The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-05-05
NORTH MUST GO
Is to be 0usted For Alleged
ScandasOus

~SS"S2sOSS /
CONDUCT IN OFFICE
He Wrote the Ubiquitous Wool
Schedule in the Present Dingley !;
Tariff Law, But That Is Not the
Thing for Which He is to be Fired
by Taft.
Zach McGee, the Washington cor
respondent of The State, says the
real reason Mr.. S. N. D. North, di-
rector of the census, is about to be
fired from his Job is scandalous and
unfruitable. But the reason why he
should never have been appointed
to this job, and why since recent ex-
posures it is public disgrace to
have him holding any position of
honor or responsibility in the gov
ernment should be known to men and
women.
Mr.. North is the man who wrote
the present wool schedule in the Din
gley tariff law. This he did at the
direction and as the agent OF the
Wool Manufacturers association,
from whom he claimed his reward
and got it in cold cash. He was ap-
pointed by Senator Aldrich as clerk
to the finance committee. In that
capacity he wrote the iniquitous and
pillaging wool schedule. For this
he was paid by the Wool Manufac-
turers' Association.
Whether Mr.. Roosevelt knew this
when he appointed Mr.. North direc-
tor Of the census I do not know.
But. Mr. Roosevelt did know it last
November when it came out in GER
tain letters Champ Clark submitted
to the ways and means committee,
which letters Mr. North came before
the committee and admitted he had
written. Mr.. North admitted that
he had written the wool schedule and
that he had been paid for it by the
Wool Manufacturers Association.
The letters were there, it was no use
to deny them, so Mr.. North admit
ted it.
What happened?. Did he lose his
job? Did Mr.. Roosevelt spurn him
from his righteous administration
and denounce him as traitor and
hired thief? Not at all. Mr..
North holds his position until this
day. Mr.. Taft was apparently going
to keep him, but that a lesser Of
fense is charged against him. Mind
you, the offense now charged is more
scandalous; but that is because pub
lie thievery is so common that it
does not excite scandal.
The other charge against Mr..
North is, in brief, and without the
details, that whenever member Of
congress or another high official Of
the government has a pretty young
lady friend to supply with remu-
nerative job in Washington all he
has to do is to go to Mr.. North and
apprise him Of the fact and the di-
rector will provide for her. When
ever later the congressman finding
himself under further obligations to
his young lady friend wishes her
promoted to better paying position,
why he goes to Mr. North and tells
him, and Mr.. North promotes her.
The young lady may be the daugh-
ter Of the congressman or his niece
or his brother-in-law's stepmother.
It is ali the same to Mr.. North;
the congressman wants her promoted
and it is done, regardless Of the pub
tic service, regardless of the individ-
ual merits of the other young ladies
or young men in the Office, who have
to stand on their own merits and
records without any influential SEN
ators or congressman" to intercede
for them.
say this. as bad as it is, IS not
worse than Mr. North's thievery in
connection with the wool schedule in
the tariff bill. because some members
of congress are now at bottom equal
" with North the real offenders.
Some time ago a high official in the
congress. who is also a member,
went TO Mr.. North. s'Mr. North
he said, "1 want this young lady
promoted to a $500 job
''W7hv. just at present, Mr.. -"
replied the director, 81 have no such
positions vacant"
"Well, replied the high and In
fuential congressman, "you heard |
what I said. I want her promoted
to $1,000 job at once"
The young lady got her promo j;
ton. And. you may recall, that the
census bill was passed by both hous-
9s of congress with a provision that
appointments in that branch OF the !
service should be made without the
assistance Of the civil service COM
mission but practically by the d.
,ector. upon the recommendation OF
members Of congress. There IS q
,eason why. as the old song used to
,e President Roosevelt vetoed this
ill. and congress is now wrestling
With the problem of another which
will save their taces-and their favo-
ties jobs.