The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-22

| Prom the Mrntdpons Trtbun.
There isroom for very serious fears the statistical
work Of the eleventh census apart from the enumera
ton OF the people, may be disastrous failure. The
Tribune. in common with other leading newspa perS
continues to be flooded with circulars from Washington
asking for all OF information that obviously out
OF question for this paper to give accurately without
| making an exhaustive and expensive investigation.
Some OF these inquiries the Tribune might of pure
patriotism have undertaken to make for the Census
Bureau. but for tho knowledge that precisely the
request had been preferred by tho bureau several
other newspapers or individuals.
Thus the Census Bureau has within few days ask ed
tho Tribune to prepare for IL lis; of all tho
houseG manufactures or shops in Minneapolis having
twenty or moro employees. This would involve much
labor for there hundreds Of establishments here
that employ more than twenty people. Yet the Census
Bureau is so inronsderato 30 insulting in fact az to
ask every Newspaper in town TO put itself to this
trouble Requests that this fashion GO into
the waete basket AT best statistics gotten together in
this way could have completeness value 1t
wond be perfectly easy for small but ambitious towns
greatly to pad tho lists sent ill., Ono of tho no
t'ceS We have Just received and asked to publish
reA Is as follows:
death benenciary associations Of the United States can
forthcoming census more aud disseminate the
X. Of the good .o! e are long by sending
b. ".nsa SsH William
Its foreEone conclusion that Trustworthy Stats
tcH results can DO obtained through tho plan send
ing out circulars and publication OF paper notcea
We arc further in receipt OF circular letter asking US
to printa long exhortation TO manufacturers in behalf
or the work OF MIR WilamA tho special agent of tho
census for manufacturing returns From time time
various other topics Of inquiry have been referred to US
~ circular letters emanatiug from tho Census Bureau
such methods are worse than absurd.
From the AiLIHtd communion.
The eensnH takers arc compelled 10 ask these ques
tons and there ia penalty OF nne OF $50 for refusal
TO answer but We think Tue SUS is right when IL ad
vses tho people not to give tho desired information
Tho matters inquired about do not appertAn to a CON
Gus OF the people They private AFFAIRS entirely and
tho attempt to make them part OF tho census is le
gal In other words, under this FREQ government of
ours not even the forms of law give employee
ofthe Government the riyht to inquire into peoples
private AhairA
From he Rnchrt'rr F'OSt Frprrtf
Some mon may prefer to explain all about tho mort
EaReS on their homes and tho secret imperfectiona
physiological and mental Of themselves and tho mem
borS OF their families Wher. they were born, how old
they are whether they reAn or write what In their
race whether they divorced, Ac, rather than run
the risk OF lawsuit with Unc!e Sam. but there NAV
be others who i'll maintain that thore some thnvs
that the Government has business TO know and who
will night for tho principle involved, no mater what
the cost may bo.
tits ono OF many which tho instnct OF tho In.
diyidual Is against the interest OF society