, 1875-03-24

decent editor.
sAA4e-
THE PRop05ED STATE 0EN9us.
bill has boon introduced into the Illinois
House Of Representatives providing for tito
taking Of n Stato census this coming summer,
aud every ton years thereafter. This is tho
roviyal Of IN old scheme, which experience
proved to 10 d costly and useless Investment
Of public money, unproduct;vo Of my good
result. Tho Constitution Of 1878 provided
for tho tnling Of State census In the middle
Of each decade, but this provision was omit.
ted from tile Constitution Of 1870, after nm
tnre deliberatiou, and it WAS thought
that there would DO nothing moro
heard Of 1t. Tho Inst census taken
in Illinois under tho auspices Of
tho Stnte-that of 1sG5-wns 80 conspic,,-
ously incomplete md useless TINT 1t would bo
folly to repeat SO recent blunler. In that
year tue returns were sent to Springfield, md
were there slowed nway in IN old lumber
room, whoro they tnay still 10 moldcring,
1tnlcas they havo boon used for kindliug fires.
The only use over mndo Of them was 10 get
at tho total foo.iugs, which were admitted to
bo totally untrustwortlny; and it was conccd-
cd on all aidos TINT tho money which this
census had cost hal been Itcrnlly thrown
away.
: Now We would ask tho author Of this bill,
or some other mombcr Of tho Legislature fa.
voring tho present bill, wIlat good purpose,
Stale, political, o. local, in to bo subseryed by
taking t. census this year? It cannot DO for
tho purpose Of apportionmcnt, for tho Stato
Constitution expressly provides that every
apportionment shall be mnde on tile bass Of
tho decounial Federal CENSUS. What, then,
is it expected to accomplish? It cnnuot bo
for amy spccial gloritication OF tho State,
since there has been no extraordinary growth
in tho Stato at large since tito Fed
oral CENSUS of 1870; and, if there
wero, what good would it do to pro-
mulgato the faot throughout tile coun-
try at largo expense ? Can it bo for tho
purpose Of adding another Judge to Cook
County? But this object can be moro readily
and cheap1y attained by passing bill now
pending, which enables this county, on its
own motion, to tako census. WAat lias be-
como Of this bill Has it been atrangled in
Can it DO TINT this bill for q census i,as
boon introduced for tho purpose Of giving
employment to somo Of the political retaincrs
of tho gentlemen who favor it? Un1oss this
is the case, VIC shall expect tho assignment Of
so,ne good reason for taking censuB Mt this
tiuao. We presume tho author will an-
swer TINT it emit DO job, bccauso
his bill provides for tho payment
of only ono cent for every nnn,o registered.
As there aro about 2,75o,o0o people in the
Stato tho work will cost ut tho very lcast
$27,500; and, in addition thereto, thcro will
be lnrge expenses for blanks, stationery, post
ago, etc. It will be job, therefore, just to
tho extent Of its cost, since it is utterly uso-
less work, which should DO dispensed with.
Tho manner of taking State consus in tho
rural districts is such as to render QUO cent a
name ample compensation. One visit to tho
district school-houso or village saloon usually
sufFces to prepare list Of uanes Of tho ill.,
habitanta Of TINT district or village, ind such
lists, when prepared, arc utterly worthless.
A striking illustration Of tho uselessness Of
this census-taking scheme is found in tho
fnct that tho bill introduced simply provides
for tho registry Of names and thoir return to
tho Secretary Of State, without requiring any
further use to DO made OF them. Aftor the
cenHus slsau haro boon tnkon, and the $27, 900
paid to tho ceusrs-talsors, md az much more
for blanlis, stationery, and poatage, tho re-
turns will be thrown together md carted off
to the Sumo place where tho remnants OF the
unused roturnH of 1866 still lio The bill
fails to provide for putting the returns to
any use whatovor, aud simply because there
is 10 t.so for them. The Legislature will
scarcely commit itsolf to tho tax- -catinl; out
rago upon tho people which tho passage of
this bill would involve.