The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-10-16

Washington, Oct. f5.--Staggercd hy
the enormous returns shown BY the
new census In a number Of western
cities, Director Durand OF the census
bureau ordered an investigation, the
result of which appeared in the an
nouncement tonight that gross frauds
had been perpetrated. Mr. Durand
gave out also a letter from President
Taft, directing that persons implicated
in the alleged frauds be prosecuted.
"Padded" in Tacoma.
Cities specifically mentioned ms being
affected by the frauds are Tacoma,
Seattle and Aberdeen, Wash; Port
land, Ore: Minneapolis, Mimi; Boise.
Idaho. and Fort Smith, Ark. but It IS
said that there are many others. The
result OF d second enumeration of Ia
coma was announced tonight. The city
shows a population of S2972 an in
crease Of 100 per cent over the popu-
lation or 1900 The first figures turned
in for Tacoma were 116,24S. In other
words. the actual population was
padded 10 the extent of 33,296, which
would have meant further addition
OF 40 per cent These additions were
made In "a out Of the 73 enumeration
districts In Tacoma. Tn some of these
districts the number reported proved
TO be several times greater than the
actual population.
In 10 districts enumerated the first
census showed 29.753 names. whereas
the correct number was found to be
1856. The statement issued by d.
rector Durant consists. in the main, of
a letter from himself, addressed to
to Secretary Nagel of the department
OF commerce and labor, dated october
8. In which the whole case Is presented,
and brief letter from President Taft
to Mr. Nagel of date of October II. The
letter of President Taft follows:
II The Presidents Letter.
"Beverly. Mass, Oct. II, 1901
have read Director Durand's letter and
agree with him that II ought to be pub
lished. The cases of all those who ap-
pear to have violated the law should
0e Investigated by the grand jury. and,
if sufficient evidence IL found to JUS
tify 1t, they should be indicted and
prosecuted at once. Nothing will so
condnce to securing proper census
ms the prosecution OF those who at
tempt fraud upon the law,
u am led to believe that the present
census has been much frecr from at
tempted frauds than any previous con-
sus. but tho instances cited by Mr..
Durand are sufficient to require the
,lrrttn t.Rts. IA
have violated the law to justice and
proper punishment. Sincerely yours,
"WILLIAM II. TAFT,
Hon. Charles Nagel Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor"
The letter of Director Dnrand. also
addressed to Secretary Nagel sets forth
that attempted padding" Of the CEN
sus was brought about mainly through
the use Of slips printed by private
individuals and containing the census
questions These were distributed.very
generally on street corners and else
where and were filled out by thousands
of people who had either already been
enumerated or were not permanent res
idents of the city and not entitled to
enumeration there. It Is possible thai
In some cases the names were wholly
fictitious.
"Boarders" or dodgers"
These slips were turned over by tho
private individuals who collected them
through special agent Of the census
bureau named Gown, to 81 of the emu.
meators, and they, under the instrnc.
tions of corwin. added the names te
the enumeration by assigning them al
"boarders" or dodgers" to various
houses In their districts, In othel
words, the director states, the emu
merators deliberately made the falss
statement that these persons We're resi-
dent at this or that particular stree
rumber, although the enumerator'
knew nothing whatever With regard Il
the names so fraudulently added
The director says the census bureaui
work in recounting the population Q
the padded" districts In Tacoma wal
! dGne with the greatest care in orde