The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-02-11

ferred and employed under this authority shall re-
ceiye the same salaries at present. And report,
containing the results Of the information Obtained
upon the before mentioned subjects shall be annual
ly made to Congress. by the Secretary of the Treasu-
nv on the first Monday of January.
la the general appropriation OF the l7th June,
1874, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars provi
ded for the employment OF clerk qualified to con-
duct and execute The statistical compilations and re-
turns required by the joint resolution before quoted
In obedience TO the Joint resolution and the appro-
priation clerks were employed 10 execute the work.
The result of their labors is herewith most respect
fully commun cated TO Congress.
The benefits which would be derived from statis-
teal bureau, well organized and conducted, are
manifold.
The want of statistical work. well executed, has
been felt in legslatng for the Union
In the execution of statistical work. time, money,
and high order of intellect, necessary. lndlVi-
dual exerton and private resources cannot compel
the necessary information. Such a work properly
belongs 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 to the due exc
cution. 1t s with the most respectful Difference to
Congress- suggested by the Secretary of the Treasu-
ny to their consideration, whether the resolution be-
fore quoted be not too limited in its objects, and too
scant IN the means to enable the Secretary to cause
statistical work to be executed sufficiently compre-
hensive 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
ected to The agriculture, manufactures, domestic
trade currency, and banks Of the United States 1t
is respectfully recommended that the information be
enlarged 10 the oIeign trade, foreign manufactures
foreign agriculture foreign products fOeiy curren-
cy, and foreign regulations and restrictions Of com
merce.
All these subjects, domestic and foreign, seem TO
fall within the circle of knowledge, useful, necessary
and proper for the legislators statesmen and people
of the United States.
10 country like ours, agricultural manufacturing
and commercial, our interests are deeply concerned
in having the best attainable information of all that
relates to our own soil and its products natural and
ARTIFICIAL the products Of industry surplus and
our wants, as we'll as the products of foreign soils and
climates foreign industry, foreign wants, foreign
surplus, foreign modes Of conveyance foreign prices
OF labor, foreign coins and currency foreign laws
Imposing duties on imports and exports, and the an
nua consumption Of foreign nations of those articles
not the growth or product of their respective terrific
ries. IN accurate knowledge of those will enable
our merchants to pursue their commercial enterprises
more advantagpousy; and the Congress and the Exc
cutve Of the United States more effectuay to coun-
teract the rivalry and injurious policy of foreign
tons in respect TO our trade and commerce and
domestic industry. These subjects intimately
connected with our national prosperity aud national
wealth
Six enumeratons 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, those
materials have remained, comparatively, in rude
and undigested heap nconvenent and inaccessible,
unless by great expense Of time and labor TO leglsa-
tors, statesmen, philosophers and philanthropsts.
The various subjects before alluded to would prop
erly fall under The cognZance of statistical bureau
and if well appointed and with means enable the
Secretary to collect the necessary information,
and to purchase books relating to the proper duties
nd IF he hnr. n no neptv
useful.
o enumerate the various duties TO be confded 10
statistical bureau, and explain in ertsnso the many
benefits and advantages TO result from such
Enlistment, would protract tins 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 multfarous duties of the Secretary of the
Treasury require an unremitted assiduity leaving
only time for general supernendence and direction
OF the objects aud labors of statistical BUREAU 1t
is, therefore, of great importance that the head of
such bureau be man of genius, cultivation, expe-
rience, and Judgment and that the clerks be of ca
acites and turn of thought adapted to the business
AL men 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 laborDg under, the disadvantages of first
Try INTO the business, an argument may be drawn IN
favor OF the very great convenience and benefits
which may be expected in the progress Of tIme TO
the Congress, to the Executive, and to the people,
from the matured works of a statistical bureau, op
eratlng from time to time IN collecting general and
special facts, enlargng, revising correcting and inn
proving the SUN OF information.
The nations of Europe-France and Great Britain
In particular-have adopted the wise policy of col
lectng, arranging, and classifying all matters which
can minister TO the knowledge Of their national
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
ulauon, agriculture, manufactures mines, minerals,
internal aud external commerce, banks and currency
OF the UDHed States, as primary subjects Of know
ledge, and as connected with similar interests
cry quarter of the globe.
10 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 unwiedy and unsatisiacto
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 con.
cluson that statistical bureau, properly organized
and supported, will be able respond promptly and
correctly TO all calls by the Congress for nforma.
ton on statistical subjects, save great waste oil time
and money, and furnish information highly interest
ing and useful TO the great body OF the people.
A parsimonious policy in the establishment will
greatly diminish if not defeat the utility of the works
OF the bureau, and demesn them in comparison OF
the statistical works Of other nations
To obtain the services of a competent bureau, it
IS respectfully suggested that the Secretary of the
Treasury be authorized in execution of tie purposes
oil The resolution, to appoint a 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
moderate annually for the purchase of statistical
works and for coptinge mt expenses
n M nzin he Of he Wren haa