of last year, so that Congress may be duly impressed with their responsibility in case any calamity should occur.
Experience constantly teaches us the manifest injustice of longer delay in reorganizing the Bureau by a system of positive law, definitely fixing duties by creating heads of divisions, and granting a compensation adequate to the responsibilities. This was proposed at the last session of Congress, but action was withheld on the ground that legislation would be had at the long session for a general re-organization of all the bureaus of the Government. It is to be hoped that an act, so necessary to the proper legal appointments of the public service, and reasonable justice to faithful and competent employes, will be considered and enacted at the coming session of Congress.
The operations of the civil service, so far as this Bureau is concerned, have been highly satisfactory. There is an increased demand for accuracy and efficiency in the manner in which the public work is performed. The demand is reasonable, necessary, and I might also add, imperative. The civil-service rules may be regarded as the product in this direction of the just sentiment of the country, and so far as my power extends they shall receive my willing cooperation as the head of the Bureau.
It may not be amiss to say, in this connection, that one of the great practical effects of the enforcement of these rules has been the marked cessation of importunate applications tor position. On assuming the duties of the office of Commissioner of Pensions, fully one-fourth of the hours of official business was consumed by questions arising out of the matter of appointments and removals, and that generally, too, from source which could not be disregarded. This embarrassment-and it was a most serious one-has disappeared, and my time can be freely given to more legitimate duties, to the great advantage of the public service.
It may also be added that the sentiment prevails among the many good men we have in the Bureau, that it is safer to maintain their position by reason of capacity and fidelity than to be at the mercy of political friends. And it is also apparent that, as these rules have become an established fact, they work out a certain logical result by inspiring the clerical force with the idea that their retention in office is now entirely dependent upon themselves, and they apply themselves with more care and fidelity to the performance of duty.
If Congress would go a step further, and provide adequate compensation for those who are charged with grave responsibilities, the movement for civil-service reform would be far more complete.
Hon. C. Delano, Secretary of the Interior.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CENSUS.
Sir: In compliance with the requirements of law, I have the honor to report the operations of this Office during the year just closed.
In the last annual report it was stated that all the statistical tables which it was proposed to embrace in the publications of the Ninth Census had then been completed. No small amount of labor, however, still remained to be done during the progress of these tables through the press. It has been the uniform rule of the Office that every page of figures should be added and proved in type, independently of pre-
