The morning call., 1890-06-04
WORK OF THE oENsUs-rAKEKs.

There is a disposition in certain quarters
to obsiruct the work OF the census-takers
by refusing to answer the questions which
they put. This is to be regretted, ana
should be stopped. The form and style of
some of the questions are needlessly ohen-
sive. 1t is not good form to ask man
whether he is an ex-convict, whether he is
suffering from an incurable disease, or
whether he is pauper. But these incon-
gruities merely 90 to show that the census
officials are lacking in good taste; they
should not be suffered. however, to prevent
the completion of work Of public useful
ness.
The great impeachment in the way of the
study of American social life has been the
lack of vital statistics. In England and
France, for fully generation, all the facts
bearing on the inner life OF the people,
longevity, disease, the public health, mar
rage. births and deaths, crime and insan-
ity, have been carefully collected and
tabulated. Thus. when new legislation is
proposed, it can be studied in the light of
facts, and nothing is left to guesswork
No such work has been done in this coun-
try. Statistics OF labor and d few kindred
topics have been collected in few cities,
and in Massachusetts and some of the older
States, but there has never been an attempt
by the general Government to collect sta
tistics of the whole people, and conSe-
quently, when sanitary or industrial re-
forms are proposed, no one can feel sure
whether they are needed, or how they will
operate No one can tell what proportion
Of births result from each marriage in the
country at large. No one knows what pro-
G., tf,N,,
and other constitutional diseases. In the
absence of complete returns, it is conf
IDENTIFY stated by doctors that insanity is on
the increase, which is probably not the
case. We are without information on the
true relation between crime and education,
and on the bearing. of climate on crime.
We have no figures to show the exact pro-
portion which wages bear to breaches Of
the law. Our statistics of divorce are mis-
leading We really do not know how long
people live in the various States, and which
part of the country is most conducive to
long life.
These are matters respecting which full
and reliable information is of the utmost
consequence Laws based on ignorance
defeat their object and engender disregard
for laws generally; it is only from laws
which are based on accurate knowledge
that benefit nay be expected. The first at
tempt to supply the want of national vital
statistics was made in the census of $780,
But the undertaking was new, and the cen
sus-takers covered so much ground that the
result of their labors was an accumulation
of undigested material which appals the
reader. Mr.. Noble has now undertaken to
repeat the job in more eclectic fashion,
and though the system he has adopted in
wolves an inQuisitOrial catechism which is
annoying to people who forget that they
are members of community as well as
private individuals. his purpose must be
commended in view of the beneficial re-
suits he may reach.
The value of statistics depends on their
accuracy. Theorists can demonstrate fire.
Quenily the soundness of two opposite doe
trInes from the same set of figures; acute
ness, however, can detect where the false
facts come in. Everybody knows that
many of the tabular statements in the tenth
census are misleading. 1t is to be hoped
that the present census will be taken with
more care. 1t must always be remembered
that false figures are worse than no figures
at all