The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-05-01

ed in reading the articles i'll your
issue of this morning on the Cen
sus and Labor Commission. Hav-
ing been superintendent of the
last census and also Secretary of
the Labor Commission, as long as
that body had any practical eX-
isteDce, trust it will not be out
of place for me to offer Il few sug-
gestions on matters with which
| claim to be personally familiar.
y census can be taken for 81,
900. which is the amOut in the
Appropriation bill as it now
stands, but with $15, 1000, which is
the amount originally asked
for by the Board of Education af-
ter careful consideration the
work can be done and better done,
and what is of considerable i'm
DOrtance. can be done in less time
and the results laid before the
public at a considerably earlier
date than with the smaller
amount
Ii is true that the apprOpria-
tiOn in 1890 was only $4,000, and
there was a balance remaining un-
expended, but the population is
larger now than it was tIsen, and
if the same method is followed
and the inquiries confined TO the
same subjects, it is likely to con-
sumo at least as much as the I'M
expended balance from the last
appropriation
1t should be understood also
that the saving on the last appro-
priatiOn was effected at the eX
pense of the efficiency of the ser
vice. and especially of the prompt
ness that would have been desir
able in the publication of the re-
suits. The amount expended for
clerical assistance in the central
office was only $3.50, thus throw
ing upon the superintendent a
large amount of arithmetical
work that could have been just as
we'll done by Il clerk at mOder
ate salary. Although | generally
worked longer than usual hours
in Government offices and often |
took work home with me at night, |
it was nearly a year from the time
| was first appointed before the
report was finally published i'll its
completed form.
Another thing that will add
something to the expense, If the
work is to be done in the best |
manner, is that more time should |
elapse between the appointment
of the superintendent and the |
taking of the census. | was ap'
pointed in November and the cen
sus had to be taken in December |
to make it come in the wear 1890,
as provided by law, which rem
dered it impossible TO organize
and prepare for the work as
would like to have done. In my
report for 1890 | said:
In view of the entire lack of inter-
island Geographic communication, and
the annoying but unavoidable delays in
the mail service with the remoter dis
tricts. it is earnestly recommended,
should these conditions continue, that
the superintendent OF the next census
be appointed at least three months be-
fore the date decided upon for the emu
meratiOn. This will afford none TOO
much time for a careful organization of
the service, and for selecting, instruct
ing and properly comforting with the
District superintendent and their sub
Ordinates."
This means Of course Il month
0;. tW0 additional pay for the SUI
pet.inteGdcnt. but the efficiency of
the service requires it.
If il should happen that | were
asked to take charge of the work
again. L should insist upon this
time for preparation,
and also upon a much more liber-
III expenditure for clerical assist
dItC. IL ciS SCCIuS " DC liiC uC-
sire of the Executive and the
Board of Health. the scope of the
census Is To be extended and more /
embraced in the inquir-
les than before, the labor and
expense both of tax
ing the census and of tabulating
the results, will be of necessity
1t is TO the interest of
the Superintendent to have the
work drag on and his pay continue
as long as possible, but I am not