The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-01-03
q I ,,i,,.,, ]. ( hat d; J.
Special Con- xdsncs'.

49, SssSs ~ Istt3ssS NStSsSssS
Special Correspondence.
One Of the first bills to be urged when
congress reconvenes after the holidays
is one providing that the census bureau
shall be made permanent. The bill will
be offered in the respective houses by
Senator Quarles Of Wisconsin and Rep
resentative HOPKINS of Illinois.
Director Merriam is taking an active
interest in this matter, not from per-
sonal motive, but from conviction,
gained during the past three years, that
the establishment of the bureau on a
permanent basis would be Of great val
ue to the government, and at the same
time simplify the task Of taking the
decennial census. The director has
conferred with members Of congress iE-
terested, and he has supplied the in
formation which will be submitted to
congress in behalf Of the bill. Senator
Quarles has become chairman of the
census committee under the recent re-
organization Of the upper house, and he
intends to call a meeting Immediately
after the holidays to take up this leg
islation. Like action will provide that;
in the establishment of the census bu-
reau on a permanent basis the most
efficient employees of the present force
shall be retained, as a skeleton organic
alton for the next census force.
An effort will also be made to throw
the cloak Of the civil service rules over
the present census force. This is
strongly advocated in certain quarters,
and Is understood to be favored by Dr.
rector Merriam. AS result of the
suggestion, Gov. Merriam is confront
ed with hundreds of recommendations
for the retention of employees who are
anxious to remain until congress acts.
In the hope that they will be placed in
the classified service, and thus be elig-
ible to transfer to other branches of the
service without examination.
President Roosevelt bad an encounter
with a drunken man the other night
while out walking with Capt. Cow1es,
his brother-in-law, and Senator and
Mrs. Lodge, which is responsible for
number of sensational stories, which
are denied officially. The president and
sets avenue toward the residence of
Senator Lodge. They noticed a drunk
en- man ahead of them, Keeling along,
but paid no particular attention to him.
The party overlook the inebriated
man, passed by him, and stopped
short distance beyond the Lodge home.
The president and Capt. Cowles were
only out for a walk, and did not enter
the Lodge residence.
On their return they again met the
intoxicated man, and as they passed
him he reeled and came near falling
against the president. The man was
so intoxicated that he fell in the street.
but regained his feet and attempted to
cross the avenue, but fell twice before
he reached the other side.
A short distance behind the president
was a secret service man, whose ser
vices were not needed, as the president
was in no danger. Mr.. Roosevelt was
not alarmed in the slightest degree, as
he saw at a glance the condition of the
man, who had been imbibing too freely.
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambas-
sador, witnessed the affair. 1t was re-
ported that the president struck the
man. but this is denied in the most en-
phatic manner, and it is said at the
White House that it was nothing more
than the case of a drunken man stag
gering toward the president. The in
ebriate made no attempt to attack the
president, but the secret service man
pushed him off the sidewalk to avoid
the possibility of an encounter
Shortly after the. reassembling of con-
grcss in January the committee on
commerce will take up the bill intro
duced by Senator Nelson for q new
cabinet officer, as the head Of a depart
lnent of commerce. Senator Fry, chair
man of the commerce committee, IS
greatly interested in this measure. He
is strongly in favor of the bill, and feels
certain that it will pass the senate at
this session, and he ho1es that it will
become law. There is no question in
his mind as to the need of such de-
partment.
There is 10 official now especially
charged with looking after the COM
mercial interests of the country, and
the work, so far as it Is cared for, is
now divided among different depart
ments. Mr.. Frye thinks that there
should be cabin,t officer to pay spe-
cial attention to these questions, and
with an organization capable Of fur
nishing to congress at all times with
necessary information in regard to the
tariff, shipping ana other matters of
that kind.
1t was only necessary for President
Roosevelt to favor this measure in his
annual message to assure it's passage in
both houses of congress, and there is
hardly doubt that it will become
law at this session.
A bill has been introduced by Repre-
sentative Jenkins, of Chippewa Falls.
Wis, providing for the relief of settlers
upon wisconsin railroad lands forfeit
ed under the act Of Sept. 20, 1890, which
lands were enormously treated by the
secretary Of the interior as Chicago,
st. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha indem-
nifty lands. The bill provides that all
qualified homestead settlers who made
application for or entry Of lands APP
pearing on the records of the interior
department as forfeited Omaha lands