Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-17
Our So-CaI,es vital statistics.

whether ngureS can or cannot lie, IL Is well
KNOWN that the Use OF them in certain ways can
Dr. made To show most erroneous and mischievous
RESULTS "A case In point Is furnished by the so
called vital statistics of the Districts OF Columbia
which habitually show excess OF deaths over
births in this community. Any person endowed
with reasoning faculties knows that this is the
reverse of the truth-yet the tables showing what
does not exist regularly given out. The report
for the year ending on the Both of June last, for
example, showed an excess OF 541 deaths over
births during that period. While that for the month
OF september calls for 135 more deaths than births
during that comparatively brief space of time
Now, in the face Of the constant and rapid
Increase OF the population OF Washington, these
figures are simply absurd. But for that well-knOwn
fact they would be injurious 1t is nonsense to claim
III any one were 50 disposed, that the whole growth
OF the city over and above these reported losses
comes from immigration since that tide naturally
ceases To flow toward any place VIGOROUSLY
healthy as to depopulate itself but for reinforce
ments supplied from the outside.
What Is the explanation OF reports capable OF
being so framed or construed as to convey false
and injurious Impressions? The answer Is that
while returns are promptly and correctly made in
regard To deaths it has been found impossible to
procure full and accurate figures In regard to the
births Ii appears, furthermore, that the MEN,
bers of the medical profession are more at fault
In this matter than are the midwiveS.-both
Glasses being put upon the same footing touching
the making OF returns concerning such births
as they may ''attend, assist or advise at" This
showing Is somewhat surprising. The contrary
state OF things Is what one would naturally en-
pect; and 1t is not easy to understand how edI-
Gated and trained physicians, who are as much
interested as any other class can be in reliable
vital statistics should willfully violate or neglect
the law on the subject and thus aid In the dssem-
1nation OF erroneous and pre1udicial reports.
Nor should such evaSionS for any cause be
allowed The provisions Of the law ought to be
strictly enforced In all cases. in order that the
two extremes OF the vital tables can be made
equally exact and reliable. Unless this end be
invariably secured the monthly and yearly
returns on the subject, made with a care how
ever great and ut "a cost however large, are not
only worth nothing in a statistical or scientific
point OF view, but they work positive damage
To the city by showing a condition of things
which does not exist remedy prompt and
effective should BE- applied even to the extent of
prosecuting the offenders before the courts
Between Interested malice on the one hand
and prejudiced ignorance on the other the
reputation OF Washington suffers enough before
the world, without having to bear the burden
OF misrepresentation, which appears to bear the
stamp OF official authority.
There is good news for Washington and for the
travelling public generally in the statement that
President Garrett, OF the Baltimore Ohio FAIL
rOad, Is negotiating, with strong probabilities of
eventual success, for certain charter privileges
which will give another railroad the right OF way
through Philadelphia. This measure, when con-
sunlinated viii open second and competing route
OF travel between the political and commercial
centerS OF the country and have the effect of re-
Guefng both the cost and time of travel and freight
traffic between the northern and southern sea-
board sections OF the Union 1t is needless to add
in nc
have the good Will OF the people OF the whole
country, coupled with the hope that there may be
no delay In bringing about result so long and so
much needed.
The commission of inquiry sent by Gov Long to
Richmond 10 investigate the conduct OF the Ninth
Massachusetts regiment In that city find that the
charges made against members OF that command
are substantially true Gov. Long has directed the
colonel 10 ascertain who the guilty members are
with the view OF making them bear the penalty of
theH miSdeeds In case OF failure to find out the
members who perpetrated the outrages in Rich
mond IL Is said the regiment will be disbanded by
The governor.
Major Bundy makes an eloquent editorial annes,
N MS paper, the New York Maui, to the Forty-sev-
ehth congress To vote promptly to the widow and
children of Garfield the undrawn remainder of his
salary for the first year Of his term pension OF
s''oO year, and the ranking privilege for life.
-~
The President does not give sufficient encourage
ment to visiting delegations who tender advice
upon The formation OF his Cabinet to justify q con-
tinuanee of these calls. He seems to have an idea
thst II Is his privilege TO select his constitutional
ADVISERS without outside assistance
Guiteau is again making himself conspicuous by
MS fantastic featS in the courtroom These demon,
STATIONS do not show insanity so much as unpar-
aileed vanity. Ii would seem that some means
eoula}e devised OF stopping these egotisticaI dis
plays.
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