The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-17
There are Many 0ffenSes in
the West
TACOMA FIGURES PADDED
Second Enumeration Shows Addition the
First Time of ,2e6--Seattle, Port
land and Minneapolis Among
Other Cities Affected.

Washington Oct. Director Durand
of the census bureau, staggered by the
enormous growth shown by the returns
of the new census for number of
western cities, ordered an investigation
the result Of which appeared in the an
nouncement at Washington Saturday
night that gross frauds had been per-
petrated. Mr. Durand gave out also a
letter from President Taft, directing
that persons implicated in the alleged
frauds should be prosecuted. Cities es-
peeially mentioned as being affected by
the frauds are Tacoma, Seattle and
Aberdeen, Wash, Portland, Ore, Mime
apolis, Mimi, Boise, Idaho, and Fort
Smith, Ark, but it is stated that there
are many others.
The result Of second enumeration
of Tacoma, Wash, was announced Sat
urday night. The city shows a popula-
ton Of 82,972, an increase Of 1925, or
100 per cent, over the population Of 1900.
The first figures turned in for Tacoma
were 1926 which would have meant
a further addition of 40 per cent. These
additions We're made in "a out OF the
70 enumeration districts in Tacoma In
some of these districts, the number re-
ported proved to be several times greater
than the actual population. In 10 dis
tricts the first enumeration showed ~
1853 names, whereas the correct number
was found to be 1866.
The statement issued by Director Du.
rand consists in the main OF letter
from himself addressed to Secretary Ma.
gel of the department of commerce and
labor, dated the sth, in which the whole
case is presented, and of a brief letter
from President Taft to Mr. Nagel Of date
the 18th. The letter OF President Taft
follows:-
Beverly, Mass, Oct IL, 1910
81 have read Director Durand's letter
and agree with him that it ought to be
published, The cases Of all those who
appear to have violated the law should
be Investigated by the grand jury and, if
sufficient evidence is found to justify it.
they should be indicted and prosecuted
at once Nothing will SO conduce to Sc
curing 9 proper census as the prosecu
tion Of those who attempt a fraud upon
the law am led TO believe that the
present census has been much freer from
attempted frauds than any previous cen.
sus but the instances cited by Mr.. Du.
rand are sufficient TO require the utmost
vigilance to bring those who have VIC
lated the law to justice and proper pun
ishment. Sincerely yours,
William H. Taft
Hon. Charles Nagel, Secretary of
Commerce 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 indiyid-
uals and containing the census questions.
These were distributed very generally on
street corners and elsewhere. and were
filled out by thousands Of people who
either had already been enumerated or
who were not permanent residents Of
the city and not entitled to enumeration
there. The director declares also Nat
more or less extensive attempts at 81, -
ding the census have been discovered
in the other cities mentioned, and be
adds that Investigations are in progress
with reference to a number OF still other (
cities. Full information regarding these
cases viii be made public later