The Washington times., 1902-01-11

After four and half hours debate
upon the Hopkins bill to make the Census
Bureau permanent, the House yesterday
voted by large majority to recommit it
to the committee with instructions to re-
port an entirely different measure.
This result was pronounced victory
for Mr.. 'Burkett (Rep., Neb), who led
the fight against the bill.
An Unexpected Opposition.
When the measure was taken up as a
special order Immediately after the read
ing of the journal it looked as If the bill
would have smooth sailing through the
House, and that it would pass before the
close of the day. 1t met. however, quite
different fate, despite the fact that
when the House assembled yesterday
there was no organized opposition to the
measure.
Mr.. Hopkins stated at the close of his
there were a couple of members who de-
sired to be heard in opposition to the
measure. He yielded them sufficient time
to make their arguments. At the close
of day of interesting and spicy. debate
there were SO many members on both
sides OF. the chamber opposed to the bill
that yea a-and-nay vote on the motion to
recommit was refused
RECON- mitted With Instructions.
Mr. Burkett's motion. which prevailed,
was to reeonmit The bill to the select
census committee, with directions to re-
port detailed organization for a perma-
nent census bureau. with a provision in
cluding the present employees in the class
ified service,
The sentiment OF the House was un-
doubtedly in favor of permanent bureau,
but opposed to the Hopkins hill, which
proposes only to continue the existing in
stitution. and with no provision sta ing
whether or not it shah be under the civil
service raileS.G
The Question OF Civil Service.
While sir. Hopkins was setting forth
the advantages and the desirabihty of a
permanent census, Mr.. Grosvenor opened
up the question of civil service, asking
how the present force Of the bureau would
be affected by the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Hopkins stated, in answer to a
question, that the present employees did
not pass the regular civil service exam
lnaIlOn pTepdreu u! tue coHliilSSioil, nut
a special examination, prepared under the
supervision of the Director Of the Census.
It was fully as difficult, he affirmed, and
went on to state that the clerks had had
two and half wears experience, and that
the President had extended the rules OF
the civil service over the bureau without
special act -
The Force Efficient.
Mr.. Grosvenor paid tribute TO the ef1i-
cheney of the force, and said that they
should not be compelled to compete with
every high school student to enter the
Government service again. but that they
should be eligible to transfer TO any de-
partment of the Government when 1t BE-
came necessary TO reduce the force now
engaged at the bureau. He did not op-
pose The bill, bat wanted a civil service
provision attached.
MIR. Burkett obtained the floor and
launched forth into vigorous attack upon
the measure. He seriously questioned the
advisability of a permanent bureau He
said all the important divisions of the
census, such as population, agriculture.
and long ligt OF other, had already been
reported. or would be by July /, 1902. and
there was no need for further continua-
tion of the bureau.
Statistics in Plenty.
We are getting statistics enough now,
he declared, from all the other depart
ments OF the Government. The Census
Bureau. he said. was organized to do a
certain work; it had done it. and there
was nothing now necessary for it to do.