Evening star., 1909-04-25
ONE OF PAIR MUST CO
Secretary Nagel or Director
North to Quit.
RESULT OF CENSUS ROW
President Taft Is Arbiter of the
Controversy.
CONGRESS MAY TAKE HAND
Both OMcials Concerned Decline to
Discuss Matter - Recent State
ments Before Senate Committee.


ment of Commerce and Labor or Director
North of the census ofiice must leave the
government service in short time. Such
is said to be the situation that has arisen
out Of the difficulty between the two Of
ficials regarding their relative authority
over the census taking. Apparently. the
gauntlet has been cast down.
The whole trouble is Mr.. Nasel won t
play unless he can be the dealer custo-
dian Of the chips and general srbiter OF
the game all the time. AS for Mr. North,
he wants to have a chance to stack the
cards himself once in a while, and for
that matter he is stubbornly claiming
that right at the present moment
President Must Decide.
The answer must come from President
Taft, but Congress may figure in 1t to
some extent, too.
Secretary Nagel will say nothing for
publication. but he has said many things
to Mr.. Taft. Director North will say
nothing for publication except:
II have nothing to say. ! will make a
statement in due time. but do not want
to say anything now
The last remark is regarded as asplain
indication Of the seriousness of the af-
fair. but there are other Indications.
Mr.. North has also been to see the Pres
ident about 1t, and. besides, he has oeen
to see some persons at the Capitol.
among them the Massachusetts, sena-
tors, Messrs. Crane and Lodge. both Of
whom regard Mr.. North as a good OFF,
cial and a fine man personally.
Outside the Real Question.
All the rumors about charges of i'm
morality in the census office resulting
from alleged loose administration are
said to be outside the real question.
which is: Shall the director run the
census Office. especially during the TAX
ing OF the thirteenth decennial census,
or shall the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor. which department Is supposed.
after q fashion. to include the census
ofYice. direct the director and the census
ofHce2
AS for the law, it is somewhat vague
and ambiguous on the subject. and that
was responsible for the trouble in the
first place. Mr.. North thinks the law Is
pretty good AZ tits. but would like to
have it give him q little more author
ity, IL any change is made. Mr.. Nagel
is very certain that II he is to have any
responsibility in connection with the
taking Of the thirteenth census he
should have all, and have with it all
the authority.
The other day. when both officials were
before the Senate committee on the census
at hearing on the new census bill, the
question of examinations for positions for
the new census work was under considera-
ton. Mr.. North took occasion to tell
just how he regarded his authority under
the present law.
Senator Cummins Says "suppose."
Suppose" Senator cummins, one OF
the members of the committee, asked.
"the Secretary OF the Department Of
Commerce and Labor should not be sat
isfed with the list Of questions that you
would prepare. Has he any power TO
change the list?"
"He certainly has power to ask me to
change IT," Mr.. North replied, land
certainly would
II know you would do it," Mr.. Cum
Here Senator Bailey Of Texas, one of the
minority members of the committee and
a man who never has thought very much
OF civil service or any other sort OF ex-
aminations for the government service,
had something to say.
II don't know he remarked. whether
you ought to or not, II the law leaves ii
to YOU.
Statement Riles kr. Nagel.
That caused Mr.. North to make a
statement, which has riled Mr.. Nagel.
and was the beginning Of the trouble, ac-
cording to runaor.
IF the Secretary of the department.
Mr.. North announced emphatically,
should raise the question as to that ex-
animation and 1t should be my Judgment
that the Secretary of the department
was mistaken about 1t. ! should say 10
him at once. Mr.. Secretary. let US 60 to
the President"
THAT means simply Mr.. Cummins
suggested. "if you should have a collision
you would appeal to the President as to
whether you should remain in Office or
not?"
Undoubtedly" was Mr.. North's laconic
reply.
So that is what has happened, and hap,
pened q deal sooner than Mr.. North ex-
pected when he made the remark, 1t IL
said.
Committee Questions secretary.
Secretary Nagel was questioned pretty
closely by the members of the Senate
committee. He expressed hts feelings in
regard to the matter OF relative authority
in the following words:
Above all. confess. l very much dis
like responsibility without authority