Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-25
WILL STOP CENSUS FRAUDS
Director Durand Hopeful that Prose
eutions Will Be Successful.
SIXTY-sEvEN PERSONS INDICTED
Most of These Have Pleaded Guilty
or Made No Defense-Many of
One City Are to BE
Prosecuted.


tor Durand OF the bureau OF the census.
Department of Commerce and Labor. is
hopeful that the result OF the prosecutions
OF census frauds will serve as a most
defective deterrent against the repetition
OF such frauds at any future census,
not only in the cities in which prose-
cutions have occurred. but throughout
the states in which these cities are 10.
Gated and In large measure throughout
the country. He thinks that. aside from
the wholesome fear which such prosecu-
tions engender, it is obvious that the
people Of any city will hereafter hesi-
tate to encourage the padding Of the
census in view of the risk that. as the
result of possible discovery. their city
may be subjected to ridicule and crit,-
cism.
In his current annual report he states
that the exceptional care exercised at the
present census in investigating the WORK
of the enumerators resulted in the dis
covery of a very considerable number of
fraudulent overcounts particularly in
cities in the northwestern states. In all
cases where the investigations made by
the bureau indicated a probability that
the overcounts of the population were due
to deliberate fraud, the facts were brought
TO the attention of the department Of JUS
tice. That department appointed a spe-
cial attorney to investigate and prosecute
such frauds. ,.-...
Sixty-Seyen Indicted.
Up TO the end of December. 1911, in
dictments had been returned in the az
gregate against sixty-seven persons, of
whom flfty-six We're enumerators, eight
special agents appointed to assist super
visors and to direct enumerators, ono the
mayor OF city. who was charged with
conspiring with the enumerators and
others: one an attorney, charged with
joining in the same conspiracy, AMI one
the supervisor of the census for the dis
trict in which the city Of Tacoma, Wash,
is located. The great majority of those
indicted have either pleaded guilty or
nolo contendere. In the case OF the two
enumerators at Spokane, Wash, a jury
trial resulted in a verdict OF not guilty.
In the case Of one special agent the gov
ernment decided not to push the prcse-
cution after Indictment. Two enum-
orators have been convicted on trial. The
cases against small number OF enum-
orators. the supervisor OF the census at
Tacoma and various special agents who
assisted him. and three special agents In
Portland, Ore, remain to be tried.
Most OF the enumerators who have
pleaded guilty have received compara-
lively light punishment. the courts eyi-
IDENTIFY being Of the opinion that their Of
tense was largely due to the pressure cf
public opinion demanding spadded enum-
eration. In numerous cases, however.
tho prosecuting officers have irecors-
inended very moderate penalties for
enumerators who furnished information
by which prosecution could be brought
against more responsible officials. The
large number OF enumerators who have
pleaded guilty in Tacoma were each pun
ished by fine of $50 and costs. Some
other enumerators. however, have been
punished by fines ranging from 800 to
&0o. and In a few cases Imprisonment
for twenty-four 10 forty-eight hours The
mayor OF the city Of Superior, Wis. who
pleaded nolo contendere. was fined 500
and costs, and an attorney OF that city.
who was also charged with conspiracy
and pleaded nolo contendere. was. fined
1850 and costs. One enumerator in
Portland. Ore. was found guilty on trial.
was sentenced to six months in jail and
to pay "a fine of 800 and costs.