Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-13
Tardy Issue
of Statistics.

nf 2to VI uotC. All LauSC
- S'"sAs'Ao0. of this kind is in the
recent publication of the report Of the
automobile industry for 1903. Today
these four-year- statistics are
naturally of little interest to the men
in an industry which Is growing SO
rapidly. Their publication has called
forth considerable criticism from
manufacturers and others, who say
industry have as little interest ITO
them today as machine of that year s
| model would have if it were thrown
upon the 1913 market to be sold.
The delay in the publica ton of gov
eminent statistics is attributed to
various causes by the bureau chiefs
and experts in the departments. In
the case of the automobile statistics
issued a week ago their apparent tardi-
ness is explained by the statement that
they are the detailed report of sur
vey of the automobile industry in 1909,
| the preliminary report of which was
made known several years ago. and
that these automobile statistics just
issued came along with the detail re-
ports of many other industries which
are coming out at this time. These in
dustry reports are made at Intervals
of FIVE years at present, and the next
report will show the figures for 1914.
This makes the time of publtca ton OF
one report and the time for the be-
ginning of another statistical investl-
cation almost overlap.
Preliminary reports made several years
ago of the automobile and other indus
tries cover most Of the details which are
included in the final report. Many man
ufacturers perhaps would be very glad to
have the preliminary figures as complete
as possible, and as soon as possible,
rather than to wait several years longer
for the publication of the so-called de-
tailed reports. For an industry which
is growing by leaps and bounds as is the
automobile industry. figures are out OF
date in a very short time, and for this
reason there arises a more urgent de-
mand for their prompt publication.
Other kinds of government reports ire
quently come out which are one or more
years out of date. Experts in the de-
partments realize that this hardness OF
publications lessons their value very ma
terially. 1t is claimed that in many cases
the hardness of publication Is caused by
the fact that the government printing
office is overburdened with considerable
rush wosk which takes precedence over
everything but the most important publ
cations. Another cause for the delay In
printing the reports is the exhaustion of
the fund of money allotted in bureau
for publications, and usually the chiefs
of bureaus have to wait until the be-
ginning of the fiscal year for new ap-
preparations to be available.
Just how the department heads VIII
finally solve the problem caused by the
delayed reports Of statistics, and will pre-
sent figures and information promptly to
the public. Is a question which 1t Is ex-
pected will be given Increased attention
during the next two years. There are
many who claim that the printing of
government publications should be car
ried on as promptly in every way as the
work in private printing establishment,
and to obtain this promptness it is gen
orally realized that there must be
hearty corporation by every person con-
nected with the publication from the man
who prepares the copy to the pressman
who turns out the publication In it's com
pleted form. 1t is also generally realized
that promptness in printing Is not pos
sible unless there Is money left in the
allotment made to bureaus with which to
pay for the work when it is ordered