The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-16
STRICT SECRECY WILL BE
OBSERVED I'M TAKING CENSUS

WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-Thc United
states census bureau is making extraor-
dlhary preparations 10 ascertain the ap.
proNimstely exact number and value of
livestock on the ranges IN the United
states on April Is ncNt, the date OF the
livestock inventory, required by the
act OF congress providing for the thir-
leentn decennIal census.
Fearful that for one reason or another
me livestock raiserS may he deferred from
ireely stating the number and value OF
their holdings tho census bureau is ex
ertins unusual efforts 10 agsure The
rsnchnen and farmers. especially OF the
western range states. that their Interegis
"netnsr personal or corporate. cannot
frank and full disclosure of their livestock
possessions The information gathered
by the census office Is held strictly CON
noen'laI not only In respect TO the fact
that under no circumstances Is IT. ever
impaired To any one not connected with
the census office, but in respect 10 It's
eyer being given ~ any other branch Of
the government
Strictly CONFIDENTIAL.
I'm behalf ot the census bureau" to-
day said Assistant Director William 2
Willoughby, II can give as positive as
surance Of tho CONFIDENTIAL treatment OF
Information called for by the livestock
questions in tho general agricultural
schedule "a ] could II a confidence were
to be imposed upon me personally and
privately. The Census bureau is concerned
only In tho collection and publication of
Stalislcal facts The spirit OF everN act
OF congress providing for the various de-
cennial ccnsuses has been, and IS that
the Information as 10 individuals, firms
ana corporations * 10 be given inviola-
Die secrecy. II Is as much privileged in
formation as that impaired by a client TO
q lawyer. by = patient to physician by
a dying man Ia a minister. II can NOT
even be Impaired &" another branch OF
HEavFn
much the inforna ton may he desired No
court ever has or ever will ignore this
Immunity from personal or business in
Volvemcnt bestowed in return for infor-
nation required by United Stat0s census
inquiries. To 40 otherwise would impair
II not wholly DESTROY. the scientific eni-
cheney OF the census work, SO far as
tho livestock census Is concerned the
bureau. following fair. impartial. and un-
biased methods. quickly separates the
person. firm. or corporation from th"
facts furnished, and private or corporate
Identity In connection with any census
data remains forever sealed and sacred
in tic great safes OF the census office"
Annual Report of Director.
IN his annual report for 1909 To Secre-
tnry Nagel Of th. department Of COM
mescc and labor. Census Director Durand
stated:
The thirteenth census act is more
SPECIFIC than that FOR the twelfth census
with respect 10 penalties upon supcrVis-
ota, enumS ra tors or other employees who
disclose Information which they secure,
or who make false returns. While there
Is no evidence that employees OF the cen
5us bureau in tho past have been guilty
OF improper disclosure Of Information
except. possibly. in "a very few cases
these more specific provisions FOR penal
ties arc highly advantageous, Although
the census law requires persons intcrro-
gated 10 furnish thc information called
for on the duly authorized schedules re
liarce for prompt aud accurate returns
must rest largely upon the good win of
those making the returns. Manufacturers.
farmers and others will not freely dis
close the needed information unless they