Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17
Fraud in Enumeration.

The methods Of fraud pursued IN the
enumeration of the population of Great
Falls. Mont were discussed yesterday by
Director Durand OF the census.
He said that the method consisted for
the most part In the assignment OF large
numbers of names to vacant lots. hotels
and lodging houses and private residences
in which SO such persons were actually
present at the time Of the enumeration.
The larger part of these Names, said
Director Durand were placed in the
hands Of the enumerators by private 1ndi-
viduals, having been collected on pri-
vately printed slips containing the census
1t appears that At least part of these
names were those of persons who were
passing through Great Falls. who were
there only temporarily. and were not en-
titled to enumeration there.
1.-The source of some of the other names
fraudulently added has not been ascer-
tanned.
Mcdonald, enumerator for district %,
reported so names from the Todd block.
In the Remuneration the manager OF
the building stated that not to exceed
twenty-five persons could have been pres
ent there during the original enumera-
ton.
as resident at the house of Lee Ford. q
private citizen, with four members in his
family. He reported 51S names from 4O8
Central avenue. building consisting OF
a store with six rooms above 1t. This
enunerator also reported los persons resi-
dent on a vacant lot.
"Enumerators Daily and Martin. in EMU
meration district %. reported 211 per-
sons in one family with but Is members,
and 345 persons in another family, COM
posed Of 10 persons. Similar methods
Padding Ten Years Ago.
"The original schedules of the enumera-
tors for Great Falls showed q total Of
1884 Inhabitants. but investigation
showed extensive frauds and on renumer-
alton the correct. population was found
to be 13,94S. or 1916 less than the orig
inal returns.
This population of 13,94S shows a de-
crease, as compared with the reported
population Of 1890, which was 1880. Elk
animation of the schedules for 1900 also
indicates that there was extensive
were mot disclosed at that time.
There Ii no doubt, from facts ascertain
ed by official representatives OF the GEN.
sus bureau who were sent to Great Falls.
that there has been considerable increase
in the population during the past ten
years.
THE frauds in Great Falls were con-
fined to three OF twelve enumeration dis
tricts. In these three districts more than
90 per cent of the names originally re-
turned were fraudulent.
-Four enumerators were concerned an
enumerator from another district having
been employed to assist. Prosecutions
were brought.
Two of the enumerators pleaded guilty
to the Indictment and third was con-
victed in the trial before jury. Two Of
the men were imprisoned for twenty-four
hours and fined $50. and the third re-
ceived forty eight hours in jail and 500
fine.
1.-The fourth enumerator escaped on a
technicality, namely. the fact that for his
work in this enumeration district he had
no commission or oath Of Office"
416,012 San Franciscans.
The population of the city Of San Fran
cisco. Cal, announced by the census
7S2 in 1900. and 296.997 in 1890. The in
crease from 1900 to 1910. therefore, is
74.130. or 21.6 per cent. as compared with
an increase for the preceding decade Of
43. 1885, or 14.6 per cent.
In connection with the announcement
Of the population Of San Francisco.
returns Of the enumerators contained
420.234 names. OF these, on investiga-
ton by the census bureau, 1892 were
eliminated as not entitled to enumera-
ton.
There was, however, found no evidence
enumerators. The eliminations were all
In cases where the enumerators had in
terpreted their instructions too broadly,
or where the Judgment Of the census
bureau as toNthe propriety Of including
the names differed from that of the
enumerat0r9.