The Washington herald., 1911-04-05

There was scene that qulckened
the synlpathies of the veteran EN-
ployes of the Census Bureau yes
terdav when 157 clerks of the pop
ulation, agriculture, and manufac-
ture divisions collected their be-
longingS when their work for the
dav ended and walked out of the
Office with their discharges in their
hands.
OTHERS GO TOMORROW.
Nor will this end the head-chopping.
for tomorrow will see thirty-fve clerks
u these same divisions discharged, with
q further probability that the bureau
will in the future make other arrange
ments - reduce the force as the work
OF taking the census is completed.
1t was not exactly as though they were
instantly dismissed without warning, for
Director Durand notified the clerks last
week that the reduction in the force
would go into effect to-day But this did
not serve to lessen the void feeling that
was left in the hearts Of many OF the
employees, aged men and women, who
have nothing now to look forward to in
the future or the present.
They took their discharge bravely
enough. and there were many scenes that
aroused the sympathies of fellow-em-
ployes as they took their discharges and
fer the time being faced the grave stua-
ton that is presented to every one who
finds himself without employment when
il is most needed.
Director Durand, himself. expressed
sympathy with the discharged clerks, but
said it was necessary for the economic
administration of the bureau. Out of the
192 who will have been dismissed by to-
morrow, only twelve have been dis
charged for ineficiency.
When these clerks were employed, Mr.
DUrand explained, they knew they were
either employed for twelve or six months,
until their services were no longer re-
CURED in taking and making the census.
Dropped from States.
All the clerks dropped are from the
States that have now more than their
apportioned quoto with the exception of
the twelve inefficient clerks.
Director Durand said he would have
made all the dismissals from among the
District, Maryland, and Virginia en-
nloyes but for the fact that the ma
jOrity of these were engaged in such
service that to discharge them from
their present duties and supply their Va
canCies with others, who would have to
go through a thorough training first,
would be expense and loss of time
which the bureau could not afford
But for this fact. he said all but
eleven of the 425 clerks from the District
would have been dropped. As matters
now stand the apportionment really due
the District is eleven, while the Census
Office actually employees 42J clerks from
the District alone. 1t is to even up the
apportiOnment of the various States that
the reduction is being made.
Clerks appointed in the early stages of
the organization of the thirteenth cen
sus force Mr.. Durand said, were prom
iSed twelve months work, while those
appointed later were only promised six
months. AS a result, when the reduction
of those vino had the least experience
were first Topped of. while the more
efficient were allowed to remain during
tho time their services would prove use
full to the Office.
The dismissal of these clerks" Mr
Durand said. although it will take effect
to-day and Thursday, will not interfere
with the additional pay which they may
receive due from their leaves of alb