The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-02-06

Immigration, Navigation aud the
Statistics, the Lille Saving, Light
House, Marine Hospital and Steam
Boat Inspection services. The
bill viii now 60 70 the house Tor
consideration. Il 10 rumosed that
Director Merriam is making many
enemies 10 Congress by The dis.
charge Of the proteges OF Con-
gressmen. OF course the Director
is compelled to reduce his clerical
force as the various sections Of the
census work are completed, bot
every Congressman thinks that the
other fellows protegc should he
the ono dropped. Gov. Merriam
is experiencing so much trouble
with the friends OF Members Of
Congress that has intimates say he
will be an ardent advocate Of civil
service reform in a few more
months.
Speaking Of the necessity OF
making the Bureau a permanent
institution, Governor Merriam told
me yesterday Of some of the diff
culties that confronted him when
he first undertook to collaborate
the present census, He said that
it was a herculean undertaking in
view OF the fact that he had to
work with an absolutely inexperi-
enced force; that by good fortune
he was able to secure a small mum
Der OF men who had been employ
ed on the previous census, but
that the work would have been
materially simplihed and its aecu-
racy better insured had he had a
large number OF men who were ia
mtiiar with the requirements Of
the office and whom be- could have
sent out to supervise the work OF
the numerators and later recalled
to take charge Of the office work
He IS convinced that the expense
can be reduced by the establish
ment Of a permanent bureau and
that far more satisfactory results
can be obtained. The sentiment
evinced by the House committee
which has the census matter in
charge would indicate that there
will be considerable pairing OF the
salary list. IL is probable that the
salary OF the Director will be
pIassd at 5000 and no other sal.
over $4,000 will be paid with the
single exception OF the disbursing
clerk who will be allowed an extra
500 in view Of the expense Of the
boad he will be required 10 hle.
While no definite action in re.
gard 20 the Is,hmian Canal has
been taken during the past week i
has become known that the Presi.
dent is anxious that canal legisla.
ton should be enacted at this sec.
sion, and this fact makes il probs.
be that a bill wall be passed. II
IS further said, on excellent author.
ity, that Mr.. Roosevelt is willing
10 accept the responsibility Of de-
Gliding as to the route II Congress.
= is unable 10 arrive az a deeision.
Admiral Walker is stall in consul
tation with Senior Silva, the Col
ombian Minister and is said &
} have proposed, as a basis for ne
go,iations, that this government
? pay to Columbia an annual renta
Tor the territory required OF S2So,
S 600 which amount is now earne,
I by the Panama Railway. Such
! course would obviate the appFo
prisuon OF funds for the paymen
= OF rental during the construction
/. Of the canal, and after that tim
the receipts Of the canal would b
ample TO deiray the obligation
= Senior Silva told ne some time az.
> that his government would be wi
lin to enter into 3 lease Of the ter
u,ory for one hundred years vat.
the privilege Of renewal for a simI
lar period and this proposition h
has SINCE made to Admiral WalkeT
There seems to be little dout
at this writing that relief in th
form Of tariff concessions will b
given 10 Cuba. The Senate rs
CARDS the matter in the same ligh
as the President and will tax
means 10 secure such eoneessions
bur the upper Chamber would pre-
a fer that the initiative should tax
= place ia the House, and with tina
end ia view will defer ITS aelio