Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-10
BUSINESS CENSUS
IS BEING TAKEN
PROGRESS OF TEN YEARS TO
BE SHOWN
WORK is IN CHARGE OF WILLIAM
M. sTEuART
Director Assures Manufacturers That
Precautions VIII Be Taken to
Hold information
Confidential

WASHIEGTON, Feb. 9.--Ihe united
States census bureau has begun to take
the federal census of manufactures,
mines, quarries, petroleum and natural
gas for the year 1909, which comprises
two Of the principal inquiries embraced
in the thirteenth decennial census, the
others being population and agrlcul-
ture.
The canvass is being made under the
supervision of William M. Steuart,
chief statistician for manufactures, and
about 1900 special agents will be en-
ployed eventually in the work, and they
are from day to day being appointed by
Director Durand from the eligible reg
listers established as a result Of the
November examination of candidates
for these positions.
Director Durand has taken extraordi-
nary precautions to assure the manu-
facturers that all answers will be held
absolutely confidential. This statement
is conspicuously displayed on the front
pages of the various schedules, and 1t
is also emphatically declared that no
publication will be made in the census
reports disclosing the name or opera
tions or any individual establishments
in any particular. The act of congress
provides that the bureau Of the census
shall not permit any other than its
sworn employees to examine the individ-'
ual reports 1t provides also that any
employees who shall, without the au-
thority of the director of the census,
publish or communicate any informa-
ton coming into his possession shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction shall be fined not to exceed
$1,000 or be imprisoned not to exceed
two wears, or both. in the discretion of
the court
Time for Work Limited
There is but limited time in which
to complete this work." said Director
Durand 1T is essential that all
the field employees exert themselves to
the utmost. Those who do good work
will be reassigned to other districts and
retained in the service until the work
is finished.
IF manufacturers or others furnish
ing data object to a supposed disclosure
of the secrets of their business, the Spe-
cial agents will assure them that the
results of their individual business will
not be made public. They are required
also to explain that the information
will not be used for the purposes of
taxation, nor in any manner to identify
the operations of the individual estab-
lishments and will not be disclosed to
any other bureau of the federal gov
ernment. The intent of the law, which
will be strictly carried out, is to pre-
vent the disclosure of information
which might operate to the detriment
in any way of the person or establish
ment supplying it.
'The period covered will be, wherever
possible, that of the year ending De-
cember 81, 1909. In the majority of
cases the data can be secured for 1t, as
the business year of most establish
ments will correspond to the calendar
year 1909. For establishments begin
fr,rr for tIn HY-Gt fif11a lY1r
ing the year T. will not be possible to
make the report cover more than the
period actually embraced.
Minute Details Desired
"a manufacturing establishment,
which is the unit of enumeration for
the census, is deemed to be one or
more factories, mills or plants owned
or controlled by one individual, part
nership, corporation or other owner,
located in the same town or city, and
for which one set of books of account
is kept. AS the statistics will be pre-
sented by kinds and by classes of in
dustries, 1t is essential that the pre-
else character of the work performed
by each establishment shall be clearly
determined. A general schedule must
be prepared for each establishment re-
supplemental schedule or schedules as
may apply to the industry, if any.
"The method of the canvass requires
that a few days prior to the day when
a given firm is to be canvassed the
special agent shall mail to the manu-
facturer copy of the general sched-
ule, with the proper supplemental
schedules, together with the request
that they be filed out in readiness
for the special agent on his arrival.
In the event this has not been done
at the time the agent calls, he will
proceed to get the facts Immediately.
",rhe information secured must be
accurate. In drafting the schedule
every effort was made to frame the
inquiries in such form that the an
swers to them can generally be taken
directly from the books of accounts
and the records Of the establishment
canvassed. In no case are general
statements or estimates to be accepted
where it Is possible to secure answers
directly from the books of accounts
and records.
"As there is a general interest In
the subject of the comparative import
ance of the cities, states and territor-
les with reference to the larger Sc
Iected industries, it is exceedingly de-
sirable that, from the standpoint OF
civic pride alone, the manufacturers
throughout the United States should
furnish the data without delay in or
der that the indsutrial centers In
which they operate may be completely
and correctly represented in the sta
tistical tables. Every manufacturer Is
therefore urged to cooperate promptly
and fully with the bureau of the CEN
sus."