The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-16
CENSUS PADDING IS
CAUSE OF SCANDAL
Pacific Coast Cities Charged
With Big Frauds
TACOMA COUNTED OVER
First Census of Tacoma Showed About
Tbirty-ave Thousand More Peo-
PIE Than the City Really
Contained
TACOMA COUNTED OVER

Washington, October 14-Staggered by
the enormous growth shown by the re-
turns OF the new census for number
of western cities, Director Durand of the
census bureau ordered an investigation,
the result OF which appeared IN the an
nouncement tonight that gross frauds had
been prepetrated. Mr. Durand gave out
also a letter from President Taft. d.
recting that persons implicated in the
alleged frauds should be prosecuted.
Cities specifically mentioned as being
affected by the frauds are: Tacoma, Seat
tie and Aberdeen, Wash; Portland, Ore
Minneapolis, Mimi; Boise Idaho. and
Fort Smith, Ark, but 1t Is stated that
there are many others.
The result of a second enumeration of
Tacoma, Wash, was announced tonight
The city shows a population of S2,972, an
increase OF 1925 or 120 per cent, over
the population of 1900.
The first figures turned In for Tacoma
were 1928. In other words, the actual
population was padded to the extent of
1926 which would have meant further
addition OF 40 per cent.
These additions were made In 81 out
of the 70 enumeration districts in Ia
coma In some of these districts the
number reported proved to be several
times greater than the actual population.
In ten districts the first enumeration
showed 29,753 names, whereas the correct
number was found to be 11,646
The statement issued by Director Du-
$50 consists In the main of a letter from
himself addressed to Secretary Nagel of
the department of commerce and labor.
dated October s, in which the whole case
is presented and of a brief letter from
President Taft to Mr.. Nagel of dates of
October II.
The letter of President Taft follows:
Beverly, Mass, October 10.
I have read Director Durand's let
ter and agree with him that 1t ought
to be published. The cases of all those
who appear to have violated the laws
should be investigated by the grand
Jury and If sufficient evidence is found
to Justify 1t they should be indicted and
prosecuted at once. Nothing Will so
conduce to securing a proper census as
the prosecution of those who attempt
a fraud upon the law. l am led to
believe that the present census has
been much freer from attempted frauds
than any previous census, but the in
stances cited by Mr.. Durand are SUI
ficient to require the utmost vigilance
to bring those who have violated the
law to justice and proper punishment.
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
Hon. Charles Nagel, Secretary of Com
merce and Labor.
The letter of Director Durand, also
addressed to Secretary Nagel, sets forth
that attempted padding OF the census
was brought about mainly through the
use of slips printed by private tndi-
viduals and containing census Ques-
tions. Thu se were distributed very
generally on street corners and else
where and were filled out by thousands
of people who already had been enum-
Grated or who were not permanently
residents OF the city and were not en-
titled to be enumerated there. 1t Is
possible that in some cases the names
were wholly fictitious"
Director Durand said today that Sta
tistician. William G. Hunt and Chief of
Division william H Jarvis of the pop
ulation division of the census bureau,
with regard to the census of Tacoma,
were aroused when, on careful ex-
animation of the schedules in the office
at Washington, II was found that there
were an absurdly large number of
families reporting great numbers of
"roomers" and dodgers"
William A. Mckenzie, a bureau ex
pert, who had charge of the enumer
alton OF the Fourth district of Alaska
was sent by Director Durand to Ia
coma and he made a very thorough in
vestigation.
In the 10 districts mentioned COM
plete accommodation was made, while
in the "a other suspicious districts the
head Of each house was visited and In
vestigated. Many names were assigned
to vacant lots and they were elimin-
Rted
The director says 1t is not yet known
whether any individuals or groups of
individuals were responsible for the
false enumeration in Tacoma.