Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-01
Need of a City Census.

OF the injustice done this city by the last
Federal census the DISPATCH has often
spoken.
The complaint made is not the utterance
of disappointment, but the sober convic-
ton founded upon reason that the work
was badly done.
We have population much greater than
the enumerators gave us and we believe
the fact is susceptible of easy proof.
Had the authorities at Washington used
reasonable diligence TO secure an accurate
count here the community would have
been satisfied with the results, although 1t
might have been short of our expecta-
tions. But while the enumerators ap-
pointed for this city were generally &C
ceptable men, and while most of them dis
charged their duties diligently, il is well
known that they were not as carefully or
eanized and trained as they might and
should have been.
Over and over again while the enumera-
ton was in progress attention was call
cd 10 the fact that all of the men were
not constituting the law alike as to persons
who were temporarily absent, and in nu-
merous instances il was shown that houses
containing many occupants were never
visited at all.
In response TO the urgent demand of the
community the Census Bureau finally de-
tailed an official who was instrumental in
having many of these omissions supplied,
but the errors were too widespread TO be
corrected in any such way. The Govern
ment should have given us a new census
under the direction of an expert. who, be-
fore starting his men out upon their work,
would have taught them their duties. and
who would have followed Thorn in their
rounds and seen that they understood the
instructions given them.
But all this is past and gone. IL is toe
late to quarrel with the census people now.
Indeed, many of them, perhaps the chief
Offenders. have been retired to private life.
But under no circumstances is 1t likely
that our remonstrances and petitions
would have been received with any more
favor than were those of the Democratic
city of New York. 1t failed to get justice
done il, and il is not particularly sur.
prising that we should have shared the
same fate TO the extent that we made the
same effort.
New York, finding that the general gov
eminent would not help ii. proceeded tC
help itself, and it took census of its own
which is the recognized authority there.
We must do the same and there IS nc
use at oil in deferring the undertaking
We might as we'll proceed at once. ANY
unnecessary DELAY will be hurtful to US.
II we are going TO do il, it should bC
done and be over by the 18th of May, Of
else we viii miss many people who are il
the habit of leaving the city early for th'
summer.
The police would be the best men 4
take this municipal census, but if they
cannot DO spared from their regular duties
the city had better incur the cost of EN-
ploying other men TO do the work than le
the present state Of affairs continue.
A census taken now instead of next year
rs has been proposed by some, would b
especially useful in furnishing precise in
formation for the consideration Of tn
annexation question which. We take TO
granted, is TO be acted upon in some way a
the meeting of the General Assembly thi
winter.
So II We are going 60 act in this matte
at all We might as well do it now as later.