New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-28

tho last three years an E3gliih oSno spd f fhS
WnAugs OF Colr,sn. Untii reerny M olai,5 s' hi
narous IN the aggregate; now nH,s i fields prisons
hospitals and wheresOvcr the seeds OF hiloba grown
or decay may he d.royrreu w5noH eo,, yrifien
Naeaulay's third volume conlu never nave eeN MIl.to
re statesman and legislator mst also have aeceSs "
statistics which reveal the great laws OF a"ci" i'ie
IMPORTANCE or TIE AMERICAN CENSUS.
Tho origin and development OF the American Census
was then considered In the light OF It's national uses ana
lts relation social science. The efforts to obtain fe
able census the earlier history O country we're not
very sceessful much superstition being found among
tho people. The Colonial Governor Of New YORK III llo
suggested that computation be mado naSpu Gru I
superstition Ia traced Gown 20 1867, when speaker at
Washington denounced census as Illegal ana Thought the
police should be enoiued from asking questions proposed
Of triennia census, an whrh 70 base chargct Tor war
aud other national expenses An emlnent trtuch writer
statistics referring TO this constitutional provision
said II was phrnoIeha Tor new govethmet 10 1hns
institute the statistics U their country OF the very gay O
ITS foundation Tho American founders, however Looked
only TO practical ends aud me census was no.
20 Tar as known, then considered ID tS
scienuae bearings. As illustrating the CROWN
Of the American census, It is worth observing
that the report Of the FIRST octave panph
let 90 pages aud that OF 1900 folio Of ~ pages vi mo
1osieSi sociey signed by Thomas Jefferson It's Pres
don't laid before the senate In thlS rtlnarA ,I
paper written in the spirit and interest OF SCIENCE, le
elnOrasts prayed that the sphere OF tho census might
he greatly extended, s HI sr not T can he found
the Annals OF Congress Tue results onal'H oS ,no
That of 1900 embraced population only ITS single selle'
dle containing six Iuquirirs That OF 1900 hd only lnl
UlltOD schedule with IA inquiries W aoLV an n,1oII ~
WAS made superaGd statistics OF mahhia. luts, Dut
the results we're od no value, m l0 ~ $40 1b ,emut
take them abandoned IN lSiO there WeIt ScHer
dulles OF population and manufactures, and some IN
SWires relating 10 education ana empoymeDts. The law
Cf Nav o, 1850 under which the seventh ana tlghih
history OF American statistics. This law owes many
OF It's wisest provlsions ana ihe success ol iIS
tegent supernendeuce the chief wnk OF me last TWO
done This lnw marks the transition OF me
tito phase,
DEFECTS OF TIE EXISTING CENSUS LAW.
1 shall examine, first, some of the principal defects
IN the methods OF the existing Law; and second the
defects m the inquiries made In the schedules. The
speaker commended that the taking of the census should
not be in charge Of United States Marshas rs they are
chosen with view to fitness Tor any slaS.l.aii IN
ouiry; aud n qualified, have other Important aud
oneTous duties tn perOIn beside which they are uno
from their Official character The varied dulles do
VulYlhg on marshaS III c"I'ShE VenS d,,iind h,,,
plainly shown being not Ouy uneqnaly divided nut
much lime is allowed for taking aud publish
ng the results the report o the census Of 1850 was not
was not printed m 1850 The preliminary report OF 1860
not printed tl 1902 the ii rclorls on p"pniaton
features and mortality iii the rnd OF 1860 me pan
adopted England taking The census IN one day,
which being confined 10 facts # population ouy and The
fact OF great density Of the inhabitants 10 Sua extent
our census could br taken in month. The present
method LEADS to great inaccuracies from DISPOSE
ton on the part OF the people To aNOlu Answering 30
many questions, the Importance IL when they
Lul to appreciate. The farts given by families
also should lie held secret IN the Census Bureau.
The compensation for taking the census - OF doubtful
The rules Of compensation aso oer ipmptaIo TO exag
Eerate some Of the returns, ana to nuke CONSTRUCTIVE
VISION and enumeration should DO made by persons
specially chosen for fitness for the work ~ no way con
necpd with national cOnstdbuary or with the assess
meDt collection Of taxes. Tue districts should
be small enough Tor one man 10 a, -.1i d de
ircts would he the most convenient Separate schedules
At least household the farm. aud the aunfacIui
hllSlllueuts SHuulu H
month or u fortnight before the day 10 whtc the cnn.
with the inquiries made ard that. as lar possible
Sithout the aid OF oeneuttakers Tue nllKS may oS
greatly reduce the time required for TIE enumeration by
The use Of these schedules aud an organization such as
has been snggesled II u believed that me ehnlnrr-
alton may actually be completed IN one month from me
is IL should be put into the law ana iuio the
that the confidential that the business Of no
values shall not in any way be made the basis VI tax
Stion be used AZ evidence M the Courts These
roYIsiGs Of the Law should be printed on the sehednes
- ,rcclantatton ealing uuon ali the people 10 aid in
making the returns full and accurate possible
liberal compensation, IN the simple form OF salary or per
diem with no mileage or constructive charges, should be
provided So as 10 command and the best talent Of
the nation for the execution OF the work Small nay ID
the matter would he wasiei9ness; sufficient clerical
force should be employed IN Washington 10 ghua;e con-
dense and arrange the whole Tor publication IN one
wear. or at the fuTthest two years, after the
returns are m The rrsuts can be published form
considerably condensed than ~ the Last report
The defects III the inquiries Ies'totu III the tsehI
schedules form at great length. ana reforms
statistics of agriculture and industry in order
enhance their value TO all Interested
taking Of social statistics discussions bearing upon
them will take place at this Convention ana closes by
ties uRder Of experienced stausticians He
concludes Is follows We have already Commissioner
Of Mining Statistics; provisions ia the Treasury De
partment for financial statistics; Department whose
chief function rs 10 collect educational statistics, and
some attention Is given 10 statistics in the Department OF
Agriculture. 10 Is greatly 10 be regretted That these STA
tstcal been consolidated, the scope Of
their work enlarged aud whole thoroughly organized
the whole Of which conld be done at an expense nOt
greatly Increased this late day is maniiesty
Impossible and equip permanent statistical
Bureau IN tine 10 take the ne census ana hence regret
II may, must again depend wholly ON the Census
WHAT THE CENSUS SHOULD BIZ.
In conclusion, the American Census should furnish
muserroll Of the American people, showing, far IL
Is possible for figures SHOW VITAL physical, intel
leetua and moral power. II should provide with
inventory Of the nations wealth and show rs how IL
wealth, ny showing the distribution Of the one and tho
Gus Of the United States VIII he far more IN.
teresting and Important than any OF Us eight
predecessors. Since 1880 IN spite OF It's losses,
the nation has doubtless greatly increased III population
and IN wealth. IL has taken new position among The
nations IL has passed through one Of the most bloody
aid exhaustive Nar Oh history ne tliuo Io
Its eondinOn ~ most opportune Questions OF the pro
half million OF young aud mddleaged men, who fell on
the field Of battle who died m hospitals PRISONS al
minished the ratiO Of increase Of population Have the
relative numbers OF the been sensiby changedf
Has the relative number OF orphans aud widows
perceptibly increasedf Has the affected the
distribution OF wealth. or changed the Character OF our
TENT What have been the effects of the struggle on the
educational benevolent, and religious institutions Of tine
absorbing ineresi the census of 1870 should answer If
itdo not. the failure viii reflect deep disgrace the
American people.
George W. Curtis introduced and read an ad.
mrable essay upon subject which claims large share
Of the attention Of the Association to Wit,
REFORM OF TIE CIVIL SERVICE.
In his paper upon the Reform Of the Cvi Service Ar