Kansans Assist in Comput-
ing Census Returns.
Fifty Clerks Employed at Fairly
Lucrative Salaries.
RESIDENCE LIST OUT.
An Aggregated Annual Salary
Of 500 Is Drawn.
Description of How the Work Is
Compiled at Washington.
RESIDENCE LIST OUT.
Especial to the State Journal

Especial to the State Journal
Washington, D. C., April 20.-The an
clients have handed down to US the ira
dition Of a wonderful bird, whose fate in
life was to soar toward the blazing sun.
When he had reached the highest point
of his flight the a1l-consuning heat
burned him to ashes, and these cell to
the ground AS they dropped ard touch
ed the fertile bosom OF the earth life was
infused into the cinders. and the bird
rejuvenated by the kindly touch sprang
again into being from the ashes It is
thus with the census of the United
States, and always upon the approach of
the year which contains in its name the
4 mineral co. the president and both
| houses of congress concur in law
which provides, in pursuance Of our con-
stitution, for the enumera ton OF the in
habitants of this country.
Then there springs into being from the
ashes of the past, and from the tradition
of the censuses which have gone before,
a vast bureau, which employs directly
the aid of upwards of a million of Uncle
/ Sans people in gathering such facts
! and figures as are deemed most essen
tial to a determination of the exact re-
sources and development of the greatest
country in the world. In past years
giant mushrooms which sprang up, as 1t
/ We're, over night and OvershadOwed for
a while the whole land, drew from its
1 COunIaDi6 tens OIL IQlllOnS the SDSltA-
ance necessary for their existence, a1d
| in due time the vast labor proved pro
dUctIve CT some twenty or more volumes
containing an enumeration of the Dorll-
latiCn, vital statistics, and estimates II
cur great agricultural, manufacturing
and mining industries, along with ins7lr-
ance, statistics on crime and pauperisin,
and many other subjects too numerous
to be mentioned.
When the day Of its usefulness has
passed congressional appropriations Tor
the census bureau commence to dWindle,
and after the facts have been collected
a much smaller and much more Skilled
clerical force is needed for cOmpil ng
them. The first people to go are those
further from the heart of the census
in Washington. The enumerators, hav-
ing finished their house-tO-hOuse can
Vass. report to the main office. send in
their results, which are certified, and
having received their modest rerunera-
ton, are struck from the payreilS- When
their Ia bors have been digested and gen.
eTalized the clerks who have been en-
plCyed in corresponding with the emu
meratOrs are also dropped from the pay
4 rolls Their labOrs are taken up by men
higher in authority, and digested again
and generalized- Reports are made to
the chief of the census, WEO approves
them, and the final step having been ia
ken. they are sent to the government
printing office. where they are printed
and distributed throughout the world
AS the refining process goes on and
the apparently disconnected mass Of re-
ports asked by the census enumerator
of the great American citizen are
thrown into the vast caldron which
thousand census employees kept stirring
and siTnmering, the pure metal of solid
and significant fact finally sinks, the re-
ports grow smaller and more compact,
and fewer men required to handle them.
Finally. as report after report is COM
pleted and issued the bureau dwinGles to
a mere shadow of its former self.
hn I'M at a 81
is at present engaged in completing the
twelfth census employs an army of over
5000 experts and laborers. These are
men and women from every state and
territory in the country, who secured
their positions through political inf1u-
ence. While the law requires the merit
system to first figure in the considera-
ton Of these appointments, many per-
Sons secured good offices in this bureau
through influence mainly. As = rule the
force is quite we'll paid for the service
rendered. Most all were put on an equal
footing on the Outstart of the work and
paid very ordinary salaries. Those who
showed ability We're promoted from time
to time on their merits. until now ma
jority are well paid. The lowest salary
paid is $3.50 per annum. The average
salary Ct clerks is 5000, while the high
est is $500.
There are ffty-three Kansans employ
ed in this bureau. Not one holds chief
clerkship or is in any wise acting as an
clerks, and majority are drawing good
salaries. The average is 81 900 Il year.
The highest salary paid to Kansas is
81 500, while the lowest is 5000. Tie ag-
gregate annual salary amounts to $51,-
$40.
The list of employees. giving residence.
position and salary is as follows:
disbursing ofce SALARY 8 soo per a Glnu ~
Bruce L. keenan,. Wichita, manufac-
lures division. salary $1,000.
Harris Dresden.
office salary 81. 40.
Grear Maggie. Douglas. manufactures d.
vision salary $500
Charles T.. Vermillion, Hawatha. agri-
cultural division salary 5000.
Margaret Fulton, Sabetha, population
division. salary $500
Harold f. Martin. Afchison, agricul-
tural division salary $1,000
Cora b. Dilley. CLYDE. correspondence
and mail division. salary 81. 900
Lee NJ RAMSEY Tonganoxie. population
division. salary 81 900.
William II. Trapp; Topeka, agricultural
division. salary $1,000.
Edith Schott. I1eavenworth agricultural
division salary $500.
lures division. salary 81 600.
Timothy J. Butler Lawrence. population
division. salary 81 600
William A. Bolinger. Eureka, manufac-
lures division. salary 81 600.
purchasing agent. salary 81 Loo.
John Francis jr-. Allen county, popula-
julia. v. .Kenderdiae. Itiawatha agricul-
turaI division. salary $500
Albert J. Smith. Tsffingham. population
division salary $1,000
Robert a. Robertson. Tonganoxie. agri-
cultural division. salary $500
John G. Burkert Valley Falls pOpula-
ton division. salary 81 900.
Thomas G. Magoffin. Holton, agricul-
tura1 division salary 81 con.
John Fl. Cunningham. HiaWatha. aeri-
cultural division. salary $500.
Jay r. Farnsworth, Topeka. agricultural
division. salary $1,000.
AlOnzo A ROWiey. Tnpeha- Tnanufa1-
lures division. salary 81 600
Sally c. Matthias. I.eavenworth agrfcul-
tural division. salary $500.