Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-20
Reason for Cutting Down the Census
Bureau Forcs.
ALL RECORDS FORrHE OFFlCEBROKEN
Publication of Data Much Earlier
Than in 1890.
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE

The work of the census bureau has been
so far advanced that, as already announced
by The Star, reduction of the force has
begun and by January l the force of the
bureau will have been reduced from 34o)
to 2,i00. Reductions have already been
made to the extent of about 100 employees.
November 80 there will be a further reduc-
ton of 3Js. and from time to time in De-
cember 439 will be added to that number.
These reductions are in the cases of en-
ployes appointed for specific time, which
will expire when they go out of ofice. TIL: s.
reductions are rendered absolutely neces-
sary, for the reason that the work requir-
ing the appointments has been accom-
pl!shed. Notwithstanding the fact that
there Is no way to prevent these reductions
Mr. Merriam, director of the census, has
been besieged with requests to retain those
whom 1t will be absolutely necessary to
dispense with. not alone because the work
for which they were employed has been
done. but because the appropriation from
winch they are being paid is being eX-
hauSted
Work in an Advanced State.
A great deal of surprise has been ex-
pressed by many people that SO much of
the work of the census is being closed at so
early day. comparison between the
1899 shows that great deal of time has
been saved in getting out data relating to
the latest census. One of the reasons for
critcising the work of the eleventh census
was the fact that much of the data lit fur
nished was not published unit. it related
TO past conditions. Congress made spe-
clai effort to have the information gathered
by the twelfth census published while it was
timely, and the whole work of the bureau
Is being conducted with that idea in view
only off ht,i,,
the largest degree of accuracy possible. but
there has been a race to break all records
in the time this information has been pub
lished. The population of Alabama and
California, fer instance, has been an
nounced over a year and that of Arkansas
nearly year sooner than was the case in
the former census. The average tine saved
IN announcing the population of Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut,
Delaware and New Hampshire was nearly
nine months.
The bulletin of population of cities enum-
Grated in 1880 was not published until April
II. 1891 while the present census published
such bulletins relating to cities of over .
900 population October % of the present
year, saving of five months and twenty
two days in time.
In order to accomplish these results not
only was experience used to good effect in
facilitating all work, but orcanza ton was
studied 50 as to save time wherever it
could he done without affecting the value
of the work. Much work was planned
earlier than was the case ten years ago.
The supervisors districts were laid out
and instructions Drenared az early as Anril
II 1899 while similar work was not ar
ranged for until November 20 in 1850
Larger fofce OF COMMENTATORS.
Enumerators were appointed earlier for
work in the present census In 1880 there
,,., 90 nnn or,,,r,or.+or, With re, ,orso,,,
- -. =. ,nnn .l',.,.-'-'
III e'e" ui''44e' wine Al '''oo ti'e 'i'"'iie' d
tors numbered 81 900 with 429 persons in