Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-30
DESIRES U. S.
TO DISTRIBUTE
NJ
Statistician Wishes. Govern
ment to Conduct Clear
ing House.
CONFERS WITH HARDING

WASHINGTON, March 30.-Ros5r W.
Babson, economist and statistician. in a
report, submitted lathe President, recon-
mends that a central clearing house for
Government material be formed, so that
the wealth OF information which the Gov
mt collects might be concentrated
and available to business men, news
papers and other interests. Mr.. BabSOn
is chairman of a committee formed some
time ago to investigate the. situation.
The plan suggests a chief statistician
or a librarian for all Federal branches
be directly under the Cabinet Inc men
tions the name Of Herbert f. Brown, now
at the head Of the Bureau of Efficiency,
for the post. Through his work on the
bureau. Mr. Brown is thoroughly familiar
web fhe different Federal departments
and the strong and weak points Of each.
CARRIES PLANS
TO-WHITB HOUSE.
Mr.. BabsOn visited the White House
and also conferred with Vice President
Coolidge and Senator SmoOt in reference
to the plan. He feels that not only
would the business men be able to avail
themselves of much valuable Government
material, but also would be saved the
constant a~nnoyances of duplicate ques-
~tiOnnaires often sent out by several diff
ferent departments TO the same ~organiza-
ton. As a practical suggestion for put
ting the clearing house in force the COM
mittee recommends among other things
the following:
The various statistical libraries now
scattered throughout the departments
should be combined into one inter-de-
pdrtmental statistical library. For the
purpose OF coordination, there should be
appointed by the Presidents Cabinet a
statistical Librarian who will be en-
charge, and who will be directly under
the Presidents Cabinet, serving all
equally and being amehable to no one
else. This librarian would compile no
statistics himself. u would perform four
functions as follows:
1. h4ve a knowledge of all statistics
being complied by the Federal Govern
ment; where they are located and by
whom they are Being compiled. In this
way he would act as 4 train dispatcher
and Immediately upon request put the
Administration or any Inquirer in touch
with the proper bureau when inquiries
arise.
AUTHORITY TO
DECIDE CONFLICTS.
2. Have the authority Of interpreting
the law under which this reorganization
would take place, and decide Jurisdiction
al conflicts between statisticisns of the
various departments.
3. Serve as 4 clearing house on all ques-
~tionnaires sent out By different depart
ments.
4. The criticism frequently has been
made that since each department is en-
trusted with promoting and pleading
some special interest the figures pro-
duced by any such department are opened
to the charge Of bias. The statistics,
therefore, would be received with much
confidence if they were subject to an in
dependent audit. This, of course, need
not be constant or complete, but could be
applied at intervals somewhat on the
principle Of the "caIl' Of the national
bank comptroller. If such an audit were
provided, it should be under this IL
brarian.-Copyright, 1922. by Public
Ledger Company.