The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-14
What the Government Is Dome

var-uld statistics are naturally of lit
tie interest 10 the men IN an indus
try which is growing SO rapidly. Their
publication has called forth consider
able criticism from manufacturers
and others. who say that 1909 Stats
ties on the automobile industry have
as little interest 10 them today as a
machine OF that years model would
have II II were thrown upon the 1913
market 10 be sold.
The delay in the publication OF
government statistics is attributed 10
various causes by the bureau chiefs
and experts in the departments. in
the case OF the automobile statistics
issued week ago their apparent tar
diness IL explained by the statement
that they are the detailed report OF
survey OF the automobile industry
in 1909, the preliminary report OF
which was made known several years
ago. and that these automobile sta.
tistiCs just issued came along with
the detail reports of many other in
dustries which are coming out at this
time. These industry reports are
made az intervals of five years at
present. and the next report will show
the figures for 1914. This makes the
time OF publication of one report ard
the time for the beginning of another
statistical investigation almost over.
lap.
Preliminary reports made several
years ago of the automobile and other
industries cover most OF the details
which are included in the final re-
port. Many manufacturers perhaps
would be very glad TO have the pre-
liminary figures as complete as pos
sible, and as soon as possible rather
than to wait several years longer for
the publication OF the socaRed de-
tailed reports. For an industry which
is growing by leaps and bounds as
is the automobile industry, figures are
ont OF date in a very short time. and
for this reason there arises more
urgent demand for their prompt pub
| LEGATION.
Other kinds OF government reports
/ frequently come ont which are one or
more years out of date. Experts in
the departments realize that this tar
| diness OF publications lessons their
! value very materially. II is claimed
that in many cases the hardness OF
! publication ia caused by the fact that
the government printing office is
overburdened with considerable
rush work which takes precedence
over everything but the most import
ant publications. Another cause for
the delay in printing the reports is
the exhaustion of the fund OF money
allotted in a bureau for publications.
and usually the chiefs of bureaus have
to wait until the beginning of the
fiscal year for new appropriations TO
be available.
Just how the department heads
will finally solve the problem caused
by the DELAYED reports Of statistics
and will present figures and informa'
ton promptly TO the public. Is ques-
ton which is expected will be given
increased atten ION during the next
two years There are many who claim
that the printing Of government pub
! locations should be carried on as
promptly in every way as the work
in a private printing establishment,
and to obtain this promptness II is
generally realized that there must he
a hearty cooperation BY every person
connected with the publication from
the man who prepares the copy 20
the pressman who turns out the pub
lication In its COMPLETE form. II is
also generally realized that prompt
ness in printing is not possible UNI
less there is money left in the allot-
ment made to bureaus with which 10
nay for the work when 1t Is ordered.