The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-11

1 agriculture ma nufacturos, domesuc uzue currency
and banks, Of the several States ana ierf,'oios
the United States. The clerks which may be ushs'
ferrsd and employed under this authority shall re-
eeiys the same salaries as at present. And repory
Containing the results Of the information obtained
upon the before mentioned subjects shai DC snnusf
ly made 10 Congress by the Secretary OF inc ireasu
~ on the first Monday Of January.
In the general appropriation OF the lIth June,
1874 the sum Of fifteen hundred dollars was pro'E
ded for the employment oil clerk qusnneo W CON
duct and execute The statistical compilations and re-
turns REQUIRED by the joint resolution before quoted
Ia ob.Jisnce 10 the Joint resolution and the appro-
priaton clerks were employed 10 execute the work
The result OF their labors is herewith most respect
fully communicated TO Congress.
The benefits which would be derived from a statls-
teal bureau, well organized and conducted, are
manifold
The want of a statistical work. we'll executed, has
been felt in legslatng for the Union
10 the execution of statistical work time money
and high order OF intellect necessary. lDdiy
dual exertion and private resources cannot compel
the necessary Information. Such a work properly
beongs TO tie Government having the power to COM
mand the collection Of the facts and the ability TO
pay for the talents and time necessary 10 the due exc
cuton. IL Is, with the most respectful Difference 10
Congress, suggested by the Secretary Of the Ireasu
~ 10 their consideration, whether tie resolution De-
fore quoted be not Too limited in its objects, and too
seant the means To enable the Secretary TO csuse
statistical work TO be executed sufficiently compre-
hensye and useful, worthy Of the Government and
its purposes, and suited TO the majesty Of the people
of the United States.
The resolution confines the information to be col
| leeed 10 the agriculture, manufactures, domestic
| trade, currency, and banks OF the United States II
| is respectfully recommended that the information be
enlarged 10 the foreign trade, foreign manufactures
foreign agriculture foreign products foreign curIen-
cy, and foreign regulations and restrictions oil com
| merce.
All these subjects, domestic and foreign seem TO
fall within the circle Of knowledge, useful necessary,
and proper, Tor the legislators statesmen and people
| of the United States.
In a country like ours agricultural, manufacturing,
and commercial, our interests are deeply concerned
IN having the best atainsbe Information OF all that
relates 10 our own soil and its products natural and
artificial the products Of industry, our surplus and
wants, we'll the products Of foreign soils and
climates foreign industry, foreign wants, foreign
| surplus foreign modes Of conveyance foreign prices
| Of labor, foreign coins aud currency, foreign laws
imposing duties on imports and exports, and the an
nual consumption Of foreign nations Of those articles
not the growth product Of their respective terrific
ries. An accurate knowledge OF those will enable
merchants TO pursue their commercial enterprises
more adyantageousy; and the Congress and the Exc
cutye Of the United States efectually To coun.
teract the rivalry and injurious policy Of foreign ma.
tons IN respect TO our own trade and commerce and
domestic industry These subjects intimately
connected with our natonH prosperity and national
| wealth.
| Six enumerations Of the population Of the United
States have been taken, connecting herewith other
facts relating to the resources industry and wealth
of the States and Territories yet, heretofore, hose
materials have renamed, comparatively, IN rude
and undigesled heap, inconyenient and inaccessible
unless by great expense OF time and labor to legsa-
tors, statesmen, philosophers and philsnthroPsts
The various subjects before alluded to would prop
erly fall under the cognizance Of a statistical bureau
and If we'll appointed, and with means 10 enable the
Secretary to collect the necessary information,
and 10 purchase books relating to the proper duties
! aud subjects Of the bureau, II would be eminenty
useful.
10 enumerate the various duties TO be confided TO
statistical bureau, and explain in srfsnso the many
benefits and advantages 10 result from such an es-
tablshment would protract this communication to
| an unreasonable length. Some Of the most promi-
nent objects and benefits have been noticed the
collected wisdom of the Congress will supply the
| rest.
The multifarious duties of the Secretary of the
| Treasury require an unremitted assiduity leaving
only time for general and direction
OF the objects aud labors Of q statistical bureau IL
Is, therefore, Of great importance that the head of
such bureau be man OF genius, cultivation expe-
rence, and judgment, and that the clerks be of ca
Pacites and turn of thought adapted to the business
All men are not fit for all things.
From that which has been done, in the short space
OF six months by the clerks TO whom the duties have
been assigned under the resolution of the 18th June,
1874 laborlng under the disadvantages Of first
Wy INTO ue OuslDess, an argument may De OraWn I'D
layor OF the very great convenience and benefits
which may be expected, in the progress of tme TO
the Congress, to the Executive and to the people,
from the matured works Of a statistical bureau, op
Grating from time to time in collecting general and
special facts, enlargng, revising, correcting, and i'm
proving the SUN OF information.
The nations Of Europe-Frsnce and Great Britain
| IN particular-haye adopted the wise policy Of col
lecng, arranging, and classifying all matters which
can minister to the knowledge Of their national COM
merce, national wealth, and national prosperity.
An examination of the French and British works
on general and special statistics will demonstrate the
utility Of establishment by the Government of the
United States devoted to inquiries relating to the pop
ulalion, agriculture, manufactures, mines, minerals,
internal aud external commerce, banks, and currency
of the United States, as primary subjects of know
LEDGE and connected with similar interests in ev-
cry quarter of the globe.
ln the preparation for the press and in the publ.
cations heretofore, of the data collected in taking
the census, great expense has been incurred in print
ing the Information in an unweldy and unsatisfacto
manner.
Under the management of statistical bureau,
the future materials collected in the after-enumera-
tons may be published in convenient well digested
| form, to the saving Of expense.
The Secretary of the Treasury is led 10 the
cluslon that statistical bureau properly organized
and supported, will be able to respond promptly and
correctly to all calls by the Congress for informa.
ton on statistical sub ects, great OF time
and money, and furnish information highly interest
ing and useful to the great body of the people,
l parsimonious policy in the establishment will
greatly diminish, if not defeat the utility of the works
OF the bureau, and demean them in comparison OF
| the statistical works Of other nations.
To obtain the services of a competent bureau 1t
respectfully suggested that the Secretary of the
Treasury be authorized in execution of the purposes
OF The resolution, to appoint chief Of the bureau,
with an annual salary OF three thousand dollars two
clerks with an annual salary of two thousand dol.
lars each ; and one clerk, with annual salary of
fifteen hundred dollars These four to compose the
bureau TO be conducted under the control and super.
'ntendence OF the Secretary of the Treasury, with a
moderate sum annually for the purchase of statistical
works and for contingent expenses.