Evening star., 1909-06-01
FAREWELL TO NORTH
Census Employees Say Good
Bye to Retiring Director.
HIS DESK A MASS OF ROSES
Says He Has No Matured Plans for
the Future.
REFERS TO WORK OF BUREAU
Chief Statistican for Agriculture lie
Grand Powers Replies for Clerks.
Mr.. Rossiter in Charge.

After seven years service aS director
Of the census. S. y. II. North relinauished
his post this morning and took final leave
Of the clerks of the bureau. many OF
whom had been with him during his en-
tire period Of service. Mr.. North's desk
at the census Office was mass Of roses,
presented hy the clerks. The employees
Of each division came into the directors $
office. shook hands with him. made him
farewell and passed out.
Il really feel said the retiring director
10 Star reporter, that ~ per cent of the
clerks were sorry to see me go have
made no positive plans for the future, SO
cannot discuss that question at present.
shall. however. remain in Washington
for a few weeks yet"
Mr. North's successor. f.. Dana Durand.
n present deputy commissioner of cor
porations of the Department of Com
merce and La Dor, has not been confirmed
by the Senate yet. tntii he is ready I"
assume the duties of the office TO which
he was appointed by President Taft last
week. Chief Clerk Rossiter of the census
bureau will act As director
In saying goodbye to the clerks,
Director North made the following state
ment:
MI North's Remarks.
My friends and colleagues: THIS evil
dence of your regard and confidence is
deeply gratifying. We have labored and
planned together for seven years, prac-
tically since the establishment of the
permanent census Office. without friction
and in earnest and enthusiastic co-opera-
ton. We have stood shoulder to Shout
der in a united effort to demonstrate
that the nation needed such office
and to make it one of the most useful, if
not the most useful. bureau of the gov
ernment.
We have succeeded beyond our most
sanguine expectations. The great work
of standardizins, co-ordinating and uni
flying official statistics in every direc
ton, national. state and municipal has
advanced more rapidly and effectively
during these seven years than during the
entire previous history of the govern
ment. My friends. we have done fine
thing. That is the test by which my
administration of the census office will
be judged. Proud as / am of the
results. they are not mine, for at every
stage ] have leaned upon you. trained
experts. all of you, in your several lines.
Il congratulate each of you upon what
you have accomplished, with such SYM
pathy and aid as I have been able to give
you.
Il trust that nothing can happen i'm the
future to interrupt the forward progress
of this splendid work. Men may come
and men may go. but great scientific
movements like this one for the stand
ardization of official. statistics depend
upon no one man. They are bound to
advance, for they are at the of an
advancing civilization.
And so bid you good cheer, and would
inspire you with fresh courage and en-
|thusiasm. - =
+ 'In saying goodbye to- you'll cannot too
earnestly thank you. one and all, for your
sympathy, your loyalty and your help
funess.
Mr.. Powers Reply for Clerks.
Replying to DR.. North in behalf of the
clerks and other employees. lie Grand Pow
ers chief statistician for agriculture. said:
Or North: Permit me. in behalf of the
other officials of the census Office. to say
that the work that has been accomplished
to which you call attention, has been in
large measure rendered possible by the re-
lation of friendship which has existed be-
tween yourself as>head of the bureau and
the officials who have co-operated with
you to the ends of which you nave made
mention. Great progress has oeen mace
in the last seven years in the standard
iZng of statistics. and thus placing them
upon a basis of greater usefulness to the
public This progress has been accom-
plished by the fact that the offlclals OF
the census office have worked not only as
scientists but as friends. in the accom-
plishment of this great public service.
The service itself will remain. and in
due time its work must be acknowledged
by all interested in the welfare and prog
ress of society, and wherever you go, De
assured that you carry with you the
friendship and good will of those who have
labored with YOU in the establishment or
the permanent census office. May God
blessing be with you wherever you
may be-
Senator La Follette's Intention.
Incident to the consideration Of the
nomination of f. Dana Durand to be dl-
rector of the census, Senator La Toilette,
chairman of the Senate committee on CEN
sus intends to summon certain officials OF
the Department of Commerce and Labor
to explain the recent controversy between
Secretary Nagel and former Director
| North which resulted in the latters re-
! tirenent.
The purpose of this investigation is not
, 10 determine the issues between the TWO
officials The idea is to examine the Id"
and it's operation. with view 10 recon-
mending some plan for the future conducI
| of the census bureau, In oFuef 10 ploSoh'
| conflicts of authority.
/ There is no Indication that the nomina-
tion of Mr. Durand will be opposed. 1t Is
| understood that w. S. Rosslter. chle1
| clerk Of the census bureau, who was
slated to be assistant director nnuer the
census bill now in conference. Will sever
\ his connection with the bureau TO engage
/ in business.