Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-17
Calling for Millions
Outlay Is Nearing
House Census Committee About to
Frame Legislation a Gigantic
Task with Billions Of Details
Hope for More Secrecy Than Has
Been Custom


sus, including the annual and other
inquiries occurring during the de-
cennial census period, If done in ac-
cordance with plans the Census Bu-
reau has formulated. will not exceed
s20,O00,090 to $22,000,000. The esti-
mated cost Of taking the population
census alone is S10.440,000.
Besides considering population, the
bureaus plans contemplate the usual
elaborated inquiries on manufac-
lures, agriculture. mines and quar-
ries, annual special inquiries and
other work. This includes vital sta
tistics, statistics of cities and states,
tobacco, cotton and cottonseed pro-
ducts. Taken collectively. Director
Rogers says that the estimated cost
Of various lines of work would run.
manufactures, mines and quarries,
$2593.000 agriculture $6,049,000:
mostly :o- field work; population
$10,440,00). The expenditures for n"
census Of 1910 were about $l5,oo0 "
The Census Bureau is re
many suggestions for cXtensiU
usual Held OF ndllOll-N luc
ton. There has been srC2
to know the stock of hide. .
and manufacture of saddi,
boots, betting and leather GuGl
it was deemed essential to get at 0I.tt
the leather output including Voc.
drawn from the hides of kids and
sheep thnj goes into the manufacture
! Of woolen soods. The Tanners Coun-
Gil. an organization of the tannCry
owners. IS getting that information
now and furnishing it to the govern
ment at Il cost of 100000 to $4,000
They collect statistics of raw mate
rial. different kinds of leather
amount in stock as we'll as the cured
or finished product. but the Census
Bureau proposes to ascertain more
than that The bureau wants to know
the uses to which the raw material
and manufactured product are to be
put, the stock on hand, consumption
| by, the manufacturers and the pros
pect of having a supply for the coun-
try'S future needs, all of which delvcs
into the field of shoes. boots. saddles
! beltings. harness and many finished
! products OF value. The census will
gather this information by mail and
/ through special agents.
Despite criticisms of belated CEN
sus reports in past years, Director
Rogers says the population of the
United States could be ascertained
and made public in less than six
months, and likewise the number of
farms, by counties and by states, and
that any ether information on which
the government wanted quick results
could be mt out promptly. He says
the Fuel administration War Trade
Board, Tariff Commission and Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau make daily use
of the basic census facts.
| Before the House census commit =
tee. which is about to frame the nee
eSsary legislation. there has been
considerable criticism of a limiting
provision proposed by the Census
Bureau that in no case shall in
formation furnished under the au-
thority IF this act be USED TO the
detrlment of the person or persons
to whom such information relates.''
Representative Miller. of WASHINGTON.
contended that the information
should be permitted such use as a
court or governor might see fit, as it
is not a judicial or inquisitoriaI pro-
ceedlnE. Representative Houston,
Tenn, contends the clause is futile.
Director Rogers thinks the indiyid :
uai has the personal right to keen
private information from other Der-
sons: that manufacturers, for in
stance, are willing to tell the census
about their business for statistical
purposes Tut do not want publicity
OF II am, If they knew it were to be
published. they would not give the in
formation at all or would do so nm
DER protest. Chairman Helm. of tho
COMMITTEES. believes they do not want
10 give their trade secrets away.
An individual informs the census
OF ms father. and mother. his age
ana where he was born and where
ne hved at certain time" eynlained
Mr. Rogers. Now in the select;ve
dra1t he IS questioned about his ape
nationality, and identity. That man
IS 70 be Prosecuted upon the state
meht ne made to the census. | would
feiuse to give information to anyone
othef than to the local constituted
authority for the annoyance or nros-
ecution # that man. If the court were
10 issue an order that the states in
tefeStS arc involved and it is NV dutv
10 certify the record as it was given
at a particular time. | would do so.
Inc same kind Of a question comes
up as to an estate and the census
ooes not want to be used in the
courts to the prejudice of any man
VINO makes confidential statement.
~ IS now discretionary with the di
rector"
Director Rogers said he would not
protest against elimination of the
disputed provision.