The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-22
CURRENT COMMENT
Our Census Scandal.

! census director DufandS recent ap
peal to Congress for an additional mil
lior dollars for completing the census
Of 1910, and the wholesale dismissals o
clerks which followed an appropriation
I of but half that amount, call attention
| to bad state of affairs.
The law authorizing the thirteenth
census established a two-year Census
period during which the census must
be taken, tabulated and published. This
period win expire June 80 next. Thus
twenty out of the twenty-four months
have elapsed. No reports are yet ready
to publish, and the nation has nothing
to show for an expenditure of $4,000.
GEO except scattering bulletins Of total
population and of agriculture.
The thirteenth census is hopelessly
behind the previous one. More than
a years work is said still to remain
for the maximum force. But INSULT
cicnt funds compel dismissals, and lit
tie money remains to pay for publica-
tons. The bureau is badly demoralzed.
No previous census began under such
favorable conditions. The present act
was drawn with great care. In helping
to frame it Carroll d. Wright performed
his last public service.
There was. moreover, permanent
census bureau. so long the dream of Col.
Wright and Gen Walker. 1t offered
the long desired nucleus of trained
clerks; Congress readily agreed to allow
the entire sum which $. N. ID. North,
then director, declared necessary for this
great undertaking. The nation had a
right to expect that the census OF 1910
should be published in record time, and
az a decreased per capita cost.
Failure to realize these reasonable eX-
pectations results from disregard of the
plain teaching of experience. Before
1900 the census office and its work were
regarded as a source of political patron
age Earlier heads of the census were
thwarted by lack Of authority and petty
joalousies. These conditions became UNI
bearable in the eleventh census tl890)
the completion of which dragged over
many years. Some of its reports were
not published for nearly a decade after
the enumeration.
The evils OF this system We're so evil
dent that when Congress began in 1899
to frame the act authorizing the twelfth
census (l900l, Senator Hale and Others
on the committee decided that full au
tbority must be given to the man Sc
lected to condnct this gigantic task. A
law was passed giving the director SUI
preme authority under the president.
The census was taken, tabuated and
published in record time. The success
the permanent office.
When the thirteenth census act was
framed by Mr.. North and submitted to
the census committee of the House Civ
ing like authority to the director it was
opposed by the department Of
commerce and labor to which the bureau
had meantime been transferred Con-
gress disregarded this opposition, and
again placed full responsibility on the
director.
What could not be accomplished by
aw, however, could be secured by in
direction. Director North was forced
out of his position, and +. Dana Du-
'and, a young and capable statistician,
was appointed in his place. DR.. Du- |
and had no experience in administer
ny large undertakings, nor had he pub |
ic reputation sufficient to Withstand |
department. pressure. 1t was at once |
lear that no move OF consequence would !
)e permitted without department APP /
,royal, and Judged by the standards Of |
he twelfth census the present director
las been for all practical purposes a
mere igurehead, The census policy, has |
hus lapsed to the methods Of 1890.
Washington hears that DIR, Durand /
viii soon resign. This, however, would I
lot mend matters. The legal census
'eriod is about over, the money is spent.
nd the work is behind Congress will I
'e called upon, as Congress always is,
0 provide money to complete an under
aking for which ample time allowance,
Unds and officials were provided at the
utset.
The plain lesson of American census
Gking is this: So vast has become the
ask of euumerating the nation that
t requires rs director of a decennial
ederal census man of national repu-
alton, possessing great executive ca
acity and experience. Then leave him
lone. The administration in this case
rcvided neither Of these essentials
'oston Herald.