Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-03
HOUSE PASSES
CENSUS
Law
POLITICS INJECTED INTO
DEBATE ON MEASURE
Missouri Congressman Accused
of Requiring Prospective En-
unerator to Ascertain Party
Preferences of Those Counted

TBy Morning journal soecial Lsasea Wirel
Washington, Feb. "A lively polit-
ical debate occupied nearly the en-
tire time of the house today during
the consideration of a bill to amend
tho census law. SO as to provide an
enumeration cf animals slaughtered in
country butchering establishments and
of hides produced in such establish
ments.
Mr.. CrumpaclSer of Indiana ey-
planned that this amendment was to
give accurate information on sub
ject upon which there had heen much
political speculation.
With this amendment and others
providing for an enumeration of land
under irrigation and in regard to ir-
ligation projects the bill W;ts passed.
Reading letter said 10 have been
written by Representative Grove of
Missouri. telling one of his nstitu
ents that if he should receive ap
pointment as i census enpmerator he
would have to ascertain the relative
strength oil Insurgents and regular
republicans, Representative Robinson
of Arkansas attacked the census Dill.
The letter was in the form of
newspaper clipping and contained the
statement that the work the census
enumerator would have to do would
be such as any enthusiastic republi
can viii be glad TO do and not in any
way conflict with your duty as an
enumerator."
1t also stated that this work would
be outlined to the candidate before
his appointment so that he need not
accept the appointment II he did not
desire to do lsked Of him.
Still readii the letter, AZ.
I)nhfpcnn pttt sfpr1aut Ia the
effect that the writer wanted TO know
wheher the voters were insurgents
or regulars and whether their disaf-
fection was great enough to take them
out Of the party altogether.
Representative Bartholdt OF Mis-
souIi. calling attention to the absence
of his colleague, Mr. Grove, said Mr.
Grove evidently spoke for himself
only and in no way spoke for the ap
pointing power of the census.
''rhe director of the census would
authorize no n N 70 give such infQr-
nation" said Mr.. Bartholdt. "He
rrote the letter without authority He
merely exerted his authority in rep
resentng tho administration.
Mr. Booher OF Missouri said he
would offer an amendment TO the
pending bill imposing fine of $1,000 /
OF Imprisonment for the year upon any
census emppyle who should ask anyl
person any question relating to his
politics
Does the gentleman think that the
secretary of commerce and labor was
in any way responsible for these state 4
ment by Mr. Grove INQUIRED Repre-
sentative Gardner (Mass,). address
ing Mr.. Booher.
II have resolution to be voted on
To inquire of the secretary whether /
that is the case, responded Mr.
Booher
In an extended speech, Mr., Sims /
(Tenn.D declared if non-partisan |
census was desired the administration +
should appoint republicans and demo-
Gratis to do the work Of the census.
representative Gaines CIV. NaD I
Lanley tKy.) and Crumpacker tlnd.l |
said that a non-partisan enumeration |
Of the census would be made If repub- I
Icans only were appointed
THE man they appointed in Chi- !
cago as supervisor was not a republi- /
can at all. said Mr.. Mann Qll).
'Was he democrat asked Mr..
Rucker (Mo).
I'VE call him democrat. retorted (
Mr. Mann.
Charging that rule Of the census
provided that in the south negroes !
should he appointed to enumerate +
negroes. Representative fardWlck 4
tGa.) declared it WAS being done to
rally the pOlnl tu vote dHt ~ i"hN !
colored delegates in the national con-
vention of the republican party
Representative Madden tllL) said
the supervisors of the census were APP
pointed without political consldera-
ton. saying he knew that was the
case in Chicago. lie did not believe
the color OF a citizen should he a par
ia taking census.
Men. he said. should he taken as
men, regardless of their color as ol
their creed.
While Representative Keifer of ONO
was speaking of the non-parusan
character es tho census takers,
Representative Heflin (Ark.) inter-
rupted to ask whether he would ap-
point negroes to enumerate the white
people OF the south il he could do 50.
III they were as wen qualified as
the whites / would replied Mr..
Kiefer.
THE president asked me TO sug-
gest some good man for supervisor of
the census in place of a supervisor
who died, said Mr. Hamlin tMoJ.
But he insisted that he must be a re-
publican and / told him J had no adj
vice TO give
Representative Hardy (Texasl
claimed that partisanship was the
keynote of federal appointments in
his state.