The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-14
THE CENSUS OF 1870.

Before adjourning, Congress passed an act
providing for the organization of census bu-
reau to take charge Of the census of 1870.
The act, as finally passed, reads as follows:
Be ii enacted, etc.. That there IL hereby estab-
lished In the department Of the interior an Office
to be known as the census bureau, the principal
officer of which shall have charge of the census TO
be taken in 1870. and shall perform such other du-
ties as may be required by law.
SIC. 2. That, subject to the limitations of this
act, the census bureau shall be under the direc
ton of a superintendent Of the census, who shall
be appointed by he president, by and with the
coneent OF the Senate; and his term of service
shall begin on the LIST OF May, 1869, and shall con-
tnue for the term of three yeaFs and no longer. He
shsll receive annual salary of $1,000 20 be paid
monthly instalme nts. and the necessary allowance
for Office expenses, and shall be allowed the Off
cis Thanking privilege and the right Of using the
library Of Congress- the same as allowed By law TO
members of Congress-.
SIC. 8. That the secretary of the interior shall
appoint for the census bureau, upon nomination
of the said superintendent from time 10 time, as
the business Of said bureau may necessitate. not
exceeding one chief clerk, with salary Of $1,000;
ten OF the second class, and as many Of the first
class as may be necessary 10 complete the census
within the lime prescribed by law. He may also
employ such watchmen, messengers and laborers
as may be necessary, who shall be paid the same
rates as now allowed for similar services In the
department Of the interior, provided that none OF
the clerks or employees authorized in this section,
except the chief clerk and one clerk of each GLASS;
shall be appointed until the lst day of December
OF the year preceding that In which the census is
TO be taken And Irovidad fnrthar that at the
enu OF In5 rnree years from the date fixed by the
act ss the beginning of the service of the supern
teDdent Of the census the term OF all officers and
employees herein provided for shall expire, and the
census bureau shall be closed, and all records
books, papers and other property connected
Herewith shall be delivered for safe keeping to
the secretary of the interior.
SEQ. 4. That the census shall exhibit the nun.
Der and condition of the population of the United
States as it may exist on the first day of June of
the year in which the census Is taken, the number
OF births, marriages, divorces and deaths that
may have occurred within one year next preceding
said date, the statistics Of agriculture and produc
tive industry within the year preceding said date,
and statistics Of the educational. religious intel
lectual, charitable or other social interests and
vital and sanitary statistics according to the forms
Of schedules hereinafter to be provided for.
SEC. g. That for the purpose Of obtaining in the
most efficient manner the statistical information
required by the fourth section of this act the su-
perintendent of the census acting under the advice
OF joint select committee on the ninth census to
consist OF the House committee, and such commit
tee as the Senate may add thereto, is hereby
authorized ard directed to prepare schedules. not
exceeding six in number, which shall conform
generally to the schedules provided for by law,
for the seventh and eighth ceDsuses but with such
notifications as the changed condition of the
population and industry OF the United States may
require, and with other notifications as may in
his Judgment render the census more correct and
valuable; and in carrying out the provisions of
this section he is hereby authorized to employ the
services OF persons, or any persons specially
skilled in any branch of statistical science con.
nected with the census, and for this purpose there
ia hereby appropriated a sum not to exceed $4,000,
out OF any money in the treasury not other wise
appropriated he shall also prepare q full set of
blanks TO be used in taking the census, and shall
lay before Congress on the frat day of its second
session, in 1869. a printed report of the schedule
and blanks herein provided, together with any
suggestions he may think necessary, in order 10
perfect arrangements for taking the census to the
end that Congress may fix by law the exact form
of schedules to be used.
SEC. 6. And be IL further enacted, That said
joint committee on the ninth census to be appoint
ed as herein before provided, shall have power to
send for persons and papers, aad 10 examine vii.
n, sses in order to ascertain the best method of TAX
Ing the sald ninth census, and for obtaining such
other Information concerning the population, in-
dusiry, property and resources of the country as
they may think proper for the purpose of render
Ing the census aud statistics to be obtained there.
with correct and valuable; and said committee
are hereby authorized to act during the recess OF
Congress. and through sub committees, and shall
report at the next session Of ConEro-s bill fOr
the taking OF the census with such schedules,
forms and directions as they may think best and
the congressional printer is hereby authorized TO
print such portions OF the evidence and such docu-
ments as said committee may reqsire during the
recess, In order that the report may be made in
print at the commencement of the next session.
1t will be seen that, under the fourth Sec
lion, very comprehensive report is to be
made of the statistics of the country in all de-
partments The census is to be taken under
,he authority of the census bureau, and a
oint committee of the two houses is to draft
a bill providing for taking the census, which
bill is to be reported to Congress at its next
session