The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-19
A WISE MEASURE OF REroRn.-we have, on

A WISE MEASURE OF REFoRN.-We have, on |
several recent occasions, commented upon the |
inefficient measures in force in this city to pre-
serve correct statistical account of births and
marriages. The law of l847. providing for
their registration, was mere nullity from the
fact of its containing penal clauses to enforce
obedience to its provisions; and the conse-
quence was that the annual report of the City
Inspector was incomplete, and, therefore, next
to useless. The Common Council have, how
ever, recognized the existence of the evil, and
taken measures to put stop to it, the Board OF
Aldermen having, on Wednesday evening, passed
an ordinance creating two bureaus in the Jity
Inspectors Office, in order to promote it, more
efficient organization. One Of these tdreaus is
for the registry ofbrths, marriages, and deaths,
and such other records as may be. ordered to be
kept in the City Inspectors department and
is to be called the Bureau If Records and Sta
tistics. The other is to have charge Of the
sanitary condition Of she city.
This ordinance, operating in connection with
the new bill Oh the subject Of registration now
before the State Legislature, will effect great
and beneficial change in our statistical records.
The Importance Of accuracy in such mat
tiers is too universally admitted and re-
cognized to need our commenting upon
it. The last annual report presented to
the Common Council contained much inter-
esting information, and wise suggestions which
ought not to be neglected by those who haye
the interests ofthe city in charge. But the re-
port was, as all previous ones, necessarily in
complete, for the causes to which we have al
luded The City Inspector in calling attention
to the paucity Of statistical information fur
nished to him, makes these very appropriate re-
marks presenting striking view of the mat
tention hitherto paid by professional men and
the community at large to these matters =
While treating of the disadvantages we have long
suffered from, in putting forth our annual history OF
mortality barren Of much that is OF vital impor-
tance and remarkable in some points for its nude
| display must not forget to alludc to law that
passed the Legislature in 1s47 having for its object
the Registration Of Births and Marriages" In Sc
veral other States Of which supposed to be
far behind in everything that pertains to I'M
provement many valuable yearly lesson has been
learned from the figures of this record but what will
! though we are indeed favored with law, appearing
upon its face to possess all the gravity of perfect
legal enactment, and have been supplied with huge
and ponderous blank volumes to register the fruits
ofauthorzed inquiry, yet at this early day the
subject has become SO obsoete" an "idea" that, in
our present report we have scarcely figure to in
sert reverend clergyman or two, who justly take
pride in doing as in duty bound, have favored US
with few marriages; and once in long while some
professional accouche will hand in an evidence OF
his obedience; but seldom are we thus honored.
It is to be hoped that the action Of the Com
mon Council, in creating the bureaus alluded
to, will have the effect, in cooperation with the
proposed statute Of removing all occasion for
further complaint in matter in which the inter
ests of our city are SO deeply involved.