The sun., 1890-05-30
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF TEE CENSUS
Mr.. n. r. Porter Replies 60 What He
Calls F1Ippsnt OhIeetionS

obtaining statistics upon the mortgoRe indebt-
| edness upon farms and homes throughout the
tendent OF the Census said that the bill pro-
vlding for the collection OF these sta,stics pnss-
twenty-five negative Votes, having previ-
ousy passed the Senate with only four
e GSSns it. Great ssgsg Tess MSs St e. the
in fact It would Seem seem from the amount Of talk
poppSOE was '@G S % uS nights S%'f lest st
on ihs su6e9f % fbe w9S not be
Superintendent said that he had pointed out to
the committees OF Congress- the difficulties and
embarrassments. as he viewed II from no little
experience obtained from his connection with
the tenth census. the clamor for Legislation OF
i Is stated that penalty was likewise enacted
for refusal to give Information with reference
TO private aud corporate mortgage indebted
AZ further reason why the Superintendent
OF the Census, as he said. doubted tine wisdom,
not to speak OF the propriety. of the proposed
leRisletion. was that the work OF the census. as
whole, had been determined upon and out
pared. He did not think it wise to broaden by
additional legislation the work Of the eleventh
act sq apSb pss @ the s 5SsSn % 6e
ent said that his opposition to this legislation
was, was based more upon the latter reason than
aaeasons were not without q controlling In
with respect especially 10 The structures re-
gently .med concerning the INQUIRIES relating
@ EhSs pus e. o
make q mans blood boil
!, Mr.. Porter-There Is not much to be said on
visors OF the census throughout the country
hh Hara important order bearing upon this subject
IMPORTANT ORDER
CESsgS orricr, -
ID May y
To Supervisors NJ census!
parsons refuse answer the questions on the popua
to. tio. 3 & Tsans to physical and mental dsa6i
homes ,E. and mortEaSss aeto 80 nelasyej enter
further steps necessary on The part Of The super
so %Snsn s. sSs Il. E So
ment OF Justice Very respectfully
superintendent of Census
You will see from this that people have only
Sbsp Il w % deshe pt yi, t9 an answer the questions
to it, e see whether the mandate Of The law
questions concerning acute or chronic diseases
were asked in the tenth census only in much
coming one. In fact. they have been asked in
6s form or -S other ,b q a the
emit Similar questions are asked i In t the p CEN
suses OF the more civilized countries OF Europe. |
n more especially Great Britai aud France. In |
these statlsties that out OF population Of 36- |
OOOOOO 100000 and over were unified for |
one kind or another,,acute or chronic. Thus
II Will be seen. in this instance. for example.
absolutely, as it were. SO much dead stocKSS
on on man hand to use home-ly phrase. Let
would undertake to 60 into batto without first
knowing the exact physical condition Of his
II seems TO me that such information is Just as
esseptlai In affairs OF government, for We are
IN a, battle strugElng for supremacy
whole people. Aside from these considera-
7 ions sGentists ,s6t demsnd this Information
law commands it TO be obtained. / have no
discretion. Under my. oath OF office / am
Of the law Those who SEE seek % tho cheap @ fSr5 notot
rety that comes from ilippant objections to
their abilities in the direction OF repeating that that
the officer appointed to carry out
The cb!ect sought TO be attained in gather.
Ing this information 10 not, as some would lead
to % sort
Ing np Of " family skeleton closets. :" ON the
disabled from their ordinary, employment by
,eafon th 9t acute diseases. such as maarial or
disease or consumption. or tumors OF various
ilnds or chronic rheumatism or the result Of
nv les such ,s1 as fractures &c such informa-
mount Importance. While the figures that
nay be obtalnei for any one group cannot, as
utey accurate, the deficiencies will be in
anM spout me ros,1i same proportion everywhere.
airly comparable with each other.
Reporter-ln view oil the criticisms that have
'een zee IN made thITouGh many prominent jourpas
Isk you, Mr.. Porter. II reflection Indicates to
'ou that any blunder has been made In putting
orth or Insisting upon answers to these In
Mr.. Porter-As have previously said, tho
s the s6ns Of the eleventh
retion on these points, II any blunder there
,e the blame must attach to the law and It's
aid. while occupying the Executive chair, that !
the f only Tay e repeal an & 96qoxious law was
living 1t as my personal opinion, with th1e,
anction OF my official position. am at a. loss
o understand where blunder can be made In
GLOWING the recommendations in this matter
1 the most eminent statistlcians OF this coun.
y and of Europe In placing those questions in
lew of these recommendations that provision /
'as made in the law for this purpose. In my ,
not to appreciate the value OF iHfor.
nation to be derived from a comparison OF an c
Wers given and the Importance Of making
lso be borne IN mind that the answers given I
8 regards each individual will be treated as Il
bsolptely confidential. Only the numbers will
RonorierI Then, Mr.. Porter. in view of what .
ou have said II Is safe for me 10 assume and ,
pect to the ascertainmont Of this information v
2 connection with the volume on vital etatls- 81
cs has your approval. the adverse criticism to !,
he contrary Notwithstanding?
Mr. Porler-lt has. most unqualiedy Sim. q
ar objections, and equally as strenuous, have b
cen made to like inquiries heretofore not
My in this country. but IN Others especially
! Great Britain. So great was the objection o
! them in the latter country that for q period n
nearly fifty years from 1901. when the sub "
'ct of taking the first census OF England was !.
nder debate in the House Of Commons. to i
9S4); this information was not included in the a
,hedules OF the decennial censuses of thar
0untry. Little or no objections have been In
,,posed to them since the latter date. In 81
1t ciyiliEed country on the face Of tho globe y y
lese in Iuiries are taken as matter Of course = =
hon why should tho United States which m
lough In point Of years Is the most youthful f'
nations. but which IN SO many things stands o.
the front rank OF all the countries, take an | An
most M century backward step In this matter v
,rtance, Our motto should be- In fact as well u
In name. onward. not backward. VI
The Hase Ball CONFLICT. ii
70 THE EnroR oT Tar 6uS-Sfr In thu ~ ,r