Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-10-16
MORE NEW RULES
AND INSTRUCTIONS
Given For the Purpose Of Securing
More Complete and Accurate
Census Reports.

| washington, ~. O., October Ia
Y. 5. Census Director, T.. Dana Dur.
and, yesterday promulgated new rules
and instructions for the purpose of
securing more complete and accurate
transcripts of deaths occurring I'M the
selected death registration states and
cities of the United States. These
transcripts are obtained every month
| by the Census Burean from nearly all
of the city and state registrars In the
Census death registration area and
| they form the basis OF the mortality
statistics prepared by the Division Of
Vital Statistics, under Chief Statisti,
clan. DIR. Greasy l.. Wilbur
This action is expected TO result in
the presentation CT the most sclen-
tlfic and trustworthy mortality Stats
| tics ever compiled In connection with a
| decennial U. s. Census. which affords
the population bases for the 1910 death
rates. In addition to this important
step toward more reliable data. the
new revised version OF the classified.
tion of the causes OF Deaeh. as adopted
at the Paris conference fer the second
decennial revision of tine International
Classification, viii 20 into effect Jan
nary LIST next In the census reg.stra
tion area. Supplementary these will
be the use OF the new United States
standard death certificates which 1t
Is believed the organized registration
officials forming the vital statistic sec
ton OF the American Pubic Health AS
ISOLATION will adopt for the report OF
deaths commencing January 1st next,
at the Richmond, Va, meeting, Octo.
Der 10Th to 22nd next,
In his communication TO the state
registrars. Director Du,and states that
in their work OF cooperation IT is OF
the greatest Importance that there
should be exact agreement between
the number of deaths as compiled by
the state officers and by the Census
Bureau, at least with respect TO the
total number OF deaths reported for
each month in each state, county, and
city. Differences occur at present
which are not creditable to American
Istatistics. For the purpose OF pre-
venting such differences, monthly
statement cheek list, showing the
deaths by months and areas. has been
prepared and will be supplied to each
state registrar
He asks transcribers 10 follow abso
lutely the instructions for copying and
advises tests to ascertain correctness
Permanent transcribers are preferred
because of the skill acquired. Local
registrars should be compelled to
make returns on time. No effective
registration can exist when the central
office permits hardness The credit
of the state service must suffer, the
Director states, from heed ess and in
competent work, and the compensation
Ipaid for rhe returns Is sufficient to en-
title the Government to thoroughly
reliable transcripts, promptly trans
miited. and containing al: of the sta
tistical data required to be registered
under the state law.
To the city registrars the Director
suggests they notd the instructions to.
state registrars. He staets that city.
re gistrar should have In his hands the
certificate Of every death that occurs.
with abso' utely NO exception, before
any disposition Is made OF the body;
hence dhere should be NO occasion for
certificates filed many days after the
close OF each month or year. The cor
lrections should be obtained before the
burial or removal permit is issued. No
imperfect certificates or Unsat sfactory
statements Of cause OF ueath should
be accepted. ,F- f*tfa
In conclusion the Director state s
that with the cordial cooperation Of
state and city registration officials, thei
value Of the mortality statistics of the
United States will be greatly improv
ed 1t Is especially requested that
every effect be made to carry out faith |
fully the recommendation for the re |
naming months OF the present year,
so that the entire returns for the year
1910, which are especially important
because Of fhe comparisons possible
with the population data OF the Thir |
teenth Census may be in complete
agreement for all of the states and
cities OF the United States. Special
circulars Of Instructions will be issued
re ative 10 the reporting af occupations
and causes OF death 1t II hoped that
the new standard certificate, and
approved instructions, may be adj
ed by all OF the registration state
cities, so that thoroughly CON
returns may be instituted fo1
cade beginning January |, !
DR. Wilbur, who was on
American delegates at