Evening star., 1922-11-05
Bureau of Federal Statistics

as an example. This division would
be charged with analysis, standardi-
cation and Improvement of the sta
tistical work of the various divisions
of the organization. With the expan-
sion Of the bureau of the census into
the bureau Of federal statistics and
the transfer to it of a variety of sta
tistical work from other branches Of
the government, and with the conse-
Quent increase in the number OF
schedules and publications to be is
sued. the need for an agency to stan
dardize and coordinate the bureaus
output would be imperative.
The establishment Of this new d.
vision Of analysis and research Is
believed to be also desirable from an
administrative viewpoint. The di-
rector of the bureau OF federal sta
tistics. as we'll as other administra-
tive officers Of such a bureau. would
be confronted from time to time with
problems of a technical nature re-
curing for their proper solution ex-
pert knowledge and much research.
have within the bureau of group OF
experts to whom the administrative
officers could apply for advice in such
matters. To these experts would be
assigned the task Of making such
analytical and interpretive studies as
mi ght be decided upon by the director.
The division of analysis and research
might also render valuable assistance
in an advisory capacity to other
branches Of the government service.
It is also proposed that the Statistical
Abstract of the United States be as
signed to this division. The Statistical
Abstract Is a handbook of statistical
information derived from both gov
ernmental and private sources. 1t
represents no original research. 1t
covers. in condensed form. the whole
field Of government statistics. The
principal statistical unit Of the fed
eral government, would be the logical
Office from which to issue the govern
ment's handbook of statistical in
formation.
The bureau of efficiency recon-
mends the restriction of the free dis
tribution of statistical publications to
officials of the government, to libra
ries and to educational institutions.
This would curtail the governments
printing bill many thousands of dol
lars annually. Statistical publications
are an expensive product from first to
the printing of results. Persons seek
ing information with respect to a
particular subject will not object to
paying a nominal price for the volume
in which they are interested. The
general results of nearly all statis-
tical inquiries are given wide pub
licity through the press-daily, week.
ly and trade-and through advance
bulletins. Such summary publications
of the results of statistical inquiries
furnish the reading public with the
general facts in which 1t Is interested.
In this connection it may be noted
that the free distribution of publica-
tions issued by the bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce. including
those relating to our foreign trade, is
restricted to government agencies.
libraries and educational institutions.
The new director Of federal statis-
tics should. with the approval of the
Secretary Of Commerce. the bureau of
efficiency recommends, be permitted
to reorganize any or all of the sta
tistical work under its jurisdiction in
order that he may be at all times in
a position to meet changing condi-
tions and that he may not be handi-
capped In the coordination and unfit
cation OF the work. Similar au-
thority was granted to the Secretary
OF Commefce In the act creating the
Department Of Commerce.