Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-10-19
CHANGES IN
CENSUS SCHEDULE
Director Durand's Action on
That Of ManuFacs
tuPers.


United States Census Director Du-
rand announces Two very material
changes in the SCHEDULES for manu-
features TO be carried BY the special
agents employed in collecting tho
dana for the thirhe6nah census.
"At the census OF 1900 and 1905"
stated the director. the manufac-
lures schedule called for the average
number OF men, the average number
OF women, and the average number
Of children under ne, employed dur
ing each month each establish
ment. Gould ahls question have been
answered accurately. Il would un.
doubtedly have furnished informa-
ton Of much value and OF greater
value than that which we are now
proposing to secure. TO answer this
interrogatOry with strict accuracy
would, however. require the special
agent or the manufacturer. filling out
che schedule. to go In detail through
every pay roll OF the year, usually
either 90 or 20 IN number. counting
the number Of men. women, and chill.
dren separately on oach--the ssRre.
cation OF those under l8 involving
peculiar dificulty, particularly in the
case Of the earlier pay roofs OF the
year--and averaging the count for
each month. To do this would. IN
my Judgment. have required several
times a. long as TO an out ala the
remainder OF tho manufactures sched-
ule except only the question on class
lhed wages.
As a matter OF fact. practically
mono of the returns al the preceding
censiises We're. am onwlnced, based
on actual analyses OF the pay rolls.
They were In nearly an cases mere
estimates made more or less on hand
by the manufacturer or his book
keepers, and there Is every reason
70 believe thai these estimates were
often wide OF the mark.
The schedule as Il has been re-
vised for the present census calls for
the number of men. women and chill
dren employed during one speelac
week only. and for the total number
employed, without distinction OF ags
or sex, on the hrst pay roll Of each
month. The relative extent 70 which
women and children are employed
VIII be ascertained approximately
from the ngunts for the selected
week; and. although that week wifi
not, perhaps. In some industries be
typical Of tho year as a whole, the
accuracy Of the figures will more
than compensate for the Apparent
sacrifice in the amount OF informa-
tiOn obtained.
We have also deemed q wise 10
cut out the question with regard TO
classified wages 70 watch I have iust
rferred. and which appeared IN the
census schedules Of 1900 and 1895.
These schedules called for the mum.
Der Of employees during q selected
week. CLASSIFIED according 20 their
earnings. and also separating men,
women and children under te. THIS
intsrroRatory. n correctly Answered.
would furnish information OF great
value. We have become convinced.
however. that for many establish.
ments correct answers can NOT be OBJ
tanned by any amount Of eRort. and
that for other establish ments the
amount OF effort necessary 10 obtain
answers would involve expense and
delay prccluded by the limitations Of
our appropriations and requirements
as TO the date Of publishing the re-
suits. Strictly speaking. this inquiry
falls within the field OF the bureau OF
labor rather than that OF the census
bureau. Il may be. however. that a.
another census. 10 order to take ad-
vantage Of the fact that census agents
are 70 visit every manufacturing e.
tablishment. we shall ask the au-