The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-13
HOOVER SUGGESTS
ANOTHER CENSUS
Considerable Dissatisfaction
With Figures of Last
Count
DISAPPROVES OF
JANUARY WORK

Enumeration Should BE Made In April
Manufacturers too Much Annoyed by
Government Satisticians-Census Fig
ures Are Sufficient.
WASHINGTON, Dec 13.-Because of
considerable dissatisfaction" with the
/ result of the count in the census taken
last January, the house census committee
! is considering legislation providing for an
other enumeration of the population of
/ the United States in 1925 or some other
year prior to the next decennial census,
Secretary Hoover says today in that por
! tion of his annual report dealing with the
activities Of the census bureau.
This proposed legislation has my ap-
prevail" Mr.. Hoover says. adding that 1T
/ has frequently been contended that the
distribution of the population as shown
| by the reports of the 18th census is alb
normal: that prior to that enumeration
There was great movement from rural
to urban districts which, since the emu
meration. has been neutralized in large
measure by a reverse movement and that
this shifting of the population affected the
totals for certain states, thus influencing
the appOrtionment OF representatives III
congress-.
No More Winter Counts.
Census taking in January is disap-
proved on the ground that the weather in
that month is a serious handicap to the
enumerator. delaying the work and max
/, ing it necessary ITO take unusual precau-
tiOnS TO insure complete, canvas. The
report says the time for taking the next
census should be in April, as was the
case before the last census. The change
for the last census was made, it says, at
the request of various interests making
use of agricultural statistics, the idea be-
8 ing that more accurate statistics could be
obtained concerning the activities of the
farms if the canvas was made shortly
. after the end of the year to which it re
lated. ..M
:, Mr.. Hoover also says that the new di-
= rector of the census, William NJ. Steuari
, is of the opinion that changes be made il
, methods of procedure, if not in the scope
! of some of the inquiries. .. $751;.
1T would hasten the publication of the
figures for the total population" the re
; Gus districts made the preliminary count
/, and announced the population, subject tc
correction. for the political subdivisions OF
their districts"
To avoid duplication of effort anG
eliminate annoyance to manufacturers
land others, the commerce secretary says
he has asked the director of the census t
negotiate with other statistical bureau.
of the federal government looking to a con
Solidation of effort i'm this direction.
Many complaints have been received
from manufacturers and others concern
ing the numerous requests made by the
federal bureaus for statistical and Other
information" Mr.. Hoover says. Il fee
confident that in many instances the pc
riodic Investigations of the bureau of cen
suS are all that is necessary TO make ant
that the investigation of the other bureau,
could. with advantage. be discontinued
Calling attention that part Of the cen
sus records were destroyed in q recen
fire In the department of commerce build
ing, Mr.. Hoover declares that a hall o
records in which these documents can b.
stored and conveniently examined is ur
gently needed.