The Washington herald., 1909-02-06

i
message to the House OF Representative,
veteing the bill providing for the taking
Of the thirteenth and subsequent decen-
MAI censusss because it did not direct
that the appointments be made under
civil service rules.
The President laid particular stress
upon the dangers OF the spOils system Of
appointment, and expressed the belief that
accuracy in the census could not be OBJ
tanned unless civil service regulations
were carried out
He referred TO statements Of former
directors OF the census, who expressed
regret that civil service rules were not
in effect during their administration
Could Have Saved s2,OOO,OOO.
He quoted Carroll D. Wright as say
ing that 100000 and more than q years
tine would have been saved Il civil
service had been n effect
Frederick h Wines. assistant director
of the census OF 1900, was quoted as
criticising the spoils system Of appoint
NEXT
The President also urged the House TO
see that whatever work was given 70
private firms 10 print the census should
be given with the understanding that the
eight-hoUr law is 10 be obeyed-
Foiiewing the reading OF the message
Representative CrUmpacker asked pernlis-
sion to have the bin as passed by the
House reprinted for distribution among
the members He VIII ask ali the mem
bers 10 consider its merits ss soon as
possible. and early next week he viii
call the matter Up with the object q
passing It over the Presidents veto.
Many members Of ths House are IN
cHned te believe the bin should be
changed TO conform with the Presidents $
requests. but II IS highly probable that a
lively fight VII ensus before that IS
done.
Leaders OF the House are canvsssinsi
The situation to ascertain. II possible
whether or not 4 two-thirds vote can Be
secured 10 pass the bill over the veto.
At present. the question is n doubt.
which IS one OF the reasons why no
action was taken On the message yester-
day IN it's present status. the document
/ has some privileges which II might loss.
/ by being referred 70 4 committee
| Action by the House may, and 70 a.
| large degree certainly viii be affected
| BY the attitude Of the Senate toward the.
matter unless II can be shown satisfac-
torily that the veto VIII be OverTiden il
/ the Senate as vel as n the House.
AS 10 probable action OF the Senate
the only line that could be located last
night was the report that a leading aG-i
nlinistrati0n Senator had notified Senator
I Hale that II an attempt were made 10.
pass the bill over the veto in the Senate
high noon Of March would arrive ~
I fore vote could be had.
The Message.
The message Is as follows:
Z "I herewith return. without approval.
/ II R 1854. entitled An act 10 provide.
+ for the thirteenth and subsequent deem
NAL censuses-' I DO this with extreme re-
I Tuctance. because I fully realize the I'M
portsnce OF supplying the Director Of the
! Census ct as early a date as possible with
the force necessary TO the carrying on
+ of his at Il IS OF high co1se-
/ ouence TO re 9ntry that the statistical
work Of the census shall be conducted
with entire accuracy This is as impor-.
/ tart from the standpoint Of business and
/ industry as from the scientific standpoint
/ Il is. therefore, IN my judgment. essen
tial that the result should not be open to-
I the suspicion of bias on political and per-.
/ sonai grounds, that IL should not be open.
/ 10 the reasonable suspicion OF being q
waste OF the peoples money and fraud
Section Of the act provides II effect
/ that appointments 10 the census shall bs.
under the spoils system. for this is the
! real meaning OF the provision that they.
I shall he subject only to noncompetitivsi
/ examination The prOviso Is added that.
/ they shall be selected without regard 20.
I political party affiliations But there IS
'-rly one way TO guarantee that they shall.
selected without regard 10 politics and
merit. and that is by choosing them
sr competitive examination from the
Of eIigibies provided BY the Civil Ser
b vice Commission. The present Director
Of the Census. IN his last report. states
the exact fact about these noncompeti-
tive examinations when he SAYS:
: A noncompetitfve examination means
! that every one OF the many thousands
I who viii pass the examinations VIII have
an equal right 70 appointment. and that
personal and political pressure must in
the end, as always before. become the
determining factor with regard 70 the
great body Of these temporary employ
ments. I cannot too earnestly urge that
the Director OF the Census be relieved
from this unfortunate situation
Perauisites Of Politicians.
ITO provide that the clerks and other
employees shall be appointed after non
competitive examination. and yet 10 pro
vide that they shall be selected without
regard TO political party affiliations. means
merely that the appointments shall be
treated as the perouisites Of the politi-
clans Of both parties. instead OF ss tha
perouisites OF the politicians OF one party.
I do not believe IN the doctrine that 70
the victor belong the spOiis; but I think
even less Of the doctrine that the spoils
shan be divided without q fight By the
professional politicians on both sides; and
this would be the result OF permitting the
bin in It's present shape 10 become 2 law.
Both Of the last eensuses. the Eleventh
~as-a.1 - Pare 4 Ccfu.,- A