Evening star., 1934-01-07
improvements in
Federal Statistics
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Every day sees new developments
and applications Of the law which gave
the President authority to require the
making Of reports and the keeping OF
accounts"
The Central Statistical Board, which
got under way several weeks ago, is re-
ported TO be finding increasing evidence
Of the value of this new departure, not
only in expansion of the statistical
work of the Government, but in the
scientific coordination of the data al
ready accumulated.
Improvement is noted in the work OF
gathering statistics by a number of reg
ular Federal Government agencies,
notably the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
in the Department Of Labor, and the
Bureaus of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce and the Census, IN the DEPART
ment of Commerce.
There are many illustrations of inn
proved statistical work resulting from
the actual dependence of important de-
cisions upon the data. Nowhere is this
more obvious than in the field Of retail
prices and cost of living, comparatively
neglected in the past. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics is consolidating and
improving these records particularly be-
cause salaries of Government employees
are now being adjusted according to the
St-of-living index. Information on re-
tail prices also is essential to analyzin5
the progress of the recovery program.
X *&
Commenting on the value of statistics
"aS a public work" Willard L. Thorp,
director of the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce. speaking before
the American Statistical Association in
Philadelphia, emphasized the fact that
statistical data are becoming increas-
ingly essential to wise determination
of national policy" He referred to sew
eral projects being undertaken in the
recovery campaign, all of which are de-
pendent on accurate and Well-elassif1ed
statistics
For example, field organizations are
now being set up to carry on real
property inventory" in some 60 cities,
to determine a basis for a coherent pol
icy for the proper extension of Govern
ment credit, and to tell building and
financial interests the story of resi-
Dental and business construction news.
The figures obtained will determine
clearly the present condition and ade-
quacv of our housing facilities. and thus
aid in the program Of stimulation Of
the construction industries.
A special organization composed Of
Washington to handle the project. The
Bureau of the Census has undertaken
the organization Of the field work, draw
ing men from the unemployment rolls in
the cities in which the inventory is to
be conducted
Then there is the factual inventory
Of retail and wholesale distribution in
the United States, showing the present
status of business and indicating Just
what has happened to it since 1929, Just
begun by the Bureau of the Census BY
showing how much is being spent in
retail stores, and what proportion is
being spent for various types Of serv-
ices, this survey will give a better basis
for determining the distribution of the
consumers dollar 1t will also indicate
the extent to which there may be a
pent-up demand for various commodi-
ties.
Another significant new DEVELOPMENT
during the week was the announcement
by the C. w. A. that independent rec
ords of business establishments main.
tanned by all Federal Government or
ganizatiOnS for the purpose Of obtain
ing statistical data will be consolidated
into one master or key list. At the
same time the N. r. A. has determined
to record the name and address Of
every retail store in the country oper-
ating under the codes, and TO keep this
list up to date as new business estab-
lishments apply for permission to dis
play the Blue Eagle.
(Copyright, 1934.l