Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-16
PRESIDENT TAT I ORDERS
VIGOROUS PROSECUTION
Second Enumeration Is Made at Ia
coma, Wash, and Shows That CITY
Reported 1926 Too many-Scheme
by Which Many Were Added Is
Made In Returns to Washington.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Oct. 10
STAGGERED by the enormous growth
shown by the returns of the new cen
sus Tor a number of Western cities,
Director Durand, of the census bu-
reau. ordered All investigation, the
result of which appeared in the an
nouncement tonight that gross frauds
had been perpetrated. Mr.. Durand
gave out also Il letter from President
Taft directing that persons implicat-
ed in the alleged frauds should be
punished.
Cities specifically mentioned as be-
ing affected by the frauds are Taco
ma. Seattle and Aberdeen. Wash;
Portland. Ore; Minneapolis. Minneso-
ia; Bouse. Idaho. and Fort Smith.
Ark. but it is stated that there are
many others.
Tacoma Padded 1926.
The result Of second enumeration
for Tacoma. Wash, was. announced
The city shows population of S2,9I2,
AN increase OF 45,250. or 100 per cent.
over the population of 1900. The first
figures turned in for Tacoma were
1925. In other words. the actual
population was padded to the extent
D, % s295. which would have meant
further addition of 40 per cent. These
additions were made in "a out OF ~
enumeration districts in Tacoma. In
some of these districts the number
renorted proved to be several times
greater than the actual population.
In ten DAYS there the first enumera-
tor showed 2?.753 names, whereas the
correct number was found to be H.
ii6.
Director Durand's statement con-
sisted of a CODY of a letter from him
self. addressed 10 Secretary Nagle. OF
the department Of commerce and Ia
Dor. dated October s. in which the
whole case is presented.
The Presidents letter. three days
later. addressed to Secretary Nagle.
reads:
Presidents Letter.
Il have read Durands letter and
agree with him that it ought to be
published. The cases of all those
who appear to have violated the law
should he investigated by the gran
Jury and If sufficient evidence i
found to justify il. they should be
Indicted and prosecuted at once.
Nothing will so induce accuracy as
To securing Of the census as the
prosecution of those who attempt
fraud upon the law. | am led to be-
Iieve that the present census has
been much freer from frauds than
anv previous census. hut the IN
stances cited by Mr.. Durand require
the utmost vigilance to bring those
who have violated the law TO justice
and proper punishment.
The Scheme Worked.
Director Durand's letter sets forth
that attempted padding was
brought about mainly through the use
OF slips printed by private individuals
and containing the census questions
These were distributed very general
IL i'm street corners and elsewhere
and were filed out by thousands Of
peopIe who either had already been
enumerated or were not permanent
residents IT the city and not entitled
t. enumeration. II is possible, some
Of the cases were Wholly HCub'ts-
These slips were turned in by the
Individuals who collected them
through Special Agent Stacey NJ
Gown to thirty-four Of the enumera-
tors. and they. under the Instructions
Of Gown. added the names 20 the
cnuucratsug by designating as
~boardcrs- and dodgers" the various
houses in the district
In the words directory states the
cnumerafors deliberately made the
false statement that these persons
we're residents a. this or that psrtic-
ular street number. some Of which
we're vacant lots. although the cnum-
orators knew nothing. whatever. With
regard to the names 80 frasdulenily
added.