New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-17
CLINCHING A REFORM.

An important administrative reform Is
clinched by President Taft's admirable letter
To Secretary NageL The federal census service,
long a preserve for spoils hunters. is al last
taken completely out of politics. 1t is the
Presidents purpose TO have the enumeration OF
1910 made by men who will give their whole
time and attention TO that work and Will not
use the power put in their ha IDS to repay
political obligations or TO promotethe interests
of any political party, faction or candidate.
The census is 10 be conducted as strictly nom
political, bipartisan enterprise. Its payroll
will no longer be at the service of Congress
men and others who In the past have capitalized
il for their own benefit.
The transformation of the census service Is
a sign of the times When the work was less
extensive and the census force was merely
extemporized for a brief period. divorcing the
undertaking from politics was never dreamed
of The Census Bureau an overnight
creation outside the permanent classified ser
vice and the temporary appointments were
apportioned among the politicians as perqul-
sites Naturally the resulting establishment was
inefficient and expensive, the poor material
recruited and the lack Of discipline and expert
ence operating greatly to increase its proper
cost The creation of a permanent census
bureau. reduced TO skeleton size for five or six
years of each decade and enlarged for taking
the decennial enumeration, was the first step
toward standardizing census work. But even
a permanent central office left in existence the
evils of appointment without competitive eXaml-
nation, combining selection practically TO the
proteges of Congressman, and of the use of
the appointees 10 do partisan political work.
There can be no doubt that in 1900 most of the
employees on the temporary roll at the central
IN
favoritism, while of the force in the field nearly
all were party workers and were selected as
such
Ii will be recalled that serious charges were
made against some of these partisan enumera-
tors In one section of Maryland il was con-
tended that the population of several counties
had been overcounted sufficiently 10 enlarge
their due representation in the state Legislat-
ure the effect of the mscount being 10 increase
the power OF an ambitious political leader in
Southern Maryland The state took census Of
its own and scaled down the federal enumera-
ton Apparently. material frauds or errors
were committed. Such abuse of the partisan
powers and opportunities of the enumerators
has. of course. been rare but the old system Of
appointment was vicious in itself and encour-
aged responsibility and error.
Congress resisted the abandonment of the
spoils system long as il could. rejecting
President Roosevelts recommendation that for
the census of 1910 appointments be made on
competitive basis. Mr.. Roosevelt vetoed the
census bill passed last winter and because
President Taft was equally insistent on the
application Of the merit system the two houses
at the recent extra session grudgingly yielded
and repassed the bill amended 10 meet Mr..
Roosevet's objections. The door having been
closed against spos appointments, and an OBJ
structionist Director of the Census. sympathiz-
ing with the spoils idea, having been replaced,
all that was needed 10 complete the reformation
TO restrict the "perncious activities" of the
field force, which formerly went unchallenged.
That President Taft has now done in the most
positive manner He announces that both
supervisors and enumeratOrs must keep out OF
active politics so long their commissions hold
good They cannot serve party committees,
make political addresses, solicit votes or try To
influence their subordinates associates 10
assist any party or any candidate. The prohibit
ton is sweeping and may be expected TO prove
entirely corrective. 1t will do much 10 better
the quality OF the work done by the field force
and TO set proper standards for the reOrganZed
census service. All sections Of the country will
be pleased to know that the census force Is
hereafter 10 give strict and undivided attention
10 its official duties.