The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
THE NEXT CENSUS.
Suggestions Received by the
Senate Committee.
Estimated Cost of the Work and
Subjects to be Treated.

A bill providing for the taking of the elev-
enth census passed the House Of Representa-
tives at its last session. As the date ap-
proaches on which it is proposed the census
shall be taken-June l, lS90-the Senate
Committee is receiving frequent communica-
tions suggesting amendments to the House
bill. The principal ones suggeSte1 relate 70
the provision authorizing an enumeration OF
the survivors of the late war and the lnser-
tion of provision for ascertainlng the re-
corded Indebtedness of the people.
Senator Hale. Chairman of the Census
Committee, is in constant communication
with persons acquainted with census WORK,
several of whom have requested nearing
before the committee. The committee mas
been authorized to employ a stenograpner
and take expert testimony; The on, crea!es
q new officer-that of Disbursing Clerk; IN
creases the salary Of the Superintendent from
5000 to $1,000, and increases the maximum
number of Supervisors Of Census from lou,
in 1880, to lis. There is also difference IN
the pay of the supervisors.
Section II of the bill proposes that the
schedules of inquiries of the eleventh census
shall be the same as those of the tentt census
with such changes of subject matter, emen-
dations and notifications as may be ap'
proved by the Secretary of the Interior. it
being the intention to give the Secretary full
discretion in this matter. A provision IS
made, however, in this section, that the
Superintendent of the Census shall cause to
be taken in the same scheduis of inquiry the
names of those who served in the army, navy
or marine corps of the United States in the
War Of the Rebellion, and who are survivors
at the time Of said inquiry, and the widows
of soldiers, sailors or marines"
Twenty-Five volumes, besides compendlums,
were the outgrowth Of the census OF 1851
The House bill, while, as before said, it gives
to the Secretary of the Interior discretion IN
the matter OF schedules OF inquiries, nmiss US
the publication of the volumes to seven, as
follows: Population, and social statistics re-
lating thereto: Products Of manufactures;
Mining; Agriculture; Mortality and vital
statistics; Valuation and public Indebtedness:
statistics relating to railroad corporations,
express telegraph and insurance companies.
The House bill limits the expenses of the
census to 100000 as the maximum cost,
exclusive of the printing, engraving ana
binding. The last census cost the Govern
ment S, S62. $50; but this included the entire
cost of delivering the work to the public, fin
ished and complete. 1t is thought that the
sum Of S6,00O.000 will be necessary for the
work, on account Of the increase of popula-
tion, although the schedule of inquiries is
limited to seven: It's believed 6y experts
that the population will reach 64, ,0O0, ,00O, an
increase Of 100000 over that Of 1850.
Another feature of the House bill that is new
is that allowing the Superintendent of the
Census the privilege of furnishing to any
city. town or municipality list Of the names
in said city. town or municipality. at the rate
of 25 cents for each 100 names so furnished.
Pitman Pulsifer, the committee clerk, has
prepared table showing the time each
census was taken, from the first down to
that of $780, the date of publication, the en-
tire cost of the census, and the number OF
volumes in each. The table is follows: 1870,
one volume, published in 1792, S44,37T77; 1900
one volume, published in 1901, sec, 600;
1910, two volumes published in 1S13 Sl7S.-
AS: 1920, two volumes, published in 1923,
S20S, ,525; 1880, one volume, published in 1882,
S37S, ,543; ls4o, four volumes, published in
1871, 1856, 374: 1850. four volumes. published
in 1859. 81, ,329, OF; 1860, four volumes, pub
lished in 1866, sl,922,272; 1870, four volumes,
published in 1872. S3,326,5ll; 1850, twenty
four volumes Including compendium, pub
lished in 1855. $500. 750