The Washington times., 1907-06-23
Census bureau
IUS-W-GL3a
OFFICIAL REGISTER
WILL Be SMALLER
UnWieldy Volumes to Be
SyStematized and Made
Compact.

Preliminary arrangements have been
completed by the Census Bureau for col
Letting the data for the biennial official
register of Uncle Sans" numerous Of
heial family, or what is otherwise
known as the Blue Book
BY a recent act Of Congress the duty
OF compiling and publishing the Official
Register is charged to the Bureau of the
Census. the work heretofore having
been done under the Interior Depart
ment
The data for the forthcoming issue OF
the register will be taken as Of July l,
and 1t is calculated to have the two
volumes, embracing the Executive, Ad-
ntnistrative. and Judicial. and the POST
ONCE Departments, completed by the
time specified by law, December 1.
With the change Of jurisdiction also
comes very radical change in the form
and character OF the publication. made
necessary by the constantly increasing
size OF the publication which has not
only been expensive, but the volumes
themselves bulky and unwieldy.
The Official Register has been in ex-
lstence since 1916. In that year the first
edition was issued. The pages number
ed us and contained 6.767 names. For
several decades from 1916 the register
was issued at frequent irregular inter
walls The increase, however, during
each ten-year period was approximate
ay 90 per cent in both pages and number
of names recorded.
The cost Of the last issue was approx
emately $1,000 The two volumes re-
Guired to present the material contained
In the last Official Register weighed to-
Bether nearly thirty pounds The space
sufficient for a large volume Is required
merely TO include the index. and both
in weight. in number OF pages. cost. and
general unwieldy character. the officials
declare that the Official Register in the
old form has reached its limit of use
fulness
II the same method Of procedure were
followed, the next issue Of the Official
Register would cost approximately S7s-
600, as it will contain not less than $50 O00
names A city directory containing that
number of names would represent a
city OF 2,5OO.oOO inhabitants.
Under the new plant it, is proposed in
order to reduce the size Of the volumes
20 present the information required by
law in alphabetical form, rather than
as heretofore. in detail under the various
departments accompanied by an index.
The plan, however. involves the pres
entation in full Of the names Of members
of both houses Of Congress, and also
OF all officials in each executive depart
ment and Office, above a certain grade,
or what may be termed the administra-
tive force. under their respective de-
partment, as heretofore. These two sec
tons will require limited space, in fact
a few pages only.
They will be followed by a directory.
each name being in it's alphabetical
position. and containing after #. in alb
breviatcd form, but sufficiently clear to
be understood without the aid Of the
key, the information required by law
concer ming each individual
third section will present a list OF
the pOstofices of the United States with
the names OF the Npostmasters. The
alphabetical list, however. above new
toned. of the entire civil service of the
country. will contain also the names
Of the postmasters in their proper alpha
batical position. so that it viii be easy
20 refer alphabetically either to a post
master or a postofice.
The names OF members of Congress.
Rnd also OF supervisory of1cerS OF the
departments. above mentioned. will also
be included in the alphabetical arrange
ment- There viii follow a fourth SET
ton containing the statistical analysis
Of the civil service. which. after the
publication OF the official register IN
1903. was incorporated In special bull
Ietin.
BY the changes indicated the Official
Register. from approximately 400
pages. and a weight of more than thirty
rounds. will be reduced to a volume of
ordinery size, or, perhaps, two very
small volumes. containing a total OF
not more than eighteen or nineteen hun
dred pages. The entire cost of the pub
lication Will not exceed $4,000 for the
usual number of copies. a saving OF APP
proximately $4,000 upon the basis OF
the cost Of the last issue.
The Census Bureau proposes to treat
This publication as though II were a
census inquiry. and on the first day Of
July next will detail clerks to every de-
partment and independent Office IN
Washington for the purpose of assist
Ing in the preparation Of small individ-
ual schedules, which shall contain the
data required by law. concerning each
employe. il is planned to have all the
schedules filled out. and in the Census
Bureau by the lst of August