Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-03
Permanent Census.
Interview With a StatiStiCian Who
Offers Reasons
WHY IT SHOULD Be so.
The Splendid Record Of Governor Merriam and
Ms Chiefs The Sadng 10 tho Government
and The Importance Of The Department in Our
increasing Population al Home and In Our
Island Possessions.

was glad to see The Globe favor
the proposal to make the Census De-
partment permanent branch of the
Government said a well-known statis-
tician and eXprofessor, to The Globe
scribe at the Agricultural Building
yesterday.
Can you enlighten the public on
any special reason why il should be
done?'
Well the reasons are so apparent
that l am sure Congress will see them
when it assemblies. In the first place
our population is becoming so enor-
nous, with our natural increase and
new possessions, that it is a stipend
GUS project to take the decennial cen.
sus. Especially the thorough manner
in which the present work has been
done"
"Particuarize please?'
You see ours is not like the Euro.
pean ayeraeg affair. We not only num-
Der the people but our census returns
gives practically the autobiography Of
every inhabitant. IL tells you whether
the person is black, white, Malay. In.
dlan, etc The sex, married or single.
the number In the family, the occupa.
tion of the adults, the school age Of
the minors, and the number Of DAYS
in school. Whether the person is a
foreigner or native, owns a home. farm.
etc, mortgaged, free or rented Then
its manufacturing and agricultural
statistics are a practical and accurate
| history Of the entire country as to
wealth, resources, distribution, etc. It
would be impossible to go into details
with you I'm the few minutes / can
spare, but just think for a moment Of
closing down this now well organized
department, and starting again I'm a
few years with inexperienced hands
and going over ground now thoroughly
familiar to the present management.
but which will be all Greek to Nrer
RAMS successor as it was to him when
he started in."
The governor has done WELL hasn't
he?"
Excellent, marvellous, and when it
is taken into consideration that he
knew nothing about the business when
he took hold, the results are simply
astounding. He deserves the greatest
credit and some signal reward. His
work is ahead Of his predecessor, both
in time Csome years. and in the
broader scope which the twelfth cen
sus has taken. Director Merriam was
fortunate in securing a magnificent
corps Of experts i'm their particular
lines Of statistics, and his executive
ability has done the rest. The census
originates the statistics on every mat
ter and subject under the sun, in fact
it is the basis for all the statistical
reports given out by every department
Of the Government Now to abolish
it would be the most short-sighted pol
icy the Government could be guilty Of
but to enlarge its scope and make It
the Department of Statistics and
Permanent Census of the United
States, with a seat in the Cabinet for
its head, would be the proper and ad-
vantageOus thing for the country at
large and l hope Congress will enact
the necessary legislation when Il as
sembles to do so, and retain i'm the
service OF the Government, not only
Governor Merriam, but the trained and
expert statisticians and clerical force
winch has rendered such magnificent
service in the compilation and almost
completion Of the twelfth census"
The Globe would add that to the
non-partisan character Of this depart
ment is principally due its success.
Merit alone counts, and not politics or
pull" with the head or his chiefs,
and If Congress makes it a perman-
ent department, we hope its non-parti-
san character will be continued and
provided for