The Washington herald., 1909-05-27

Announcement was made yesterday
that President Taft had accepted the
resignation Of 5. y. D. North, Of New
York. from the Office Of director OF the
census. Coincideut with the announce
ment the President sent 10 the Senate
The nomination OF E. Dana Durand. Of
California. for the vacancy created by
5Ir. North's retirement
Mr. D1rand is the present deputy com
missioner Of corporations in the Depart
-aent Of Commerce and Labor. Little
,ficlaI information was given in regard
20 the reasons which led up 10 the re-
..rement Of Mr.. North.
A statement furnished al the White
Iouse merely said that his resignation
was based on the ground that on &C
cunt Of conditions existing and likely 10
-ontinue, his administration OF the Cen
IS Office would not probably be sue
essful." Mr. North gave out a state
-aent a little longer. but equally guarded.
elimination OF Friction
The resignation Of Director North was
1e elimination of friction with the Secre-
ary Of Commerce and Labor. which be
an before Charles Nagel, the present
-ecretary. assumed charge OF the de-
rartment Il March. Administration on
ais assert Mr.. North endeavored TO
exercise q degree Of independence which,
-hile not lessening the responsibility Of
-le Secretary Of Commerce and Labor for
cts done by The director Of the census,
hority over the Census Bureau.
The acute cause Of Mr. NOTth's resigna-
On was z report made 10 President Taft
Y Secretary NageI IN regard to condi-
..Ons IN the Census Bureau and the at
.tu6e assumed by Director North to-
ward Mr.. EageL
NJ. NageI and Mr.. North first came into
-oliision over the matter OF providing
abulating machines for the Census Bu-
eau, TO be used fl making the tables
or the Thirteenth Census. which VII be
aiken next year. A law Of Congress had
provided money for enabling the De
Dartment OF Commerce and Labor 10 as
certain whether the government should
Tot perfect and manufacture a machine
Of ifs Own and thus make il independent
Z private tabulating machine concerns.
During q brief absence Of Secretary
NageI soon after he assumed Office.
Ormsoy .NcHarg. the new Assistant Sec
atsrv OF Commerce and Labor. who was
actiuz as Secretary while 1Ir- NageI was
way. heard that Mr.. North had made
-Ontracts for the manufacture OF gov
a-nmeut tabulating machines, and as no
-uJhority for entering into the contracts
sad been given by the Secretary OF Com
nerce and Labor. Mr.. McHarE asked Di-
rector North for an explanation.
According 10 the story told. Director
North explained that he had made con
--acts with several firms for manufaCJuT-
ing parts Of the proposed government
-abulating machines with the idea Of hav-
lng these parts assembled in Washington.
Ir. McHarg did not regard this as prsc-
ticaDle, and. besides. he maintained that
Mr. North had no right 20 make any
contracts except with the approval Of the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor When
Secretary NageI returned TO Washington
he took Mr.. McHarg's view OF the matter.
and ultimately Il was brought 70 Presi-
dent Taft's attention.
Decided Differences.
Incident 10 the Presidents inquiry into
this subject, It was brought out that
here were decided differences OF opinion
between the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor and the director Of the census as
10 the degree Of authority 70 be exercised
BY the Secretary over the director, whose
bureau Is under the Jurisdiction OF the
Department OF Commerce and Labor.
Mr.. Nagel made known that ne was not
seeking additional authority. but he in
sisted that wherever he had response
biity involving the acts Of the director
% the census he must be invested with
authority also. Mr.. North Coutended that
in order 10 make the Census Bureau q
success the director should be invested
with much greater authority and indie
peuderce than is accorded ordinarily 10
The chief OF & bureau under an executive
department
For a time there was reason 10 believe
that the differences between Mr.. NageI
and Mr. North had been adjusted
President Taft. however, instructed Sec
retary Nagel 10 make an inquiry into the
operations OF the Census Bureau. and the
resignation OF Director North was the
outcome OF Mr Nagers report 10 the
President
According 10 Mr.. NageTs findings, the
action OF Dir. North in making the cor
tracts for the manufacture OF separate
parts OF the proposed tabulating ma
chimes without the authority OF the Sec