Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-06
Some Things You Want to Know
The Thirteenth Census-HistOry of Census Taking.

Briefly told. the history Of census taking
in the United States is that twelve times
we have made inquiry into our state az a
nation. g. a total outlay Of more than
$500 900. The thirteenth census will bring
the total expenditure TO upwards OF S7e,-
100000. Starting out in 1890 with but
four questions about a single subject Of
inquiry--population-tho work expanded in
100 years to such a remarkable extent that
In 1880 there were thirty-one separate sub
jects Of inquiry, carrying 1851 questions.
The most remarkable expansion Of the
work Of census taking took place at the
tenth census in 1850. At the preceding CEN
sus there had been but twelve subjects Of
inquiry, embracing only 156 details or ques-
lions. In 1889 the number OF subjects Of in
quiry was increased from twelve to twenty
six, and the number Of questions from 1856
to 1000. The lesson Of the top-heaviness
Of the tenth and eleventh censuses did not
fail to impress itself on congress, and
that body limited the scope Of the investl-
cations Of the twelfth census to four sub
ject~s-population, agriculture, manufac-
lures, and vital statistics, leaving all other
inquiries to special investigation.
The thirteenth census will follow the lines
Of the twelfth in the limitation Of the
scope Of inquiry. except that vital statistics
will be omitted and mines and quarries
substituted. About half of the United
States is now included in what is known
as registration area" where births and
deaths and the cause Of death are regis
tered by local authorities. The permanent
census now prepares an annual report on
mortality statistics, so that the occasion
for vital statistics inquiries by the thir-
teenth census has been removed.
1t is indeed a far cry from the seventeen
marshals and 200 assistants, with their
quill pens and saddlebags, who took and
prepared the returns of the first census in
1890, to the director and his force Of 70,00l
assistants, with their electrical tabulating
machinery, who will take the forthcoming
census of 1910. Likewise, it is a long jour
ney from the S44,O 600 that was spent in TAX
ing the first census to the $l4,0 900, 900 that
will be spent in the taking of the thlr-
teenth.
The first census was taken wholly as a
means of determining the number of peo-
pie in each state, so that representation
In congress might be fixed according to
the constitution. 1t was intended also to
determine the apportionment OF direct
taxes, the imposition of which the CON
stitution makes dependent upon population.
The act providing for the first census does
not mention the fact that it was to be q
census. 1t may be said that there is not
the slightest evidence that the fathers OF
the nation ever thought it would amount
to more than a counting of noses. TIL
other matters Of inquiry have all come
as incidentals OF the main constitutional
inquiry as to populations sort Of by
product of these ten-year counts Of popu.
iation.
The trainers of the constitution put q
wise check upon the early census authori.
ties. They understood full we'll that there
would be a constant tendency to exaggerat,
population, by every state, in the hope OF
increasing its representation in congress
To overcome this was one of the purposes
of making the direct taxes distributablt
in the same way as representation in con.
gress. The state which was tempted tc
eXaggerate its population in order to get
increased representation in congress would
find itself in danger OF having a larger
direct tax than was its share. BY playing
the desire for a smaller showing of popu-
lation against the desire for the higher
showing, they were able to secure a true
report. In late censuses the direct tax
provision has lost its terrors, but such
a careful watch is kept upon the work
of the enumerators that although there
are many interests which would exaggerate
population, the chances for doing so are
growing fewer with each recurring de-
cennial.
There was disappointment over the show
ing Of the first census. Many thought
it made the population too small, on the
ground that it has supposed to be for
purpose of taxation. Thomas jefferson
unhesitatingly expressed his belief that It
was erroneous, and as secretary of state
notified the representatives of the United
States abroad that the returns were far
short of the truth, and he was careful
to supply many COMMISSIONS in red ink.
Subsequent events indicate that the first
census was, as a matter Of fact, a very
accurate one, and that the trouble was
in the previously made over-estimates of
colonial population.
The second census differed from the first
in that it had an official head-the secre-
tary of state. When the legislation author
izing the census was pending, congress
was memorialized to extend its inquiries
to many subjects, but the petitions were
buried in a senate pigeon hole. The third
census was the first to include any sort
Of inquiry outside of population data. AS
an afterthought 5000 was appropriated
for collecting the names OF the manufac-
turers Of the United States. Population