Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-29
HINTS ON TAKING A CENSUS
American Economic Association Points Out
Present Faults.
MANY NOTED PusulcIs1s IN THE DEBATE
Committee on scope and Method Of
the Twelfth Census Reports, show
inG Numer6us Defects which
Should he Remedied.

NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, Dec. 2S.-The re-
port Of the committee on the scope and
method OF the twelfth census occupied the
attention Of the American Economic asso-
citation at Its first session Of the day. The
committee consisted Of Prof. Richmond
Mayo-Smith, Walter F. Wilcox, Hon. Car
roll D. Wright, Prof. Roland p. Falkner and
Davis r. Dewey. The report embodied q
large number Of extracts from papers sub
United to the committee In response to ques-
tions sent out to leading economists. The
papers were upon specific topics and con-
tanned a vast amount Of valuable sugges-
tions and Information as to advanced Stats
tical methods. In Its own report the COM
mittee says Of the suggestions offered:
There is criticism not 30 much Of the ac-
curacy OF the census returns as of the treat
ment OF the data ION the eleventh census re-
ports) and Of a lack Of continuity from CEN
sus to census. Both defects We believe to be
largely due to the insufficient time allowed
BY law for repairing plans and schedules.
The work Of the census IL seriously i'm
peded by the number Of the Investigations
ordered and their variety, and consequently
fundamental inquiries cannot receive ade-
quate attention. A number Of subordinate
inquiries might adyantageously be trans
ferred to established bureaus Or departments
which are equipped with expert agents and
bOm6 VI WulCu now publish several Volumes
Of kindred statements.
Weaknesses Enumerated.
The report points out defects and weak
nesses. and In effect Is as follows:
l. The lack Of compatibility in the data
from census to census. Occupations are
grouped Under different heads, making II Inn
possible to trace growth or decline Ia certain
branches Of industry.
2. The lack Of coordination. The in
quiries should be more closely associated in
method Of presentation with one another &C
be available in others. as for instance the
number Of persons employed. the capital in
vested. the wages paid, etc.
8. (a)-Faults OF method. Certain investi-
cations relating to matters Of greatest in
terest fail to Kive results because the basis
Of inquiry 10 at fault. In this class belong
all attempts to secure the annual rate for
crime, births. and deaths by direct m
tion at q given time without recourse to
registration or other continuous records
such as degree Of intermixture Of white and
negro blood. tc)-Ths tabulstions are In
some cases omitted or are defective or are
over-tabulated. (d)-There are certain
faults OF classification which are found in
both schedules and tabulations as stats
tics Of occupation. especially distribution Of
laborers not specified. statistics Of taxation
and wealth. municipal receipts, etc.
A spirited discussion followed upon the
report Of The committee, many distinguished
economists and pubi.cists taking part.
Discussion was also had, more pa-:icu-
larly, on the question. "Is 1t Possible to Get
Statistics Of Capital and Industry" led by
Hon. s. N. D.. North, Hon. Horace Wadlin
and Prof. H. C. Adams. and on "What May
and Should the Statistics Of Municipal
Finance Be Made to Show" led by Profs.
H. B. Gardner and L. s. Rowe and DR..
Maltby.
Subsequently the convention listened to
papers OF phases, Of American economic
history. dealing with aspects of the United
treasury situation. in, the years 1893
to 1897, ana price movements in the con-
tfederate states during the civil war.