St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-10
For a Few Outside Snaps He
Will Ask a Lot Of
Money.
Secretary Proctor Proposes
to Remedy the Evils at JEFF
ferson Barracks.
The War Ship Ossipee Proba-
ably Will Be Sent to the
Boneyard.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.-The report Of
Robert p. Porter, superintendent of
census, to the secretary of the interior
about the operations of the census Office
since June l, 1889, was made public to-
day. The report explains in detail the
vast amount of work that has already
been done, preliminary to the active
field work that will begin next year.
Supt. Porter recommends, in order
to avoid the de ay which accom-
panied the printing of the tenth
census volumes in the govern
ment printing Office that they be printed
by private contractor by having the
census Office publish them itself. An
enormous saving of money would be ef-
fected 10y this, and prompt publication
ensured. Such course would also set
tie the question of responsibility for de-
lay, which is diff cult to ascertain under
the existing system. The clause in the
law relating to recorded Indebtedness,
Superintendent Porter says, has opened
an entirely new field of inquiry, and a
problem as TO methods without prece-
dent in census work. Of this inquiry
the report goes on to say:
1.-The manifest and manifold difficulties in
arriving at the debt represented by the ap-
parent debt as it appears on the face OF the
public records of the country are, at first
thought almost insurmountable. Further
more, the cost Of such an investigation, IL
pursued by the direct method of searching
all records and Composing the parties to
whom they relate would doubtless be greatly
In excess OF any sum contemplated by con-
gress i'll making It's appropriations. Under
these circumstances some preliminary and
local inquiries have been instituted in the
states of Illinois, Iowa, New York, and
Massachusetts, and within short time the
results of this investigation will be given to
the public in a census bulletin"
In connection with this inquiry, Supt.
Proctor calls attention to the fact that
resolutions have been passed in various
parts of the country by important labor
organizations, asking that the forth
coming census show what percentage of
the people in this country occupy their
own homes and farms. and what Der
pYing their own farms and homes
what proportion have their
property free from debt; and
of the farms and homes under mort
gage what percentage of the value is so
mOrtgaged, This inquiry is not con-
templated by the eleventh census. The
information requested could only be
collected by the enumerators on the
special schedules. Supt. Porter declares
his Willingness to undertake the in
quiry if congress will grant the neces-
Sary authorization. ana provide by ad-
ditional appropriation the means to pay
the enumeratOrS.
1.-The importance of statistics" he says,
(which would throw light upon this subject
undoubtedly great. but without srecial legis
lation by congress the census Offices is pow
less to act in the matter
The statistics of agriculture, it is eX-
pected, will be more complete than ever
before, and may include some new
features in relation to the regulation of
poultry, products, sheep. cattle, and
the number of animals other than those
on farms. The preliminary work in the
division of manufactures indicates that
their statistics will be more complete
and accurate than the country has
ever had before. The information
to be obtained about the business
of railroad, telegraph, telephone and ex-
press companies and of waterways will
be of the highest interest. Superintend-
ent Porter insists that the public has a
right to the required facts about these
kinds of business, and suggests that it
may be necessary to ask for additional
legislation in order that his Office may
be empowered to secure the Information
required. The preparations for the
ENUMERATION OF INDIANS
Supt. Porter SAYS, promises to secure
the first accurate enumeration that they
have ever had. The preparatory work
is more or less advance in the matter of
education, mental and moral conditions,
statistics of cities. libraries, paupersm
and crime. fish. fisheries and insurance,
about which valuable results will be
ready for publication in the summer of
1890, and the mineral resources of the
nation, including the special subjects of
coal, gold and silver, copper, lead and
zinc. iron ores and building stone. In
conclusion the report says:
MANY of the important divisions of the
census are now well advanced with their
work. IL satisfactory arrangements can only
be made for prompt publication of the results
the superintendent is confident that the
eleventh census will not only be accurate
and cover all the statistical investigations
required by law, but will be out on time"