Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
METHODS DISCUSSED
Association of Statisticians
Again in Session.
COLLECTION OF DATA
CONSIDERATION OF PLANS FOR
OBTAINING RESULTS.
Officers Chosen and Committees Named
for Ensuing Year-Visit to
Places of Interest.

The Association of Officials of Bureau of
Labor Statistics of America met today in
the board room of the interstate commerce
commission. The day was taken up by a
discussion concerning the best methods OF
collecting statistics, an election of officers,
appointment of committees visits to the
White House and the census office, follow
ed by general sightseeing.
The convention assembled at 10 O'Clock,
Commissioner Carroll d. Wright, the presi-
dent, presiding.
Mr.. H. E. Tiepka of Rhode Island spoke
of the collection of statistics in his state
and concerning the current work there. OF
the many bills before the last legislature of
Rhode Island concerning labor, he said
only one had been passed, and that was for
the regulation of BARRIERS. Under that law
it is believed that the sanitary condition of
barber shops will be improved and the art
of the wOrkmen advanced.
Mr.. Tiepka in referring to the methods
of collecting statistics in his state, said lie
had adopted the course of consulting manu-
facturers as to the formation of the sche.
dule that is to be used. In that way the
questions asked are not Objectionable to the
manufacturers and are answered.
w. NJ. Stewart, chief of the division of
manufactures of the census office, explain
ed methods in that office for the collection
of statistics. He said if manufacturers
feel confident that the information given
by them will not be made public they do
not object to giving facts concerning their
business They do not like to give the
wages paid, and that is arrived at by Sc
curing the total amount paid out by them
for help and the number of people EN-
ployed.
Bureau Methods.
Mr.. Wright referred to some of the diff
cultes and the methods employed by the
department of labor in getting statistics.
They get the best results by sending out
special agents to take the informa ton re-
CURED from the books of the manufac-
turers others who it is desired to ap-
proach. The sending out of circulars call
ing for answers to questions has not been
found to bring good results. A bookkeeper
not familiar with the schedules called for
regards 1t as very irksome task to an
SWer them, while the agent of the depart
ment knowing just what he wants, does
the work in an hour or two. They found
that an expert in particular industry does
not secure as desirable results as does an
intelligent agent who is not an expert.
This is because the expert is apt to reflect
his own opinions rather than those from
whom he is supposed to get information,
and in that way antagonizes the people
with whom he deals. Then, too, the manu-
facturer is apt to fear that the expert will
carry away with him secrets of the trade,
which fear does not apply to the ordinary
agent.
Mr. B. F. johnson of Indiana told of the
dangers of duplication in the collection of
statistics concerning county, township and
other public expenditures. because of the
method Of keeping accounts The officials
of that state doing everything possible
to avoid these Implications.
Mr.. l.. G. Powers of the census Office dis
cussed the efforts made by the census Off
GERS to avoid duplication in public ex-
n Sfnf 10 coli hot tha
results of collections of statistics were in
excess of the facts in spite of all that had
been done to make them accurate. They
had succeeded in improving their methods,
though they had not been perfected. He
did not think 1t possible to secure abso-
lutely accurate results in that respect.
An interesting discussion took place con-
corning methods used to get rates of wages
of workmen from labor organizations. Mr..
Wright said that in his department they
collect statistics from wage earners by
means of agents visiting the homes of the
men. 1t had been found that the men are
inclined to give a report of wages as low
as possible. while their wives are inclined
to make the amount as large as possible
This resulted from the fact that the men
wish to make small a showing as pos
sible. while the wife likes to make it appear
that her husband is doing we'll as pos
sible. 1t was also found that men who get
very low wages are more inclined to give
the facts than the man getting more money.
That was found to be the case in the min
ing districts recently.
Resolutions Adopted.
Two resolutions were reported to the
ISOLATION and adopted. One of these reso-
buttons requested the committee on coop
GRAFTON to correspond with state officers
not members of the association but charged
with the duty Of taking census, in order
that as far as possible uniformity may be
secured in the collection of data. Another
resolution provided for the appointment of
a committee of three by the president of the
association to wait upon the convention of
factory inspectors, which meets at Mon
treal next August, to arrange for a meet
ing of the two associations in order that
there may be an exchange Of views as to the
work of each to encourage uniformity in
the methods of work.
The following officers of the association
were elected for the ensuing year: Presi-
dent, Carroll D. Wright; first vice presi-
dent, Thomas A. Smith, Maryland; second
vice president, Bert Bush; secretary-treas-
urer, j. NJ. Clark; executive committee. L.
III. Carroll. New Hampshire; Carroll D.
Wright; j. M. Clark, PENNSYLVANIA: VIM
Anderson, Missouri, and J. O'Donneu
Minnesota; official stenographer, Charles
W. Morris.
Concord, N. H, was chosen as the next
place of meeting, one year hence
Committees Appointed.
The following committees were appointed
today to unity methods of collecting state
and f0dn c%, %;<xlo.