New Britain herald., 1914-04-29
BETTER MUNICIPAL
 GOVERNMENT IS AIM
Agent Of Department Of Commerce Securing Local Statistics.

pr. Walter H. Hildreth of the bureau of the census, department of commerce and labor is paying his an- nual visit to New Britain to obtain figures for the purpose of incorporat- ing them into the coming report on the financial statistics of the cities of the United States.
 2. Dr. Hildreth threw considerable light on what the department is do- ing this afternoon while talking to Herald reporter. He said: "A spe- cial report on the financial statistics of cities having a population of over 30,00O July 1, 1914, is being prepared by the bureau of census. The data now in progress of tabulatiOn cov- CTS the financial transactions of 200 cities.
 "The purpose of this report, which eyill be similar to those published an uua1ly by the bureau of census since 1908, is to present comparable statis- ties of cities for the information of city officials, civic bodies, students of economics Interested in city manage ment, anG citizens who take interest in their work for its betterment. To secure statistics that are comparable. the bureau sends its agents to each of the. cities to report, to translate into coplmun language the data con- tained in their accounts and reports. thus securing a uniformity of classi- flea lion that cannot be obtained by use. of ci Y reports alone.
 'pTnis report will enable those in- teIested to compare the details of mu- ni.iral administration in their own city with those in other cities, and s.scli comparison must lead them to the discovery that in some particular, or possibly in many particulars, other cities excel their own, and are secur- ttlg greater departmental efficiency in proportion to the moneys expended. Tke wide awake citizen interested in tie physical and financial welfare of tI4is city can find it's weak points by comparing it's operations with those or. other cities of about the same size and similarly situated. To make this comparison possible and to provide the data for making it is the purpose of the inquiry conducted by the cen sus bureau. Tn so far as this purpose is accomplished, the city secures bet
 
 tion of public funds. Better man ngement results in increased safety .pathe lives and property of all the cit tzens, better health conditions, great CT recreation opportunities, and wid- e:r scope in educational activities. More economical administration, whether resulting in securing more for money expended or in retaining in the city treasury for future uses money formerly wasted, results in the financial benefit of every taxpayer.
 "The bureau of census has sought to assist in arousing interest in uni form accounting for cities in order that it might more accurately and with less expenditure of time and money secure data for all the cities that would be comparable This eff fort has been made in two directions; first by presenting to city officials in it's. schedules and reports the classifi- cation of receipts and payments em- ployed officially by the bureau; sec- ond, by cooperating with such state bureaus as those of Massa chusetts, { New York, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Wis consin and Washington, with view to harmonizing the schemes of classl- fication employed. by those bureaus and by the census bureau