Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-09
The Census InvestigatiOn.
GEN. WALKERS REPORT ON THE SOUTH CAROLISA
ENUMERATION

ENUMERATION.
Secretary Schurz this afternoon made public
the report of superintendent Walker OF the
census bureau on the alleged census frauds 10
South Carolina After reviewing the state
meDts made by the press, alleging frauds. and
the action OF the census bureau In Investigating
the same, Gen. Walker says: ''The extraordi-
nary gains reported In certain of the counties
In South Carolina and the state as whole over
the census OF 1870 demanded, therefore, q care
ful investigation. 1t was notorious that S1uth
Carolina had not proflted materially during the
ten ears since 1910 by immigration either from
foreign countries or from other states of the
union.
With slight advantage from immigration it
was not possible that an old state could have
gained in population in the interval since 1879
to the degree which Is shown by the compari
son OF the two censuseS. 1t follows as con
clusion OF the highest authority either that the
census OF 1870 was grossly detective In regard to
the Whoie or the state or some considerabi
parts thereof or else that the census OF 1880 was
,Iauduleht. The census of 1870 might have
lent intention through the incOmpetenca or
negligence OF tie enumerators emp;oye1. Bur
the census Of 1880 could not have exaggerated
ne poIutatlon OF the state without absolut4
fraud, inasmuch as the census law requires the
name OF every person reported to be write at
iength Oh the schedules with score OF partc,
ai 50 os bfegapas a,se sex nativity OCCUPATION
10 the schedule must be of the nature of con
sclouS and purpOsed crime"
GeH. walker AFTER giving reasons why In his
judgment the census OF 1870 was incorrect say. :.
There was, moreover, lacking in 1870 thru &C.
out the general region, one very important sub
Ject OF enumeration, viz: public interest in the
result and general intelligence likely to be
shown by the canvass. The interest generally
manifested throughout the United States 10 the
ninth census was far below that which has been
shown the present year, but nowhere did the
interest In the work OF the census fall so low as
in the states referred to in which political acsiv-
lty under the constitution of the United States
had scarcely revived.
No specific allegation OF fraud in the enume-
ration OF South Carolina has ever been made to
this Office. The entire reason for impeachiag
the integrity of the recent census was formed
in the reported gain Of population between 1870
and 1850.
The result of the investigation places beyond
possible question by any fatr-minded man the
entire fault upon the census OF 1870. know of
no reason, therefore, why any further charge
should be made against the enumeration re-
Gently brought to a conclusion by the commits
stoned and sworn officer Of the government in
South Carolina. The presumption which eX.
lsted against that work has been completely
oVerthroWn, and strong counter presumption
mas been created by the veriflcat1On upon the
ground of the schedules of Inhabitants in the
case OF is enumeration districts successfully
taken for special investigation on account Of
their exceptionally questionable character.