New-York tribune., 1909-04-28
NORTH CHARGES VARIED
allegations Charge Giling Of Con-
tracts of Different Kinds.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.

Washington, April 27-The President and the
Cabinet discussed the Census Bureau situation at
some length at to-day's Cabinet meeting, and some
surprising facts were learned by the members
Their attention. which originally was directed to
the charge = characterization anG a mass of more
or less varied propositions. is largely cOnCen-
uated or single problem which involves the
capacity of Director North 10 administer the Cen
sus Bureau and which some fear may. when the
facts become public result in a serious scandal
So confused have been Mr.. North's efforts TO ex-
pain the facts TO his superiors and variable
were his representations to the President Sat
urday night. when he renla ined at the White House
Until nearly midnight, that il Is almost impossible
to state anything which has do with the subject
as fact, but among tho allegations which have
been submitted to the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor and to the President are the following:
First-That Director North has awarded a con-
tract for not less than $4,000 for the construction
Of tabulating machinery with which to compile the
next census.
Second-That Director North has awarded no con-
tract whatever
Third-That Director North has awarded a con-
tract for less than s25oon without asking bids
and that he has given this contract a New
York man who has plant for the construction
Of machinery. but who is seeking to obtain es-
Inmates from those possessing plants capable Of
building such machines
Fouth-That Director North has awarded series
Of contracts for the manufacture of parts of the
desiTed machines; that he purposes to assemble the
parts and actually TO construct the machines in
the workshop of the census bureau. and that has
contracted pay for the time required by work
men 70 make these parts without any guarantee
against excessive cost for the work
) That Director North could have obtained the
completed machines necessary to tabulate the
ing census and do the work within year for
100000 fiat, from the concern which made the ma
chimes for the last census, which company. accord
ing to Mr.. Norths testimony. saved the govern
ment S5.0th,eo0 through the Of its machines AL
though ne said that the rental charged for them
exorbitant
s. That Mr. North contemplates using machines
invented in the census bureau. which will require
two years to effect the necessary tahuation: that
these machines have not been tested in actual
work. and that there is danger that they will he
regarded as infringement OF the patents Of pri-
vate concerns. F=sfr -R1sIT
the president and Secretary Nagel to believe that
the method Of having the parts of the highly com
plicated tabulating machines made in different
shops with q view to assembling them in Washing
ton. is fraught with the utmost danger, because Il
Is almost impossible to manufacture such parts
with sufficient accuracy to insure theft fitting when
they reach the assembling table. Expert testi-
mony received by Mr.. North's superiors also ind-
Gates that the building of machines, on new
patents, which have not been tested in actual work
is fraUght with grave danger and fears are enter
tanned that even II the machines are successfully
assembled they may refuse TO work when. next
spring. the figures CLEANED by the enUmerators are
ready to be tabuIated
The officials have also been informed that the
method Of contracting for parts of machines on so
large scale. TO be paid for by time work" is
almost certain to result in excessive cost the
government An instance Of the estimation
which this kind Of work is held in all machine
shops is furnished by the fact that whenever an
empioye tries TO do private job, such as max
ing tool for his private kit. he is described as
doing government work. while many shop fore
men post signs reading Government Work Is For
bidden'
the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor with regard
to the alleged contract contracts for the ma
chine work grows out of the fact that Mr.. North
himself seems TO be in doubt the subject having
had been let, and another that they had not
been and finally confessing to a confusion which
he asked and received several days 10 clear UP.
1t is possible disclose that The
Tribune able to give the facts regarding the
North controversy because Of requests made by
Elmer Sperry, Of New York, for estimates on some
two hundred tabulating machines for the Of
the census bureau. Those who talked with Mr..
Sperry gained the impression that he had obtained
the contract for these machines from Mr. North.
and was prepared to sub-let contracts those who
were able 10 the work and submitted salts
factory prices Neither the President Secretary
Nagel is entirely clear as yet as TO whether Mr..
Sperry has contract
For the present neither the President the
Of Commerce and Labor viii take any
action. They awaiting the submission OF what
they hope will be a clear and sUccinct statement
from Mr.. North to the course he has pursued
and in the time they will reserve their judg-
ment this. perhaps the most serious phase the
situation IN the Census Bureau
Mr.. sperry last evening at his house in Mari
borough Road. FTatbush said that there moth
ing in the report that he had a contract. Director
North had discussed computing machines with him
and wanted him TO undertake to furnish them. and
ne had sought estimates from builders OF machin-
cry and found that there profit TO be made
from the enterprise so he dropped the subject
DINNER FOR STEPHENSON. !