Evening star., 1940-02-29
Hopkins Aide Fears
Income Questions
Will Discredit Censu,
Dr.. Willard Thorp
Sees Full Authority
For Them, However
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

For Them, However
BY BLAIR BOLLES.
Or. Willard Thorp, economic ad-
wiser to Secretary of Commerce
Hopkins, expressed the fear today
that II resentment against the two
income questions In the 1910 popula-
ton census continues to grow, the
result may be general refusal to give
the income information, with q re-
sultant "discrediting" of the census.
Mr.. Thorp appeared before a sub
committee of the Senate Commerce
Committee in the name of Secretary
Hopkins to defend the Census Bu-
reau from the allegations that the
income questions are unauthorized
by statute, transgress the Bill of
Rights and constitute what Senator
Tobey, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire has called "snooping" inva-
sion Of American citizens privacy.
Senator Tobey, the author OF a
resolution that would express it as
the sense Of the Senate" that the
income questions should not be
asked, sat by DR.. Thorp's elbow as
he testif1ed. The Commerce De-
partment economist aroused the
Senator's heat twice by stating that
the popular uprising against the in
come questions were based on an
unfortunate misunderstanding" of
the true nature of the questions and
by implying that Mr.. Tobey was the
chief contributor to the misunder-
standing.
The New Hampshire Senator
made a 15-minute radio address sew
eral weeks ago In which he con-
demned the questions as unauthor-
lied, invalid and unnecessary.
THE greatest blind spot in our
present economic knowledge" Dr.
Thorp said in pleading the urgency
OF the questions under debate
concerns the incomes of those in
dustrial workers dependent upon
wages and salaries. These facts will
be available to every one, and con-
tribute to the wise solution of our
difficult public and private prob
lens"
The Debate Grows Heated.
DR.. Thorp had his disagreements
during the morning with Senator
White, Republican, of Maine, acting
chairman of the subcommittee
holding hearings on Mr.. Tobey's
resolution. Senator White asked
him how long it would take the
census enumerator to ask all the
questions on the population and
housing schedules. DR.. Thorp
turned to DR.. William Hauser,
Census Bureau statistican, who said:
Eight minutes
Senator White was incredulous.
up where come FROM" he said
the enumerators aren't going to
be able to get into the front door
within eight minutes"
DR.. Thorp said the eight-minute
period was arrived at by taking a
test census last summer of 10000
persons in st. Josephs and Marshall
Counties in Indiana, in the South
Bend area. There, he said, the peo-
pie answered the questions readily
But he remarked sarcastically:
II can't tell how long it's going to
take if every person the enumerator
sees goes into long harangue about
the Bill of Rights before he answers
the questions.
Opinions on Secrecy Differ.
During testimony of an earlier wit
ness, Ralph Hetzel, jr, director OF
the unemployment division of the
G. I. O., Senator White announced
his doubt that the private disclosures
Of income would long be a private
secret.
II understand wholly" Mr.. Hetzel
said. the indignation of ladies espe-
cially about the possibility that this
information may be spread about. ]
think it is the duty of the Depart
ment OF Commerce to see that this
information is kept inviolate."
Senator White-Do you think they
can?
Mr.. Hetzel-Why, yes.
Senator White-That's more than
I do.
DR.. Thorp exhibited no concern
about the question of secrecy. He
said the income questions-Nos. 81
and 33-would supply information
which would be neighborhood in
formation already. He emphasized
that the questions seek only to
elicit the income from wages and
salaries for those who get less
than 5000 year from those
sources.
What people don't want to dis
close" DR.. Thorp said, lis informa-
ton about income from stocks and
bonds and property. That sort OF
information is not sought in the
census questions
No Pay Above $1,000.
He read from the Census Bureau
booklet, instructions to enumera-
tors" how the census takers should
ask the income questions:
do not include the earnings of
businessmen, farmers and profes-
sional persons derived from business
profits, sales of crops or fees
You are not to report the actual
amount of money wages and salary
for persons who have received more
than $1,000. Keep this in mind in
enumerating any household which
seems likely to have an income
above this amount. Some persons
who might otherwise be reluctant to
report wages or salary would be quite