The state herald., 1910-02-18
Live Stock on Ranges.
Absolutely Confidential Treatment Of tho
Answers to Census Enumerators.
Washington, DC, February l5, 1910.

Washington, DC, February 15, 1910.
The United States Census Bureau is
making extraordinary preparations 70
ascertain the appr ximately exact NUM-
ber and value of live stock on the range
in the United States on April l5. next
the date of the livestock inventory, as
required by the act of Congress pro-
vidng for the Thirteenth Decennial
Census.
Fearful that for one reason or anoth
er the livestock raisers may be deferred
from freely stating the number and
value of their holdings, the Census Bu-
reau is exerting unusual efforts to as
sure the ranchmen and farmers, es-
pecially of the western range states,
that their interests, whether personal
or corporate, can not possibly be affect
ed in any way by their frank and full
disclosure of their livestock posses
sions. The information gathered by
the Census Office is held strictly conf
dental 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 to its
ever being given to any other branch of
the government.
ASSURANCE OF SECRECY
"ln behalf of the Census Bureau"
to-day said Assistant Director William
F. Willoughby, 81 can give as positive
assurance of the confidential treatment
of information called for by the live
stock questions in the general agricul-
tural schedule as could if confidence
were to be imposed upon me personally
and privately. The Census Bureau is
concerned only in the collection ard
publication of statistical facts. The
spirit of every act of Congress provid-
ing for the various decennial censuses
has been, and is that the information as
to individuals, firms, and corporations
is to be given inviolable secrecy. 1t is
as much privileged information as that
impaired by client to lawyer, by a
patient to physician, BY dying man
to minister. 1t cannot even be i'm
parted to another branch Of the Federal
Government, no matter how much the
information may be desired. No court
ever has or ever will ignore this 'immu-
nifty from personal or business involve
ment bestowed in returp for informa-
ton required by United States Census
inquiries. To do otherwise would i'm
pare If not wholly destroy, the scientif-
ic efficiency Of the census work. So
far as the livestock census isconcerned
the bureau. following fair. impartial,
ana unbiased methods, quickly separates
the person, firm, or corporation from
the facts furnished, and private or cor
porate identity in connection with any
census data remains forever sealed and
sacred in the great safes of the Census
Office
THE DIRECTORS REPORT.
In his annual report for 1909 to Sec
rstary Nagel. Of the Department of
Commerce and Labor, Census Director
Durand stated:
The thirteenth census act is more
specific than that for the Twelfth Gem.
aus with respect to penalties upon su-
pervisors, enumerators, or other en-
ploye,s who disclose information which
they secure. or who make false returns.
While there is no evidence that employ
ees OF the Census Bureau in the past
have been guilty Of improder discIos-
ure of information-except possibly in
very few cases-these more specific
prov sions for penalties are highly ad-
vantageous. Although the census law
quires persons interrogated to furnish
the information called for on the duly
authorized schedules, reliance for
prompt and accurate returns must rest
largely upon the good will Of those max
ing the returns. Manufacturers, farm.
ers. and others will not freely disclose
the needed information unless they feel
assured that II will be treated In strict
confidence. The Census Bureau exists
solely for the collection of general sta
tsties. and is not, and should not be, an
instrument for disclosing the affairs Of
individual persons. firms. or corpora.
tions. Returns made by the Census
Bureau are In no case published in such
a way MS to identify the business opera
'ions Of individual persons or concerns.
nor ARE they disclosed to any person n
sde from employees Of the bureau II.
s'lf--not even to other departments Of
the Government or to other bureaus Of
the Department Of Commerce and La
bor,"