The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-09
GIVES HIS OPINION
ON MATTER
PROFESSOR TELLS WHAT is Ex-
PEcTEo TO BE SECURED BY
CENSUS TAKING.

corning the United States census
schedule to secure the data relative to
( manufactures is indicated in an inter
view obtained with Professor Carroll
Z W. Doten. one OF the group Of college
I professors of economics and manu-
| featuring experts who have been ad-
/ wishing Director Durand Of the bureau
Of the census concerning the form and
| scope of the Inquiries to be asked by
| the special agents making the can
vass. beginning January |. next. for
the manufactures census period, which
| liz the present calendar year 1909. Pro-
fcssor Doten liz secretary Of the Amer
lean Statistical association and also is
| assistant professor Of economics i'm the
Massachusetts Institute OF Technology.
He is also Il specialist In railroad eco
| Monies and accounting. labor prob
lens. factory systematiZing and social
| investigation.
From 1910, when the first attempt
was made to secure data concerning
industry" said Professor Doten. zone
OF the most difficult problems in
volved in census taking has been the
censrs of manufactures. At each re-
curing decennial period. except in
securing statistics of industry. more
and more elaborate schedules were
prepared, as the growing Importance
and diversity Of the industries OF the
country seemed to require. until 1890.
when the system almost broke down OF
its own weight.
since that time a reaction has set
In and there has been a movement in
the direction of greater simplicity
This has taken two forms. as exempli-
fled In the censuses of 1900 and 1905
In 1900 the schedule WAS simpliried
materially by the elimination OF GER
tain inquiries and the consolidation of
others, notably the inquiries in regard
to capital and employees. In 1905 few
changes were made in the schedule but
the scope of the census was limited
To those establishments conducted UNI
der what is known as the factory sys-
TEN. exclusive OF the so-called neigh
borhood and mechanical industries.
Both of these methods OF simplifi-
cation have been made necessary by
the changing character and by the
growing size and completely of our
manufacturing Industries. The tardi-
ness with which the fact that the fac
tory system long ago supplanted the
household or neighborhaod industries
of an earlier stage Of our national de-
v"lopment has been taken note OF In
census work Was, In part. the re-
suit of a desire to make each census
comparable. so far as possible. with
preceding censuses. There was also
the desire that the census Of manu-
fH Sh
duction not included In the extractive
industries or in trade and transporta-
ton. The attempt to enumerate the
hand trades. however was never sue
cessful, and as they became OF less
relative Importance the reasons for
abandoning the attempt made
stronger appeal to congress and the
census officials.
The act providing for the taking of
the 18th decennial census limits its
scope practically to the same field as
that covered by the quinauennial GEN.
sus OF 1905. The inquiries within this
field include the name. location and
ownership of each establishment: the
character of the industry: the number
of officers and employees. with the to-
tai amount of their salaries and wages:
quantity and cost of materials: mis-
ceilaneous expenses; quantity and
Nalre of products; time in operation
during census year. and character and
amount of power used. The only thing
required now is to perfect til. method
Of securing the data within these mar
rover limits.
IT Is to this task that the commit
tee of experts on manufactures. called
together al the census bureau by Dl-
rector Durand, have devoted their
particular attention. Recognizing the
desirahility of preserving comparable
ity. they have been lnath 10 suggest
radical changes i'll either the form or
contents of the inquiries included in
the general schedule of manufactures
They have. moreover. been influenced
by the obvious necessity of limiting
the expense and effort required to oh
tain the data in the field. As users OF
the census figures in research and
classroom work. they have also real
lied the Importance of the early pub
hcation af the results of the census.
and they have been especially anxious
10 facilitate in every Nay possible
without sacrificing thoroughness or
accuracy, the speedy completion OF the
field work and the compilation of the
information collected
1t Is. perhaps. too early To announce
specific changes. rs the tentative
schedule will probably be tested in the
field before its final adoption. but il
may he safe u speak of the general
trend of the committees suggestions
They call for definite figures from the
books and pasrolls nf manufacturers.
where this does not involve too much
trouble. and when the inquiry cannot
ne Regarded as unduly inGuisitorial
In order that this should not involve
added labor in the filling out of sched-
ules. II has been found necessary t.
reduce the number of Inquiries ar sub
inquiries, The theory upon which this
has been don" is that three or four
accurately determined figures are bet
ter as basis of deduction than
dozen estimates which. in many cases
must necessarily Ice merely guesses
In some eases il has seemed de-
sirable II reciassiry the items already
included in an inquiry This ,pIs mar