The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-20
RECOUNT IN TWO COUNTIES
Alleged Census Frauds in Maryland
Lead to This Decision.
Twenty bureau Wen TO Do the work.
AbeII Pleads Not CuiIty-Director
Merriam Declines to say Whether
Additional Arrests VIII Follow

As a result Of alleged Irregularities il
the census returns from St Mary's an,
Charles counties. Md. and of tbs
arrest Of Stephen A Abel. a census
enumerator, last night. charged with
making false reports as to the popuIa-
tion Of st. Mary's county, the Census
Bureau has ordered recount in these
counties
Dr. Wines, Assistant Director OF the
Twelfth Census. is now in Maryland 10
take charge Of the work. Twenty clerks
from the Census Bureau are with him
and VIII perform the actual work of re-
taking the census The results of the
recount viii not affect the official figures
already in hand. Whatever discrepancies
may be found Will be acknowledged by
the Census Bureau. but viii not be pub
lished in the official reports as part of
| the census returns.
This is the first recount authorized
under the Twelfth Census The situation
is unique in view of the fact that re-
counts under any former census were in
variabIy made to ascertain whether the
| population of certain places was not
/ placed at too low figures, while in the
/ present case the complaint under inyesti-
/ cation is of an oyercount
! The recount in these counties viii be
made as a result of investigations tend
| ing to prove that certain euumerators,
appointed to take the census. faIsified the
returns. and included IN their papers the
names OF many persons dead, or who
had ceased to reside where accredited, or
names entirely fictitious
II was this alleged condition Of affairs
that led TO the arrest OF Abel. one Of
the census enuInerators in St Mary-s
county, and who was made a street cross
ing policeman through the influence Of
Representative Sidney Mudd of Mary
land. Abell is charged with classifying
the returns. No other arrests are con
ternplated az present but tie Census Blu
reau proposes to prosecute anyone found
guilty Of classifying returns. or which the
minimum penalty is a flre Of $3.50. and
Imprisonment Of not less than two years
or both. for any offence Whether this
is cumulative penalty is a question left
to the discretion If the court
Director Merriam. Of the Census Blu
reau, said this morning that twenty men
from the bureau had been sent to the two
counties in Maryland to review the work
of the original enumerators. Clerks
from the bureau, he stated. had
been selected. in preference to
enUmerators from the counties.
in order that the work should be
perfectly fair and Impartial TIE popu-
Iation lists turned in by the original
eaumerators will be checked of by the
men making the recount All names
found to he correctly accredited TO the
counties viii be approved. Names Of
persons on the lists who cannot be found
viii be erased
viii not state whether any other ar
rest viii be made. says he will prosecute
ali offenders TO the utmost limit. He in
dicated the penalty incurred in trans
crossing the law governing the census
count, and said that he would rot refrain
from what he considered his duty
The investigation which was conducted
under the direction OF the Census Bureau
geographer. Charles S Sloane, revealed
irregularities in the returns from 81
AIary's and Charles counties. Director
Merriam said. adding that for the present
the recount would be conducted there
only, where he had proof of erroneous
returas- Should further investigation
show that the returns from other parts Of
the State had been falsiGed the revision
would be extended to such places
Director Merriam says that he was led
TO make the Investigations by the repre-
sensations contained in Democratic pa
pers of that State, to the effect that 4
gross miscount, favorfng the Republican
party had been made The director would
not discuss the political conn '~xion of
the matter.
The case of Abel was called in the Pc
lice Court this morning and ne pleaded
not guilty The preliminary examination
was waived and the case went to the
grand jury. Abens bond was placed at
$1,000 In fixing the amount OF the bond
a clash occurred between Mr.. sloane. of
the Census Office, who appeared in le-
half Of Directir Merriam, anu Maurice
Smith, the attorney for the defendant.
Mr.. Smith asked that the case be taken
up, as his client desired to waive an ex-
animation. He asked that the amount Of
bond which had been placed at loo by
by Assistant District Attorney Ntullowny
yesterday evening, be reduced 10 $500. Mr..
Sloane objected 10 this and said that he
had been instructed by Director Merriam
to say that $1,O00 was not satisfactory 10
him. and asked that d larger sum be re-
quired.
Attorney Smith said that under the law
the offence was only a misdemeanor. pun
ishoble 10y fine Of not more than s5oao
or Imprisonment for not more than TWO
years. lie became somewhat heated in
his remarks, and referred to what he
termed the impertinence of Director Mer-
RAM in attempting to dictate to the
court what the bond should be. He said
that it was matter entirely with the
court Mr.. Sloane then agreed to a
bond of $5oo
Major Richard Sylvester stated TODAY
that Abel was not d member of the Net
ropolitan Police force He stated that he