The sun., 1909-05-27
NORTH QUITS CENSUS BUREAU
PRESIDENT TAFT ACCEPTS HIS
RESIGNATION
And Nominates Il. Dana Durand to He
His Successor rs Director OF the Gen.
sus-His Resignation the Cuimination
OF Friction with Secretary Nagei.

OF Friction with Secretary Nagei.
WASHINGTON. May 2e.--Announcement
was made to-day that President Taft
had accepted the resignation Of s. N. D..
North OF New York from the office Of
Director of the Census. Coinoident with
the announcement the President sent to
he Senate the nomination of Z. Dana
Durand Of California for the vacancy
created by Mr.. Norths retirement. Mr..
Durand is the present Deputy Commis-
soner Of Corporations In the Department
of Commerce and Labor. Little official
information was given in regard to the
reasons which led up to the retirement
of Mr. North. A statement furnished at
the White House said merely that his
resignation was based on the ground
that on account OF conditions existing and
likely to continue his administration Of
the census Office would not probably be
successful.' Mr.. North gave out state
ment a little longer but equally guarded.
The resignation OF Director North was
the elimination Of friction with the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor, which
began before Charles Nagel, the present
Secretary, assumed charge Of the Depart
ment in March. Administration officials
assert that Mr.. North endeavored to exer-
else degree Of independence which,
while not leesening the responsibility Of
the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
for acts done by the Director Of the
Census, virtually nullifed the Secretary's
authority over the Census Bureau. The
acute cause Of Mr. North's resignation
was a report made to President Taft by
Secretary Nagel in regard to conditions
in the Census Bureau and the attitude
assumed by Director North toward Mr..
Nagel.
MIR. Nagel and Mr.. North came into
collision over the matter Of providing
tabulating machines for the Census
Bureau to be used in making the tables
for the thirteenth census, which will be
taken next year. A law Of Congress had
provided money for enabling the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor to ascer-
tain whether the Government should not
perfect the manufacture Of a machine
Of it's own and thus make it independent
Of private tabulating machine concerns.
During brief absence OF Secretary
Nagel soon after he assumed Office
Ormsby McHarg, the new Assistant
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor, who
was acting as Secretary while Mr.. Nagel
was away. heard that Mr.. North had
made contracts for the manufacture
Of Government tabulating machines,
and as no authority for entering into
the contract had been given by the Secre-
tary OF Commerce and Labor Mr.. MoHarg
asked Director North for an explanation.
According to the story told. Director
North explained that he had made con-
tracts with several firms for manufactur-
ing parts OF the proposed Government
tabulating machine with the idea OF
having these parts assembled in WASH
ington. Mr.. McHarg did not regard
this as practicable, and besides he main
tanned that Mr. North had no right to
make any contracts except with the
approval OF the Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor.
When Secretary Nagel returned to
Washington he took Mr.. McHarg's view
Of tho matter, and ultimately it was
brought to President Taft's attention.
Incident to the Presidents inquiry into
this subject twas brought out that there
ware decided differences Of opinion
between the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor and the Director Of the Census as
to the degree Of authority to 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 he was not
seeking additional authority, but he in
sisted that wherever he had responsibility
involving the acts OF the Director Of the
Census he must be invested with authority
also. Mr.. North contended that In
order to make the Census Bureau q success
the Director should be invested with
much greater authority and independence
than is accorded ordinarily to the chief
OF a bureau under an executive depart
ment
For q time there was reason to believe
that the differences between Mr.. Nagel
and Mr.. North had been adjusted. Pres
identy yTaft. however. instructed Secretary
ton Of the Census Bureau. and the resigna-
ton Of Director North was the outcome
Of Mr.. Nagel's report to the President.
According to Mr.. Nagel's findings, the
action Of Mr.. North in making the oon-
tracts for the manufacture Of separate
without the authority Of the Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor was contrary
to the provisions OF the law on the sub
Ject. There were many other things
treated Of in the report, however, to show
that Mr.. North had made the Census
Bureau practically independent Of the
Department Of Commerce and Labor
and that he was not willing to surrender
the authority which he claimed to pos
sess. In these circumstances there was
mutual agreement between President
Taft and Director North that his contin-
,ianoe in office would result in constant
friction between himself and the Secretary
OF Commerce and Labor which would
work to the detriment Of the Govern
ment The directors resignation fol-
lowed
This is the statement given out by
Director North:
have become convinced by the events
OF the last two weeks that 1t will be i'm
possible for me to secure that close CO.
operation between the Bureau OF tho Census
and the Department Of Commerce and
Labor which is essential for the successful
administration OF the bureau during such
a critical period as q decennial census Of
tho United States. 1 believe therefore
that public interest and my own private
interests as well will be best subserved
by my resignation OF the ONCE Of Director
Of the Census. which l have accordingly
rendered to the President. am grateful
to all my friends both In Washington and
throughout the country who have earnestly
urged my retention at the head OF the Census
Bureau. 1t has been my single purpose
to administer the Affairs Of the Census
Bureau justly and upon . strictly non-
partisan and huain eAG haaia II in pro-