Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-16
Washington Star, Aug. l2.l

Gen. Walker, superintendent of the census,
was found In his office this morning by the
Star reporter. The reporter inquired if he had
any information which showed, or led to the
belief that the census in the South had been
negative.
Star-Do you think the large increase in
population in the South. as shown by the re-
turns, is bona .ede?
den. WI don't know what the population
is. The tables of population which have been
published are not from returns to this Office.
ldon't know where they are from, or how they
are made up. We have no returns as vet that
would show the result of the census. We deal
IN facts, not conjectures ana guesses. Tables
can be made UP by anybody, and fraud for po-
htIcal effect can be charged by anybody; but
the census office does not and can lot paw any
attention to either the one or the other, We
nave to get facts not to make up tables from
fragmentary data, or jump at conclusions be-
fore we know anything at all definite or stats.
tical.
Star-Have you any reason to suppose that
the census has be n taken other than honestly?
Gen. W-None whatever. have no reason
to DO dissatisfied with The work that has been
oone as Tar as information received at this office
SHOWS. would not charge an entire Sec
tlon with conspl1scy against tie Laws and con-
stltution without Knowing thai there had been
such conspiracy. L. is possible that in the
5l,o0o enumeration atri.us there has been q
man here and there VINO has acted dishonesty,
fne remedy Is, however, In our own hands.
Star-lt you discover fraud then YOU will
take steps to rectify il?
den. W.--Most certainly. If We find that
dishonest count has been made in any district
or section we will have another census taken
by honest men. The enuaaeTators aoho took mart
IN the fraud ariH be prosecuted. You h.no,p that
unaer such circumstances they are liable to i'm
Prasonnlcst IN the penate0tiary for tago gears.
1t, when the returns come in aud are mace up,
there Is the slightest suspicion of fraud, we
Will Investigate promptly and act according to
the resuie OF the investigation. Our remedy is
fuli Tor the correction of any abuses and
wholly within our own hands,
Star-Do you know how the tables showing
the alleged population of the Southern States
were made up?
Gen. WI do not. 1 repeat that they did
not come from this Office. They could not
because we have not returns upon which to
base tables of population. If the people who
are making these estimates knew the popula-
tl0n OF these States il Is more than the census
once knows. l see Arkansas is put down as
gaining fifty per cent. in population. That
estimate may be based on showing that one
eighth of the counties have increased that per
cent, and jumping as the conclusion that the
other seven-eighths have increased likewise.
Star-dave you any reason to be dissatisfied
with any OF the census officers?
ten. WI am not passing judgment on the
whole army employed in taking the census.
As far as honesty and true count goea have
yet to discover any cause of complaint. If,
however, there is any sign or suspicion of
fraud, prompt and energetic action vii! be
taken both to punish those concerned in it and
to rectify the false returns made.