Evening star., 1902-01-10
Census Work Discussed by the
House.
BILL EXPLAINED BY Mr.. HOPKINS
Mr.. Burkett Of Nebraska Ex-
presses Opposition.
THE TRANSFER OF CLERKS

At the opening of the session of the
House Of Representatives today Mr.. Bar
ney CWisD, from the committee on appro-
priations. reported the pension appropria-
tiou bill and gave notice that he would call
it up on Monday after the disposal of Dis
trict of Columbia business.
Upon motion of Mr.. Hopkins Qll) the
House then went into committee of the
whole ard took up the consideration of
the bill to create a permanent census Of
flee.
Mr.. Hopkins. in support of the bill, ex-
p!aired that the subject of establishing
permanent bureau had been agitated for
many years General Francis A. Walker.
superintendent of the ninth and tenth CEN
suses. and Mr.. Porter. superintendent of the
eleventh census. as we'll as the present d.
rector strongly united in recommending it
on the ground that it would not only de-
crease the cost. but would increase the
value of the results
In reply to questions. Mr. Hopkins said
that 3.4s0 clerks had been employed in the
bureau. 2. 300 being still employed If the
pending bill passed. he said. the force would
be reduced this year to 500; next year to
80 in 1905 to 2f0. and thereafter until 1910
to 30. He was besieged by members who
wanted to know the status of the present
clerks in the event of the passage of the
bill. He said that if the bill passed it was
hoped the other departments could absorb
the present temporary clerks. They could
then be placed under the protection of the
civil service and transferred to other de-
partments. II the bill was promptly passed
the temporary clerks, by executive order
e. could be made eligible for transfer.
Census Clerks Praised.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio complimented the
census force. 1t had been selected he said
through a rigid examination and had been
drilled through an experience of two years.
But twenty or twenty-five clerks out of the
entire force of $50 had been found to be
incompetent. which he said was a remark
able record He said he would favor an
amendment which would place the force
at once under the classified service.
Mr. Corless of Michigan gave Notice that
he should offer such an amendment
Mr.. Hopkins replied to this proposition
by saying that the committee had fully
considered that matter and had concluded
that the bill in it's present form. which
simply provided that the bureau should be
permanent bureau. was the better way,
as 1t would be less cumbersome and quicker
of passage: that the Senate would doubt
less act on the measure soon the bill
reached that body from the House. and he
had no doubt the President would act in
the matter at once. The civil service COM
mission, he said, had rendered a decision
that the President would have the author
ity to extend the civil service law over the
manent
MIR. Mann's Inquiry.
Mr. Mann of Illinois asked if 1t was the
intention to transfer such clerks as should
not be needed in census work to other
branches of the service He contended
that census clerks had not passed a civil
service examination. and wanted to know if
it was thought the President, with his civil
service record. would include this service at
once under the laws of that service
Mr.. Hopkins answered by calling atten-
ton to the Presidents recent act regarding
the rural free delivery service. where no
examination of clerks had been had.
In answer to a question as to what the
census work had cost up to date, Mr. Hon.
The estimate of cost for 1903 is 81 972 12u
The present monthly cost is S1Jo,00o.
Mr.. Burkett's Opposition.
When Mr. Hopkins had concluded his ex-
planation of the bill. Mr.. Burkett of Ne
braska took the floor to oppose the bill.
Mr.. Burkett was not only opposed to the
present bill, but to any proposition which
would make the census service a permanent
ore.
Mr.. Burkett said he should offer an
amendment to rec0mmit the bill, with in
structi4r TO the committee to report a bill
oetahing the work which the bureau was
to do. lie said the census office clerks had
done more work by 80 per cent than any
other government clerks, and this was be-
cause they We're temporary clerks.
Mr.. Rr-kett made the point that the
directors salary ought not to be $500 an
nually when the heads of other bureaus on
the same basis received only 5000 and &c.
900 year.
MIR. CrumpackeF for the Bill.
Mr.. Crumpacker of Indiana favored the
bill in speech following Mr. Burkett.
MT Crumpacker said that as he under
stood the measure it made all legisla ton
regarding the census bureau permanent
Under that legislation. he said appoint
ments could be made to that bureau with
out examination, but if the census bureau
were made permanent the President could
authorize the transfer Of clerks in that
bureau TO other departments of the gov
ernment- This would work to allow ap-
pointments to be made to the service with
-oat examination, and then the same ap-
pointees transferred to the permanent ser
vice of the government, which is under the
classified service.
Mr.. Bell of Colorado gave motive that at
the proper time he should offer an amend
ment to the bill providing that the en-
pioyes in the census bureau should be
placed under the civil service regulations
Worthy of Commen dation.
Mr. Bingham of Pennsylvania took the
floor to speak for the bill. He began by
saying that Governor Merriam and his sub
ordinates deserved the hearty commenda-
tion and confidence of the House This
statement was greeted with applause.
Mr.. Bingham went on to state that census
employees should be recognized by having
provision made for their transfer to per-
manent places in the government after
they should not be needed in the census
Hope of Passing Bill Today.
At O'Clock Chairman Hopkins obtained
unanimous consent to close general debate
on the bin in half an hour. The measure
will then be taken up for amendment under
the nve-mnute rule. 1t Is the intention of
Mr. Hopkins TO have the bill passed today,
IL possible.
MUST FORESWEAR ANARCHIsN.