The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-03
Renewal of Discussion as to
the Proper Time.
EUROPES ONE-DAY PLAN
As Contrasted With the Slow
Methods Here Prevalent

decennial census, Il is possible that some
tistical experts. The date upon which
our censuses are now taken, the 1st Of
June is generally believed to be too late,
In a bill which Carroll d. Wright pre-
pared at the request of the census COM
mittee of the senate some time ago, ne
made April / the census date, but when
ct came to actual legislation Congress
decided not to depart from the time-hon-
ored June practice. Even June Is. now
ever, an earlier month than was orig
inally used August was the census
inal census month during the first few
decades of the century, which Is strong
reminder that the summer vacation habit
did not then exist.
With the growtht OF cities and the MI
grafton each year of a part Of their popu-
latlon to the country the August date be-
came unsatisfactory and June was sub
stituted. This has now become objection
able for the same reason as in the case
of August, Enumerators are allowed FOUR
weeks in the country and two weeks In
the city within which to do their work.
The 18th of June now finds, especially In
such cities as Philadelphia, Baltimore and
houses with doors closed and windows
blinded. This means serious work for the
enumerators. The people must be traced
to their country homes, or some reprasen
tative of the family be found in the city
who can supply the necessary facts. But
perhaps, the actual failure of the enumer-
ator TO make their work complete in this
l. nn nhiEHFinn
the impression which prevails that the
enumeration is on that account so incom-
plete. Nearly all our cities are eager to
show a rapid growth of population; the
census almost necessarily disappoints
them. They ait once charge this to the
absentees of early June. This casts more
discredit upon the census establishment
than it usually deserves. 1t has been
found, on investigation. that an over
whelmtngly large percentage of the per-
sons who assert that they have not been
enumerated in any particular census, are
actually enumerated. The query of the
census authorities Is, How do you know
YOU were not counted? They then pro-
coed to give neative testimony; they did
not answer the questions themselves, and
they never have heard Of anybody who
answered for them. IA a matter Of fact
somebody in ach of these cases usually
has supplied the gaps and neglected to
proclaim his accomplishment
The proposal to set back the enumar-
alton month from June to April or May
Is not without its difficulties. Every month
in the year has its objections. In Europe
the favorite enumeration time is some
where about the Christmas holidays. on
the theory that families are more likely
70 be united and persons in their homes
then than at any other time. With Is,
December or January would never DO. In
the heavy enow belt It would be almost
Impossible to make the rounds, ana the
liability of big storm at that time even
In sections which were ordinarily pass
able would be a serious objection. As
the sprint comes on, the mud, which Is
hardly less of an obstacle in canvassinS
the country districts than the heavy snow
must be taken into account. The first
Of April is not nearly so pleasant for a
canvass of northern New Hampshire, for
example, as the first of June. The fan
months. before November, and including
It, areobjectionable on account or the
lection, and until the constitution Is
changed there will always be congress-
ional elections throughout the nfted States
in the autumn of the year, and alternate
ly on those years a presidential election.
1t would never do to have a canvass made
by federal officeholders so near the elec
tIons.
In most states the enumera ;ion Is look
ed upon as a political function. Only
a day or two ago the Philadelphia news
papers published a letter from one Of the
supervisors IN that state to the effect
that Senator Penrose mad directed that
the postmaster Of a certain town should
be the referee to decide between disput-
ed claims for enumeratorshsps within che
field of the supervisor in question.
Throughout that state, whose political
corruption almost passes human under
standing, the census Is being treated as
II its last and most triiing incident were
the counting of the population. Where
ever this view prevails, Il is easy to see
that an October or November enumer-
alton would be out of the question. Hence
the choice narrows down 10 June, May,
or April. Perhaps by another decade a
good reason for not selecting any OF thes,
months viii be found in some OF that
territory which IS How-8t has been pro-
claimed by the highest autfority-as
much ours as the Louisaniana purchase
OF Texas or Alaska
Il is also probable that a good deal OF
attention will sooner or later be given
TO the oneday enumeration plan. which
now generally prevails in Europe. There
a date Is selected, and midnight made the
decisive hour. and everybody counted
where he happens 10 be- This means
vastly increased force OF enumeratcrs.
each with very small district Conduc-
tors. or guards. on railroad trains are
drafted inSO this service; the law requires
them 20 enumerate all passengers on board
at the first station reached aiter mid
night Hotel clerks record their guests;
college professors eDumerafe their stu
dents: and in 10 fnessnce is more than
twsnty-touE hours allowed for this work.
In India. with is population q 3so.0o9
or. the census was taken sn four hours.
Many perso1$ regard Elle American sys-
TEN of a long-drawn-out enumeration ns
an Improvement upon the European. As
a matter % fact the ceasuses all over the
world were once taken on the same plan
as OUTS, but one af<sr another % ehe
European countries charged. EnkA nov
ehere are only Two exceptions. one OF
which Is Belgium. to ne 00e-day census
Francis A walks< Eave as his opinion
n iSe0 thai We should somez1me have 20
come TO the one-day plan
The chef ob5eesfcff 10 fls exfraordf-