Evening star., 1902-04-25
The Census Office Age Limit.
o the Editor of The Evening Starr

~ 'he Huitor oi Ine Evening start
In Thursdays issue Of your paper ap-
peared an official announcement that Direc-
tor Merriam will not appoint to the perma-
nent census bureau any clerks who have
passed certain age (not mentioned), be-
cause he wishes to put in clerks who will
be fit for service when the thirteenth census
Shall be taken. At the same time he is to
retain the services Of veterans of the civil
war, as they are given preference by recent
orders Of the President and under civil
service rules Just how the service Of a
clerk can be Of greater value because he
mas served In the army seems hard to dis
cover. All honor be to the soldiers who
bravely fought the battles that saved the
nation and endured the hardships of army
life. Still the question may be asked, rs
the census office to be changed from
place or active earnest business to a hos
pital for the care Of retired veterans?" It
occurs to the writer that in this or any
other department of the government the
private citizen should stand an equal chance
Tor appointment or promotion with the vet
eran. Under the age limit said to be fixed
by the director there will be large num-
per of the very ablest and most reliable
clerks, who must be dismissed. Many of
these are known by chiefs and heads of de-
partments to be thoroughly qualified for the
work now being done, and as we'll for the
work of the permanent bureau.
Against the question may be asked "Af-
ter the director has appointed the 500
clerks to the permanent bureau how many
or them will be found at the post of duty
at the end of three years?" In all huma n
probability at the expiration Of the time
mentioned at least one-third, and quite pos
sibly more, will have left the office through
deaths, dismissals and resigna tions to take
more congenial situations. Several young
men have told the writer that they will seek
appointment on the force, but Will leave
just as soon as they can find something
the clerks who have passed the dead line"
would be more apt to be found at their
desks there than will the younger ones.
The writer does not believe Director Mer-
riam has any moral right to fix such an
arbitrary standard as to age. He should
appoint the clerks best qualified to do the
work, giving preference to those who will
be most likely to remain faithfully at their
posts. AS long as clerk can give good
service he should be permitted to remain
When he ceases to do SO he should be
dismissed and no questions should be asked
as to his age or prospects in life. The CEN
sus office was established for business pur-
poses, and sentiment should be ruled out
Ability and falthfulness are the prime
requisites required, and age has no more to
do with the matter than has the color Of
the hair.
Many of the men who must face dismissal
have families here dependent upon the
salary received from the government and
II sentiment must rule in reference to the
soldier, 1t should also rule In such cases
1t is a certain fact that aside from the
gray hair and the passing of years. some
of these old men are younger in the per
formance of duty than many of the clerks
who have never yet celebrated the twenty
fifth birthday. OF course, some are break
Ing down and must soon be laid off but
many retain theor mental and physical vigor
unimpaired, and give promise of so doing
for many years to come.
This is written In the full belief that d.
rector Merriam means to do what is right
and just and with the sincere hope that he
will refuse to put up the dead line feared.
ONE OF THEM