Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-21
Law Of App@bonment EVaded IN
Census Office, Says Senator.
CIVIL SERVICE RounDlY ROASTED
Employees Greeted to States They
Have Never seen-Promotion A.
most Wholly For Women Who Have
Husbands In the ONCE.

Senator MCCumDef, OF NOTtn DdkOtd,
TODAY In criticising the conference re-
port on the census bill made the
charge that the census Office has In
its employ in one bureau the wife OF
secretary of a representative In
Congress; the wives OF two offcials
OF the war department and the wife
OF a prominent ofiicial in the treasury
department.
promotion" he said. seems to be
almost wholly for women who have
husbands in the departments. Tnis
Is getting to be city OF official fam
lilies holding positions under the gov
eminent"
Mr.. McCumber said that the census
bill as agreed to by the conferees
did not differ materially from the
measure which was vetoed in the last
Congress by President Roosevelt. who
claimed that it contravened the spirit
of the civil service law. BY the opera
ton of the law and according to the
provisions of the census bill as agreed
to by the conferees. he said. employees
Of the government are not apportioned
among the several States. The fact.
he said. is that whole families are
employed in government departments
credited to States which the youngest
members OF the families have never
seen.
Ninety Per Cent. Residents.
Ninety per cent" said Mr.. Nc
Cumber. "of officials in the depart
ments in the city of Washington are
residents Of this city. and the other
ten per cent. may be said to be resi-
dents of the other portions Of the
country. II we were to apply the
rules of apportionment to the civil
service. the city Of Washington would
have two per cent. and the remaining
officials would be from the States"
Mr.. McCumber urged the necessity
of his amendment requiring actual
residence by the applicant from a
State. which was stricken out by the
conferees.
Whole Families Employed.
Senator Gallinger said it was no
torious that whole families are en-
plOyed in the government service in
!! this city and that the law of appor-
tiOnment Is a mere farce in its ap.
plication.
Senator Lodge supported Mr.. Nc.
Cumlrrs amendment, and said it was
noted that there was law apportion-
ing the employees among the several
States.
Perjury and false certificates are
given by applicants for the govern
ment service" said Senator Carter.
1.-THE civil service commission seems
to me to be accountable to the coun-
try and to Congress for permitting
this condition to exist"
Senator LaFollette spoke In defence
Of the conference report.
Senators Hale and Bailey took the
view that the course in the Senate
in seeking to amend the census bill
by changing a general law IN rela-
, ton to apportionment placed that
body at a general disadvantage in
/, its dispute with the House Of Repre-.
sentatives.
Sham and Humbua
Mr.. Bailey denounced the civil ser.
vice law As sham and humbug.'
and declared that the debate mad
| shown that this Just and perfect law
has been made to cheat communities
as well Is Individuals. But he was
not in favor Of delaying the passage Of
a bill for a special purpose In order
to attempt to correct one Of the many
| abuses under the law.
The agreement by the conferees to
| strike out the provision contained in
a Senate amendment for a new build
ing to house the census employees was
also the subject Of criticism. Senators
Newlands. Money and Bacon claiming
that the old building which it was pro
posed to purchase and occupy was not
sanitary and was unit for use
An aye and not vote on the con
ference report resulted in its rejection
| by vote Of 80 to 81 and a further
conference on II was ordered.
Senator Bailey declined to again
serve as a conferee on the bill.
Senator Taliaferro was appointed In
his place