Evening star., 1902-02-14
THE SENATE.

At the opening of today's session Of the
Senate resolutions for the employment OF
extra clerks and messengers were favoraoly
reported by the committee on contingent
expenses These called out vigorous pro-
test from Mr.. Clay (Ga.). He pointed OUT
that during the past thirty days more tha4
twenty extra messengers and clerks hao
been employed at a salary of 81 44o each per
year. He had been informed, he said, tina :
nine of these employees were for commit
tees that had not had a meeting in eight OF
ten years. /
The statement by Mr.. Clay started quite
long discussion of the subject of Senate emT
ployes participated in by Senators Hoar,
Berry, Lodge Teller Turner, Allison, Platr
(Conn.). Galiinger. Spooner and Dubois.
The resolution was recommltted, WIN nv
structions to investigate the clerical force
of the Senate.
Permanent Census Bureau.
Upon the conclusion of routine business
the bill to provide for permanent census
office was taken up at the instance Of Mr..
Quarles, chairman Of the committee on CEN
sus At o'clock the Philippine tariff bill
was called up and laid aside consideration
of the census measure being continued.
The transfer of the printing establishment
of the census bureau to the government
printing office caused some debate, but the
committee provision making tHlS take pldCe
on July 1. was allowed to remain, as 1t was
explained that that was the wish of the di-
rector of the census.
The provision placing employees of the
census in the classified service was passed
over temporarily when the bill was read.
as Senator Lodge was out OF the Senate
chamber. and Mr. Allison explained that he
desired to make an amendment to this sec
ton.
Proposed Salary Of Director.
A of hy
the amendment of the committee increasing
the salary of the director from 5000 to
s., 500. Mr.. Allison stated that that was a
larger salary than was necessary in per-
manent bureau. and was larger than that
of any officer of the government other than
a cabinet officer, and also larger than any
one in the civil government in the District
except the President, the cabinet officers, a
few members of the judiciary and one or
two others.
He thought that $4,000 would be ample
for the provision. and requested Senator
Quarles, chairman of the committee IN
charge of the bill, to accept an amendment
to the bill to that effect.
Senator Quarles stated reasons why the
committee had increased the salary of the
director TO $500. He said the position of
director was one that required rare organ
izing ability. and private corporations are
offering much larger compensation to men
qualified to fill such positions. Mr.. Quarles
was here interrupted by Senator Hawley.
who inquired
How much do you wish to take yourself
for your own WageS?'
Mr.. Quarles replied that he did not wish
to submit any one qualified to fulfill the
duties of director of the census to the
humiliation that is put upon senators who
accept a salary which will not pay their
expenses. He would not compel any one to
accept the miserable pittance that is paid to
senator's
Senator Hawley asked whether the di-
rector Of the census could not wait for a
higher salary than senators now get but
Mr.. Quarles replied that he was afraid that
if he waited until the senators themselves
receive higher salaries he would have
very dreary spell of waiting.
The Senate voted to make the salary OF
the director Of the census $500.
Retention Of Employees.
Mr. Lodge offered an amendment to the
bill providing that only those employees
who would be retained under the perma
census should be included within the classi-
fled service
He stated that there are now 2,298 en-
ployes In the bureau. and that this force
would be reduced to 500 and perhaps to 500
under the permanent bureau. He consid-
cred it well that these employees under the
permanent bureau should be experienced
in the census work, but he did not approve
the provision of section of the bill, which
Included within the classified service all
the employees of the census at present,
making them eligible to transfer to other
departments without civil service examina-
tion.
AT 3 o'clock Senator Lodge was in the
midst of an explanation of his amendment
when the chair announced the special order
for the consideration of pension bills be-
tween 3 and o'clock. and the census bill
was displaced. The Senate will probably
meet tomorrow, but up to o'clock had
not come to any agreement as to any meet
ing on Saturday.