The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-06-28
DATA Will BE VALUABLE
Statistics Secured by Govt Employee
May Prove Means Of Revealing and
Improving Corrupt Political, Indus
trial and Economic Conditions

That Kenosha is rapidly assuming a
position of Importance among the cities
of both state and nation, is evidenced
by the fact that federal employe is
now here, conducting an investigation
of its economic conditions and munich
pal administration. In the interests OF
the National Department Of Commerce,
Carl Crosland is spending ten days in
Kenosha in a study Of the management
of public utilities, general sanitary
conditions, provisions for the public
safety, and other matters of vital inn
portance to this or any community.
The data that he secures will then be
tabulated and become part of the
great mass of government statistics,
which will aid the department. Of COM
merce in the Inauguration of wide
spread reforms, calculated to improve
economic, industrial and political con-
ditions throughout the United States.
Mr.. Crosland's work is done in
connection with the Bureau Of the
Census, which under the authority of
Congress, issues annually q report on
financial statistics of cities having a
population of over thirty thousand.
These reports contain comparable sta
tistics on CD the total and per capita
receipts from revenues in detail; (2)
the total and per capita payments for
expenses, interest, and OUTLAWS; also in
detail for expenses and OUTLAWS; (3)
the total and per capita value of city
properties; az the total and per capita
indebtedness; and 60 the estimated
true, and assessed valuation of proper
ty, tax levies, rates, methods of assess
ment, ETC., discussion of account
ing terminology, instructions for uni
form classification, and other kind
red subjects.
These reports enable those interested
to compare the details of municipal adj
ministration in their own city with
those in other cities, and such com
parison must lead them to the discovery
that in some particular, or possibly in
many particulars, other cities excel
their own, and are securing greater de-
partmental efficiency in proportion to
the moneys expended. The wide awake
citizen interested in the physical and
financial welfare of his city can find
its weak points by comparing its oper-
ations with those of other cities of
about the same size and similarly sit
uated. To provide the data to make
this comparison possible is the purpose
of the inquiry conducted by the Bureau
of the Census. Insofar as this purpose
is accomplished, the city is assisted in
securing better and more economical
administration of public funds. Bet
ter management results in increased
safety to the lives and property of all
the citizens, better health conditions,
greater recreation opportunities, and
wider scope in educational activities.
More economical administration, wheth-
er resulting in securing more for
moneys expended or in retaining in
the city treasury for future uses moneys
formerly wasted, results in financial
benefit to every taxpayer.
From this brief resume of the nature
and purpose Of Mr.. Crosland s work it
is plainly apparent that he is doing
something which may be helpful to the
people of Kenosha as well as to the
National Department of Commerce.
The statistics which he gathers will
eventually be made public and local
citizens will then have reliable data on
which to base long-neded municipal re-
forms. His figures will not lie and the
city is to be congratulated on having
been considered worthy of govern
ment inspection which may contribute
largely to an increased economic, in
dustrial, and political efficiency, such
as will make her an even larger factor
among the municipalities of Wisconsin
and the United States.