St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-09
Secretary Noble Orders a Re-
count Of the Population
Of st. Paul.
His Action Based on Supt
Porter's Second Letter Of
Recommendation.
Citizens Exonerated From
Even a Suspicion Of Col
IuSion in Fraud.
The Work Of RECOMMENDATION
Will Be Begun on Mon
day Next.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. S.-Sec
fetary Noble has approved the recon-
mendatiOn of Supt. Porter submitted
to-day, that the original order directing
q recount of the population of the entire
city of st. Paul be put into execution.
Mr.. Porter in his letter of recommends
ton, gives detailed account Of his re-
cent investigation. The secretary
while eXonerating the citizens of st.
Paul from even a suspicion of collusion
In falsifying the enumeration sched-
ules. believes that the errors committed
were of so gross a character and so gen
eral as to require, in justice to all con-
cerned, recount of the whole city. AS
sistant Chief Clerk WardLe, of the cen
sus Office, who was designated by the
secretary and Supt. Porter, will leave
Washington for st. Paul tomorrow.
The work of remuneration will begin
next Monday. Following is Supt. Por-
ter's letter to the secretary.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Sir: I beg
leave to inform you that Mr.. Henry
Gannett, geOgrapher of the census, has
continued his investigation of the sched-
ules of the city of st. Paul, and that in
a supplemental report made to me to-
day he renewS his recommendation for
a recount Of the entire city. l thor
oughly concur, and believe such re-
count will be more advantageous to the
city of st. Paul, and give a more cor
rect enumeration population than could
possibly be obtained by a recount of the
thirty-four districts in which the census
office has found unqueStioned evidence
of irregularity. and by throwing out all
the Implications found after careful eX-
animation of every schedule. Before
leaving this city the citizens committee
delegated to inquire into this matter
called at the census Office and said they
would be willing to assent to thislatter.
proposition. | can hardly imagine such
a course would be acceptable TO the ma
jority Of the people of st. Paul, as it
would unquestlonably subject that city
to more severe enumeration than any
other city In the country, and probably
have the effect of reducing the popu.
lation below the number to which it is
actually entitled Since my letter of
July Goth committee of the chamber
of commerce of st. Paul has made eX-
animation of criticisms Of this census
contained in the report referred to.
Again this Office, through its agent IN
st. Paul, Mr.. Boudinot, has been act
lively engaged in examining these criti-
ciSmS by personal visitation. Further
more this Office has subjected all sched-
ules of the city of St. Paul to examina-
tion for the purpose of discovering how
generally the census was padded. The
result of these several Investigations
follows: FirSt-Subsequent additions
of individuals to families-suspicion
was aroused by the appearance of eras-
ures and additions coupled with the un-
usual size of families. No further evil
dence in support of this criticism had
been obtained and the criticism is with
drawn, as not supported by sufficient
evidence.
Second-Tne unusual number of FAM
lilies and persons in houses. Many of
these cases have been examined on the
ground by Mr.. BOudinot, and in the
majority of such cases the facts have
been found to be as stated in the sched-
uleS. In small number, where Mr..
Boudinot's examinations do not bear
out the schedules, L think it is simpler
to presume that mistakes have been
committed than that enumerators have
deliberately committed fraud.
Third-As to disagreement between
animation made by the St. Paul COM
mittee based on comparison between
the schedules and directory, and exam
nations made by Mr.. Boudinot on the
ground under order of this office agree
in showing that the map was faulty.
Mr.. BOudinOt'S examination has re-
suited in demonstrating the existence of
at least four-ffths of the house
which, according to the atlas. do no
appear to exist. The remaining house,
which Mr.. BOudinot does not find are
scattered quite generally through the
enumeration districts, few i'll each,
in such way as to lead me to the con-
elusion that they are due to mistakes
on the part of the enumerators in put
ting down wrong numbers or wrong
street names.
Four-Padding by enumeration of
persons at places of business.
Practically all the criticisms made
against the census on this score have
been admitted by the committee of the
chamber of commerce, and they admit
that seven districts out of nine which
had at that time been examined should
be recounted. In order to get an idea
ding in business houses has extended
throughout the entire city, l
have had schedules examined, and in
every case in which the schedule head
ing showed it was a business house |
have had a note made of it with the
number of persons enumerated therein,
the resulting list being submitted here
with. The list shows a total of 1886
names, nearly all of which have been
improperly enumerated. The list is
not, however, in all probability, an ex-
haustlve one. as doubtless many bust
ness houses were enumerated but their
character hot indicated at the head of
schedules. In order to determine the
extent of Implications in the city, and
their character, the names of all persons
in the city have been drawn off upon
cards arranged alphabetically. and. so
far as possible, duplicates taken out.
There are many difficulties in the way
of deciding upon duplication of names.
Certain names are so common that in
large city name (even if checked by
age is not sure criterion of duplica-
ton. You will easily understand that
in many cases of duplication not only
may age be given one, two or more
years differently, but changes may be
made in names so as to make duplica-
ton entirely. We find that there are
very nearly 1000 unquestioned cases of
duplication, and as many more cases of
possible duplication. OF course, the
bulk of these consists of persons
enumerated both at their place of busi-
ness and at their homes. There are.
however, numerous cases of duplica-
ton arising from one enumerator going
beyond the limits of his dis
trict into an adjoining district.
l should hesitate to say that
this was done Intentionally. It was