Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-05-22
CURRENT TOPICS.

A MASS OF rubbish called statistics
was collected by the Census Bureau ten
years ago. The most of the stuff was
of no practical value. The printing of it
was not accomplished until the govern
ment was about ready to take another
census. Now that folly is to be repeat
ed on larger scale, and in addition, the
able census authorities have determined
that each individual shall make publica-
ton of his private Indebtedness, and os
tentatiously announces that if he does
net answer the absurd questions pro-
pounded by the great men engaged in
preparing the census rubbish he will be
subjected to "heavy penalties" so to
speak. The result will be that men who
appreciate the impudence of the census
authorities will answer their impertinent
questions with Il don't know" and the
government printing presses will for
years be burdened with further tons of
trash.
The government undertakes too much
in the census, and those having charge
of it do not give thought and atten
tion to the vital features of it. To il
lustrate: Ten years ago the question
arose in this census district whether, in
taking the enumeration, all the people
living in the collection of buildings
comprising town should be counted as
residents of the town, or only those re-
siding within the corporate limits
There was some difference of opinion
among the local census authorities, to
whom the question was referred, and it
was submitted to the Superintendent of
the Census. That gentleman decided
that only residents within the corporate
limits could be counted; but on appeal
from his decision to Secretary SchurZ,
citing the fact that but few miles of
territory and not one-twentieth of the
population of the city of London are
within its corporate limits, the absurd
ruling of the Superintendent was set
aside and the population Of towns cor
rectly ascertained.
For some weeks a gentleman in the
employ of the Census Bureau has been
employed at st. Clairsville examining
the records of the mortgages, and the
same folly is being enacted in every
county in the United States, to ascertain
the amount of mortgage Indebtedness,
it is said. What will such an exhibit
l. 10 L -
hundreds of such mortgages have been
iquidated, but not released upon record.
The Building Associations of the coun-
ty represent capital several times
greater than the Ranks. Their loans
are lessened every week, but the mort
cages given them stand until paid in
full; so that an individual may appear
to owe one of them $1,000, when in fact
he may not owe it $50. 1t is said the
census authorities expect to interrogate
the army of debtors through the mails,
in order to ascertain how much they
still owe; but many of them will never
be reached, and many others will con-
clude that, since they do not expect to
negotiate loan from the able Superin-
tendent of the Census, they will not take
the trouble to reply to what they may
think an impertinent interference with
their affairs by the government, espe-
cially since names are not to appear in
the published reports.
This feature of the census can not
but be misleading, would be of little
practical value if correctly ascertained,
will be looked upon by the people as an
impertinent and unwarranted interfe-
renee with their private affairs.