The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-12-03
WISCONSIN IS
NOW REGISTERED
FEDERAL CENSUS TO TAKE CHARGE
OF MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY
STATISTICS HEREAFTER.
HONOR FOR BADGER STATE.
Secretary Harper of the Board of Health
Highly Elated Over Governments
Recognition.
NEW SYSTEM CHEAPER FOR STATE.

MADISON, Wis, Nov. I'll Special. !
DR.. Charles A. Harper, secretary of
the Wisconsin state board of health, has
just received notice from the federal
census bureau that Wisconsin has been
admitted as Il registration state. This
means that the mortality and morbidity
statistics collected under the law passed
at the last session Of ~ Legislature will
be published by the government bureal /.
:. y. ID. North, director of the United
States census, in writing to DIR. Harper,
says:
| desire to- congratulate you and your
board upon its effective service in enabling
the state of Wisconsin to he added to the
reeistratlo area of the United states. VIII en-
will now for the year 1905 exceed for th2
first time over onP-half of the total pUpula.
lion of the country,
DR.. Harper is highly elated over the
recognition accorded the Wisconsin de-
partment by the federal government.
The census bureau already has employed
clerks To make transcripts of ali ceruh-
Gates received for the year 1908 in Wis
COnsin. AS soon as the transcripts are
copied they will be sent 10 Washington
and will be incorporated in the next an
nual report for the registration area.
Uniformity of stating causes of death,
rs well as other Information relative To
each deccdent. will be tahulated in de
tail and the relative Importance of eacn
disease in each section of the country
can be determined.
Is a Step in Advance.
The recognition given Wisconsin has
distinct advantages. In the first place,
the annual report of mortality statistics
in registration states ISSUED by the hL-
reau of the census. which is under the
-.
of commerce and labor Will contain a
complete report of mortality statistics in
Wisconsin If the officials charged with
the enforcement of the registration law
obtain accurate and complete reports,
Wisconsin will continue as = registra-
ton state and when the 1910 census Is
taken Wisconsin will be counted among
those which have taken the advanced
step toward compiling such records.
At the last session of Congress, when
provisions are made for taking the next
federal census, ii was determined that
no mortality nor mOrhidity statistics
would be collected. Therefore, all states
which have not been accepted rs regis,
tration states will have no statistics OF
disease for comparison or reference.
System Is Economical.
The economy of the new system is an
important factor. Under previous sta
tistical laws of Wisconsin. each cert!h
cate cost the state or county 80 cents
The cost under the present system ha>
been reduced to 40 cents, thus resulting
in an annual saving to the state and
county in fees and clerical services pi
from $4,000 To $4,000. The number OF
deaths registered has increased from
about 1900 to $4,000 per year under
the old system to nearly $4,000 under
the new system. Stated somewhat dit
ferently, each year from 5000 TO lO,ooi
people. prior to October l, 1900, Were
buried or otherwise disposed of without
\ certificate of death being filed or 9th
er evidence preserved to safeguard the
rights of relatives or friends who other
wise might share in the property anc
other rights and claims of the deceaSe!
DR.. Cressy l.. Wilbur, chief statist
clan of the federal census bureau, made
A complete investigation of the methods
employed by the Wisconsin board OF
health, upon which he based favorable
report to his department.
1T is perhaps true that the regstra
ton may not be fully complete IN Ger
tain counties in the state said Mr.
North TO Dr. Harper, but you have
ample power-and it should be exercised
I to compel complete returns ii neces
sary, and | have confidence that unde
YOUR administration the important serv
ice of administration will not only b.
maintained at its present standard, on
will be improved until it IS practicali.
/ complete