BUREAU OF STATISTICS.
On motion by Mr. MAGEE the bill [S. 78] to amend Section 2 of the act to establish a State Bureau of Statistics [the Chief to be selected by the General Assembly] was read the second time, with a Committee amendment providing that the first election shall take place oh the taking effect of this act, which was concurred in.
Mr. SPANN moved to amend by striking out all after the enacting clause, and denounced this as one of those infamous political bills to legislate out a man appointed by the Governor. This ought not to be done unless there can be some good reason given why it should lie done. He called upon the author of the bill to give a reason.
Mr. MAGEE said, acting upon the advice of the Senator from Rush [Mr. Spann], who said in the beginning of the session, "You, gentlemen, are entitled to the offices and you should have them," he had introduced this bill. There is an office created by that bill we want for the benefit of the people and we don't want it continued in the interest of a political party. We want a Democrat in that office, because all things being equal he is the best man. We don't want that office run in the interest of the Republican State Central Committee. We want that office run for the purpose named in the law creating it to furnish vital statistics. We don't want it to furnish statistics for either the Republican or the Democratic party. We don't wan't a man to discharge the duties of that office and at the same time dis- charge the duties of Assistant Secretary to the Central Committee of a political party. Without having any specific information, he said the charge comes from political and personal friends.
Mr. SPANN now supposed we had gotten to the bottom of this move. The Senator confesses there is nothing in this bill at all but the fact that the hungry Democrats want this one little office. Not being satisfied with taking the benevolent Institutions and Reformatory Institutions, and taking the State Prisons, and taking everything in sight, it is left for the Senator from Cass [Mr. Magee] to come in and claim the whole earth. [Laughter.] There is nothing in the bill but that it turns out of office a competent man He denied the charge that the head of this Bureau has run it in the interest of the Republican party. The gentlemen at the head of this Department would not allow that thing to be done if they knew it. If it has been done it was without their knowledge or authority. This bill is one of considerable importance, and for the purpose of having it fully and fairly discussed-it being now late in the afternoon-he moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion was rejected.
Mr. WILLARD demanded the previous question.
The demand was seconded by the Senate by yeas, 25; nays, 19. The main question was ordered by yeas, 25; nays, 21, and the motion to strike out all after enacting clause was rejected by yeas, 21; nays, 25.
The bill was ordered engrossed for the third reading by yeas, 25; nays, 21.
