The times., 1899-04-15
BUSINESS RULES IN
THE CENSUS BUREAU
Assistant Director Wines Does
Some Plain Talking.
The Imperative Needs of Suitable
Building.
Many Details Given to How
the Work Is to he
Carried On.

DR.. Fred H. Wines, Assistant Director OF
the Census, delivered lecture last night
in Congregational Church under the direc-
| tion of the National Geographic Society.
Dr. Wines subject was, How the Census
is Taken,' and large audience was told
| what a simple matter the entire work on
the census is when the labor of each de-
partment is fully UNDERSTOOD. 1t is the
immensity of the work, he said. which
makes it diufficult. II each department
performs its part of the work properly,
and each individual clerk is competent,
/ this census will be completed sooner and
more perfectly than any previous one. He
added:
Each clerk will be competent. Be
cause Congressman recommends a man
or woman for position is no guarantee
that they are capable. We intend to try
each clerk. II they are not the persons we
want we will discharge them. The clerks
who show themselves deserving of promo
tion we will promote. The force will
consist of three thousand clerks, both
male and female To get the greatest
possible returns from them each one ap-
Already there have been hundreds of ap-
plications made. Girls fresh from the
high schools, sixteen and seventeen years
old, have asked to be appointed. DIR.
Wines elected laughter by remarking that
there was a law in Washington to prevent
cruelty to children. The work will be diff
ficult, and only a strong man or woman is
desired Recently man eighty years old
applied for position on the grounds that
Such a man could not do the work required
of him.
I'VE are going TO have he added tine
support of both branches of Congress and
the Administration in obtaining the neces-
sary force. The work will be conducted
on business principles. with complete and
efficient service. but there must BE-
suitable building provided. AS yet such
building has not been found. and it may
be necessary to construct one"
Dr. Wines then showed views of plans
which have been made of such a build
ing as will be required They provide for
a long, low structure to be lighted partly
by skylights, and thoroughly moiern.
Hitherto the force at work on the Census
has been scattered through various Offices
in the city, entailing a large expenditure
and poor supervision. The proposed build
ing will remedy this fault. A force OF
a thousand clerks will occupy one large
room. 150x200 feet. They will work at
benches arranged in groups seating twen-
ty-fve, and will be under complete super
vision. This room will be constructed
with galleries for visitors. On the same
floor will be the rooms for classifying the
names, for counting them, and one con-
tanning the cases where they will be kept.
Dr. Wines described at length the four
processes of the work. aided by number
of views. The Hollerith tabulating ma
chine is to be used. Each of the rs, ,000,0 600
names will be indicated on a card, which
will make the final counting comparatively
easy. 1t is expected the total population
will be known by the January l. 1901.
The election of 1900 will be made on the
same basis as in 1896, as the report of the
Census Bureau will not be ready for Con-
gress to make new apportionment until
after 1t has been held. The new Census.
he says. will affect the Congressional cleo
tions held in 1902. The talk was quite
interesting and highly appreciated by all
present.