The San Francisco call., 1910-10-16
Population of Tacoma Is Dis.
covered to Have Been
Padded 1926
FALSE RETURNS MADE
FROM WESTERN CITIES
Taft Orders Investigation and
Prosecution of Responsible
Persons
SUSPICION AROUSED BY
TOO MANY BOARDERS

w WASHINGTON, Oct 15.-Stag-
w gered by the enormous growth
shown by the census returns
for a number of western cities Direc-
tor Durand of the census bureau or
dered an investigation. the result of
which appeared in the announcement
tonight. that gross frauds had been
perpetrated
Durand gave out also letter from
President Taft, directing that persons
implicated in the alleged frauds be
prosecuted. Cities specifically affected
by the frauds are Tacoma. Seattle
and Aberdeen, Wash; Portland, Ore:
Minneapolis, Mimi; Boise, Idaho, and
Fort Smith, Ark, but 1t Is said that
there are many others.
Padded Population
The result of second enumeration
of Tacoma, Wash, was announced to-
day. The city shows population OF
80 ,972, an increase of 45.25S. or 120
per- cent over the population of 1900.
The first figures turned in for, Tacoma
were 116,24s. In other words. the
actual population was padded to the
extent of 1926.
These additions were made In 80
out of the % enuemration districts
in Tacoma. In some IF these districts
the number reported proved to be
several times greater than the actual
population. In 1 0districts enumerated
the figures of the census showed
29.753 names. whereas the correct
number was found to be 1916
Letter by Taft
The statement issued by Directors
Durand consists in the main of let
ter from himself to Secretary Nagel
of the department. of commerce and
labor. dated. October s. in which the
whole case is presented and of a brief
letterrfrom President Taft to Nagel OF
date of October II. The letter of
President Taft follows:
Beverly. Mass. Oct. II. 1910.
I have read Director Dursnd's
letter and agree with him that il
ought to be published The cases
of all those who appear to have
violated the law should be inves-
tigated by the grand jury. and if
sufficient evidence is found to jus
tify it. they should be indicted and
prosecuted at once. Nothing will
so conduce to securing a proper
census as the prosecution of those
who attempt fraud upon the law.
am led to believe that the pres
ent census has been much freer
from attempted frauds than any
previous census. but the instances
cited by Mr.. Durand are sufficient
to require the most vigilance 70
bring those who have violated the
law to justice and proper punish
ment. Sincerely yours.
WILLIAM n. TAFT
The letter of Durand. also addressed
to Nagel. sets forth that attempted
padding Of the Tacoma census was
brought about mainly through the use
of slips printed by private individuals
and containing the census questions.
Fictitious Names
These were distributed very gener-
ally on street corners and elsewhere
and were filled out by thousands of
people who had either already been
enumerated or were not permanent res
idents of the city and not entitled TO
enumeration there. 1t is possible that
in some cases the names were wholly
fictitious.
These lists were turned over by the
private individuals who collected them,
through special agent of the census
bureau. Stacy NJ. Corwin. to 80 of the
enumerators. and they. under the in
struetions of Corwin. added the names
to the enumeration by assigning them
as .-boarders'' or dodgers" to various
houses in their districts. In other words.
the director states. the enumerators
deliberately made the false statement
that these persons We're residents at this
or that particular street number. al
though the enumerators knew nothing
whatever with regard TO the names so
fraudulently added.
Director Durand says that the sus-
picions of Chief Statistician William
Hunt and Chief of Division William H.
Jarvis of the population division of the
census bureau with regard to the CEN
sus of Tacoma were aroused when on
careful examination of the schedules in
the office at Washington it was fonud
there was an absurdly large number OF
families reporting great numbers OF
"roemers" and dodgers" William A.