The Washington herald., 1910-07-03

declaring that with the Intimate knowl-
edge which the department has Of the in
habitants OF the city II IS less liable
to error than that OF the Federal gov
eminent taken b. strangers. He does
not admit that any mistakes were made
by his department and challenges the
correctness Of the Federal enumeration.
He says In so many words that it is too
small by several thousands.
Il is not intended here 70 enter upon
an argument for or against either
enumeration. but TO point out the fact
that a large error exists somewhere in
the efforts to find out honestly how
many people live in Washington. Con-
fessedly we do not know in the light
Of the discrepancy between these two
enumerations.
Mast Qualify Figures.
It viii be necessary for purposes OF
accuracy when using the figures designat-
Ing the population Of Washington 10
qualify them as Federal Census" or
Police Census" as the case may be.
At best the numbers are an approxima-
ton and with eAH the cost involved in
the counting of heads the results are
practically worthless for all accurate or
scientific purposes.
Accurate statistics Of the population are
a more serious matter tam may at first
appear When II IS taxa into account
that all the mortuary tables gathered at
the District Building are based upon the
reported number OF population the neces-
sity OF having the enumeration correct
becomes apparent. When the health Of
fee counts up the dead at the end Of
the calendar year, which enumeration
shall be used 10 establish the percentages
OF deaths TO the thousand OF population?
1t can readily be seen that il the
Federal census is used the percentage
VIII be larger than If the police census
Is used. The fact is that the local
authorities having learned by experience
that the Federal census is usually too
low, the police census is tahen every two
or three years for the purpose Of es-
tablishing a more correct basis for cal
>culating mortuary and vital statistics,
which have come TO be such an impor-
tant part Of the work of the health de-
partment. The practice followed IN
Washington is pursued in other cities.
the vital and mortuary tables being made
up from the local census taken at stated
times
controversy an Ola Ones
For years the controversy has been GO
ing on between local governments and
the Federal government regarding the
accuracy of the statistics on population.
and In actual practice throughout the
country the Federal census in cities is
either ignored OF is used only for a
brief period until the local police depart
ments can take an enumeration which is
invariably some thousands higher than
that taken by the government.
Municipal censuses are not altogether
free from the suspicion of being too
large. Not that they are intended to be.
but 1t is usually the case that many
persons are entered in the lists who
have only a temporary residence. in
cases lasting for not more than a few
weeks. Householders and others when
filing out papers for government, use.
with penalty attached for false entry,
will naturally exercise more care than
they viii in answering the questions of
a policeman at the front door
1t is safe to say that temporary board
ers or visitors are not entered in the
government lists when they may be so
entered in the municipal census. Even
If no attempt Is made on the one hand
to weed out all but bona fide residents
and on the other to register none but
those who may fairly be considered resi-
dents at the time of the enumeration,
the difference IN method would account
for several thousand IN a big city full
Of people.
It may be impossible to arrive at
measurable accuracy in counting the
population. as the border line between
the real resident and the visitor is
necessarily often obliterated, but 1t would
seem that closer limits ought 10 be set
between the enumerations taken by Fed
eraI and municipal authority. Under
existing conditions this dual enumera-
ton serves to muddle the situation
rather than to make it clear.