An Act to revise, codify, and enact into law, title 13 of the United States Code, entitled ""Census.""
PL 83-740 (H.R.9729), enacted 08/31/1954

1012 
PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
August 31, 1954 
[H. R. 9729] 
Public Law 740 
CHAPTER 1158 
AN ACT 
To revise, codify, and enact into law, title 13 of the United States Code, 
entitled "Census". 
Title 13, U. S. 
Code. 
Codification and 
enactment into laww 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That title 13 of 
the United States Code, entitled "Census", is revised, codified, and 
enacted into law, and may be cited as "Title 13, United States Code, 
section—", as follows: 
TITLE 13—CENSUS 
Chapter 
Sec. 
1. 
ADMINISTRATION 
1 
3. COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS 
41 
5. 
CENSUSES 
131 
7. OFFENSES AND PENALTIES 
211 
Sec. 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
CHAPTER 1—ADMINISTRATION 
SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Definitions. 
; 
Bureau of tlie Census. 
) 
Seal. 
Functions of Secretary; delegation. 
Schedules; number, form, and scope of inquiries. 
Requests to other departments and offices for information. 
Printing; requisitions upon Public Printer; publication of bulletins and 
reix)rts. 
Certified copies of certain returns; other data; restriction on use; dispo-
.'jition of fees received. 
Information as confidential; exception. 
Mail matter. 
Authorization of appropriations. 
SUBCHAPTER II—OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
21. Director of the Census; duties. 
22. Qualifications of permanent i)ersonnel. 
23. Additional officers and employees. 
24. Special agents, supervisors, supervisors' clerks, enumerators, and interpre-
ters ; compensation; details. 
25. Duties of supervisors, enumerators, and other employees. 
SUBCHAPTER I~GENERAL PROVISIONS 
§ 1. 
Definitions 
As used in this title, unless the context requires another meaning, 
or unless it is otherwise provided— 
"Bureau" means the Bureau of the Census; 
"Secretary"' means the Secretary of Commerce. 
§ 2. Bureau of the Census 
The Bureau is continued as an agency within, and under the juris-
diction of, the Department of Commerce. 
§ 3. 
Seal 
The Bureau shall have a seal containing such device as has been 
selected heretofore, or as the Secretary may select hereafter. 
A de-
scription of such seal with an impression thereof shall be filed in the 
office of the Secretary of State. The seal shall remain in the custody 
of the Secretary or such officer or employee of the Bureau as he des-
ignates, and shall be affixed to all certificates and attestations that 
may be required from the Bureau. 
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PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
1013 
§ 4. Functions of Secretary; delegation 
The Secretary shall perform the functions and duties imposed upon 
him by this title or he may delegate any of them to such officers, 
employees, bureaus or agencies of the Department of Commerce as he 
designates. 
§ 5. Schedules; number, form, and scope of inquiries 
The Secretary shall prepare schedules, and shall determine the 
inquiries, and the number, form, and subdivisions thereof, for the 
statistics, surveys, and censuses provided for in this title. 
§ 6. Requests to other departments and offices for information 
The Secretary, whenever he deems it advisable, may call upon any 
other department or office of the Government for information perti-
nent to the work provided for in this title. 
§ 7. Printing; requisitions upon Public Printer; publication of 
bulletins and reports 
The Secretary may make requisition upon the Public Printer for 
miscellaneous printing necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
title. 
He may further have printed by the Public Printer, in such 
editions as he deems necessary, preliminary and other census bulletins, 
and final reports of the results of the several investigations authorized 
by this title, and may publish and distribute such bulletins and reports. 
§ 8. Certified copies of certain returns; other data; restriction 
on use; disposition of fees received 
(a) The Secretary may, upon a written request, and in his discre-
tion, furnish to Governors of States and Territories, courts of record, 
and individuals, data for genealogical and other proper purposes, 
from the population, agriculture, and housing schedules prepared 
under the authority of subchapter II of chapter 5, upon the payment 
of the actual, or estimated cost of searching the records and $1 for 
supplying a certificate. 
(b) The Secretary may furnish transcripts or copies of tables and 
other census records and make special statistical compilations and sur-
veys for State or local officials, private concerns, or individuals upon 
the payment of the actual, or estimated cost of such w^ork. 
(c) In no case shall information furnished under the authority of 
this section be used to the detriment of the persons to whom such 
information relates. 
(d) All moneys received by the Department of Commerce or any 
bureau or agency thereof in payment for furnishing transcripts of 
census records or making special statistical compilations and surveys 
shall be deposited to the credit of an appropriation for collecting 
statistics. 
§ 9. Information as confidential; exception 
(a) Neither the Secretary, nor any other officer or employee of the 
Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, may, except 
as provided in section 8 of this title— 
(1) use the information furnished under the provisions of this 
title for any purpose other than the statistical purposes for which 
it is supplied; or 
(2) make any publication whereby the data furnished by any 
particular establisliment or individual under this title can be 
identified; or 
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PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
(3) permit anyone other than the sworn officers and employees 
of the Department or bureau or agency thereof to examine the 
individual reports, 
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section relating to 
the confidential treatment of data for particular individuals and 
establishments, shall not apply to the censuses of governments pro-
vided for by subchapter I I I of chapter 5 of this title, nor to interim 
current data provided for by subchapter IV of chapter 5 of this title 
as to the subjects covered by censuses of governments, with respect 
to any information obtained therefor that is compiled from, or cus-
tomarily provided in, public records. 
§ 10. Mail matter 
The Post Office Department shall transmit free of postage, and by 
registered mail if necessary, and so marked, all mail matter, of w^hat-
ever class or weight, relating to any collection of statistics, survey, 
or census provided for by this title and addressed to the Depart-
ment of Commerce or to any bureau or agency thereof authorized by 
the Secretary to make such collection or survey or to take such census, 
or addressed to any official thereof, and endorsed "Official business", 
followed by the name of such Department, bureau, or agency, as the 
case may be. 
§ 11. Authorization of appropriations 
There is authorized to be appropriated, out of the Treasury of the 
United States, such sums as may be necessary to carry out all pro-
visions of this title. 
SUBCHAPTER II—OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
§ 21. Director of the Census; duties 
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director of the Census, appointed 
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
The Director shall perform such duties as may be imposed upon him 
by law, regulations, or orders of the Secretary. 
§ 22. Qualifications of permanent personnel 
All permanent officers and employees of the Bureau shall be citizens 
of the United States, and shall be appointed and compensated under 
c^ri^^Vn??'** . 
the Civil Service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, as amended 
3 u o c 1071 note. 
1 
J -
I 
or supplemented. 
§ 23. Additional officers and employees 
(a) The Secretary may appoint, without regard to the Classification 
Act of 1949, at rates of compensation to be fixed by him, as many 
temporary employees in the Departmental Service as may be neces-
sary to meet the requirements of the work provided for in this title. 
Census employees wno are transferred to any such temporary positions 
shall not lose their permanent Civil Service status by reason of the 
transfer. The Secretary shall make all such temporary appointments 
in conformity with the Civil Service laws and rules. 
(b) In addition to employees of the Department of Commerce, 
employees of other departments and independent offices of the Gov-
ernment may, with the consent of the head of the respective de-
partment or office, be employed and compensated for field work 
in connection with the work provided for in this title. 
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PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
1015 
§ 24. Special agents, supervisors, supervisors' clerks, enumer-
ators, and interpreters; compensation; details 
(a) The Secretary may appoint special agents, supervisors, super-
visors' clerks, enumerators, and interpreters on a temporary basis to 
carry out the provisions of this title. Such appointments shall be 
made without regard to the Civil Service laws or the Classification 
Act of 1949. The enlisted men and officers of the armed services may 
f ulcfVofi^note. 
be appointed and compensated for the enumeration of personnel of 
the armed forces. 
(b) The special agents, supervisors, supervisors' clerks, enumerat-
ors, and interpreters appointed under this section shall receive com-
pensation at rates fixed by the Secretary; and the compensation on a 
piece-price basis may be fixed without limitation as to the amount 
earned per diem. 
(c) The Secretary may authorize the expenditure of necessary slims 
for travel expenses for attendance at training courses held by the 
Department of Commerce with respect to any of the work provided 
for in this title. 
§ 25. Duties of supervisors, enumerators, and other employees 
(a) Each supervisor shall perform the duties imposed upon him by 
the Secretary in the enforcement of chapter 5 of this title in accord-
ance with the Secretary's orders and instructions. 
(b) Each enumerator or other employee detailed to serve as enu-
merator shall be charged with the collection in his subdivision of 
the facts and statistics called for on such schedules as the Secretary 
determines shall be used by him in connection with any census or 
survey provided for by chapter 5 of this title. 
(c) Each enumerator shall visit personally each dwelling house in 
his subdivision, and each family therein, and each individual living 
out of a family in any place of abode, and by inquiry made of the head 
of each family, or of the member thereof deemed most competent and 
trustworthy, or of such individual living out of a family, shall obtain 
every item of information and all particulars required for any census 
or survey provided for in chapter 5 of this title. 
In case no person is 
found at the usual place of abode of such family, or individual living 
out of a family, competent to answer the inquiries, the census employee 
may obtain the required information as nearly as may be practicable 
from the families or persons living nearest to such place of abode who 
may be competent to answer such inquiries. 
CHAPTER 3—COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION 
OF STATISTICS 
SUBCHAPTER I—COTTON 
Sec. 
41. Collection and publication. 
42. Contents of reports; number of bales of linter; distribution; publication by 
Department of Agriculture. 
43. Records and reports of cotton ginners. 
44. Foreign cotton statistics. 
45. Simultaneous publication of cotton reports. 
SUBCHAPTER II—OILSEEDS, NUTS, AND KERNELS; 
FATS, OILS, AND GREASES 
61. Collection and publication. 
62. Additional statistics. 
63. Duplicate collection of statistics prohibited; access to available statistics. 
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[68 S T A T . 
y V 
SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS 
101. Defective, dei>en(lent, and delinquent classes; crime. 
102. Religion. 
103. Designation of reports. 
SUBCHAPTER I—COTTON 
§ 41. Collection and publication 
The Secretary shall collect and publish statistics concerning the— 
(1) amount of cotton ginned; 
(2) quantity of raw cotton consumed in manufacturing estab-
lishments of every character; 
(3) quantity of baled cotton on hand; 
(4) number of active consuming cotton spindles; 
(5) number of active spindle hours; and 
(6) quantity of cotton imported and exported, with the country 
of origin and destination. 
§ 42. Contents of reports; number of bales of linter; dis-
tribution; publication by Department of Agriculture 
(a) The statistics .of the quantity of cotton ginned shall show the 
quantity ginned from each crop prior to August 1, August 16, Sep-
tember 1, September 16, October 1, October 18, November 1, November 
14, December 1, December 13, January 16, and March 1; but the Secre-
tary may limit the canvasses of August 1 and August 16 to those sec-
tions of the cotton-growing States in which cotton has been ginned. 
(b) The quantity of cotton consumed in manufacturing establish-
ments, the quantity of baled cotton on hand, the number of active con-
suming cotton spindles, the number of active spindle-hours, and the 
statistics of cotton imported and exported shall relate to each month, 
and shall be published as soon as possible after the close of the month, 
(c) In collecting and publishing statistics of cotton on hand in 
warehouses and other stoi'age establishments, and of cotton known as 
the "carry-over" in the United States, the Secretary shall ascertain 
and publish as a separate item in the report of cotton statistics the 
number of bales of linters as distinguished from the number of bales 
of cotton. 
(d) The Secretary shall furnish to the Department of Agriculture, 
immediately prior to the publication of each report of that Depart-
ment regarding the cotton crop, the latest available statistics herein-
before mentioned, and the Department of Agriculture shall publish 
the same in connection with each of its reports concerning cotton. 
§ 43. Records and reports of cotton ginners 
Every cotton ginner shall keep a record of the county or parish in 
which each bale of cotton ginned by him is grown and report at the 
March canvass of each year a segregation of the total number of bales 
ginned by counties or parishes in which grown. 
§ 44. Foreign cotton statistics 
In addition to the information regarding cotton in the United 
States provided for in this subchapter, the Secretary shall compile, 
by correspondence or the use of published reports and documents, any 
available information concerning the production, consumption, and 
stocks of cotton in foreign countries, and the number of cotton-con-
suming spindles in such countries. 
Each report published by the 
Department of Commerce or agency or bureau thereof regarding 
cotton shall contain an abstract of the latest available information 
obtained under the provisions of this section, and the Secretary shall 
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1017 
furnish the same to the Department of Agriculture for publication 
in connection with the reports of that department concerning cotton 
in the same manner as in the case of statistics relating to the United 
States. 
§ 45. Simultaneous publication of cotton reports 
The reports of cotton ginned to the dates as of which the Depart-
ment of Agriculture is also required to issue cotton crop reports 
shall be issued simultaneously with the cotton crop reports of that 
department, the two reports to be issued from the same place at 11 
o'clock antemeridian on the eighth day following that on which the 
respective reports relate. When such date of release falls on Sunday, 
a legal holiday, or other day which pursuant to statute or Executive 
order is a nonworkday in the Department of Commerce at Washing-
ton generally, the reports shall be issued at 11 o'clock antemeridian 
of the next succeeding workday. 
SUBCHAPTER II—OILSEEDS, NUTS, AND KERNELS; 
FATS, OILS, AND GREASES 
§ 61. Collection and publication 
(a) The Secretary shall collect, collate, and publish monthly sta-
tistics concerning— 
(1) the quantities of— 
(A) cottonseed, soybeans, peanuts, flaxseed, corn germs, 
copra, sesame seed, babassu nuts and kernels, and other oil-
seeds, nuts, and kernels received, crushed, and on hand at oil 
mills; 
(B) crude and refined oils, cakes, and meals, and other 
primary products, by type or kind, of the seeds, nuts, and 
kernels referred to in clause (A) of this paragraph, manu-
factured, shipped out, and on hand at oil mills and processing 
establishments; 
(C) crude and refined vegetable oils, by type or kind, 
used by class of product and held by manufacturers of vege-
table shortening, margarine, soap, and other principal prod-
ucts using large quantities of vegetable oils; 
(D) crude and refined vegetable oils, by type or kind, held 
in warehouses and in transit to consuming establishments; 
and 
(2) the quantities, by types or kinds, of— 
(A) animal fats and oils and greases produced; 
(B) animal fats and oils and greases shipped and held by 
producers; 
(C) animal fats and oils and greases, fish and marine mam-
mal oils used by class of product and held by manufacturers 
of shortening, margarine, soap, and other principal products 
which require the use of large quantities of animal fats and 
oils and greases, fish and marine mammal oils; 
(D) animal fats and oils and greases, fish and marine 
mammal oils held in warehouses, cold storage, and in transit 
to consuming establishments. 
(b) The Secretary shall not be required to collect, more frequently 
than he deems necessary to provide reliable statistical reports, infor-
mation from any person who produces, holds, or consumes fats and 
oils in inconsequential quantities. 
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[68 S T A T . 
§ 62. Additional statistics 
This subchapter does not restrict or limit the Secretary in the col-
lection and publication, under the general authority of the Secretary, 
of such statistics on fats and oils or products thereof not specifically 
required in this subchapter, as he deems to be in the public interest. 
§ 63. Duplicate collection of statistics prohibited; access to 
available statistics 
Statistics required under Federal law, as of the effective date of this 
title, to be collected by any other Federal department or agency in a 
manner comparable both as to form and period of time to the collec-
tion of statistics provided for by this subchapter shall not be collected 
by the Secretary under the authority of this subchapter. 
Immediately 
upon his request, the Secretary shall have access to any such statistics 
and shall include them in the publication required by this subchapter. 
SUBCHAPTER III—MISCELLANEOUS 
§ 101. Defective, dependent, and delinquent classes; crime 
(a) The Secretary may collect decennially statistics relating— 
(1) to the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes; and 
(2) to crime, including judicial statistics pertaining thereto. 
(b) The statistics authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall 
include information upon the following questions, namely: age, sex, 
color, nativity, parentage, literacy by race, color, nativity, and parent-
age, and such other questions relating to such subjects as the Secre-
tary deems proper. 
(c) In addition to the decennial collections authorized by subsec-
tions (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary may compile and pub-
lish annually statistics relating to crime and to the defective, depend-
ent, and delinquent classes. 
§ 102. 
Religion 
The Secretary may collect decennially statistics relating to religious 
bodies. 
§ 103. Designation of reports 
All reports covering any of the statistics collected under the provi-
sions of this subchapter shall be designated as "Special Reports" 
followed by the name of whatever bureau or agency of the Depart-
ment of Commerce is designated by the Secretary to collect and com-
pile such statistics. 
CHAPTER 5—CENSUSES 
SUBCHAPTER I—MANUFACTURERS, MINERAL INDUS-
TRIES, AND OTHER BUSINESSES 
Sec. 
131. Collection and publication; five-year periods. 
132. Controlling law; effect on other agencies. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 
7 4 0 - A U G . 31, 1954 
1019 
SUBCHAPTER 
II—POPULATION, 
HOUSING, 
AGRICUL-
TURE, 
IRRIGATION, 
DRAINAGE, 
AND 
UNEMPLOY-
MENT 
141. Population, agriculture, irrigation, drainage, and unemployment; territory 
included. 
142. Housing; scope of inquiries; territory included; supplementary statistics. 
143. Decennial census period; completion of reports upon inquiries. 
144. Restriction on inquiries. 
145. Commencement of inquiries as to population, agriculture, and housing; 
time for completion. 
146. Mid-decade censuses of agriculture; exclusion of certain areas; preliminary 
statistics. 
SUBCHAPTER III—GOVERNMENTS 
161. Quinquennial censuses; inclusion of certain data. 
162. Acquisition of reports and material from governmental units, private per-
sons, and agencies. 
163. Authority of other agencies. 
SUBCHAPTER IV—INTERIM CURRENT DATA 
181. Surveys. 
SUBCHAPTER 
I—MANUFACTURES, MINERAL 
INDUS-
TRIES, AND OTHER BUSINESSES 
§ 131. Collection and publication; five-year periods 
The Secretary shall take, compile, and publish censuses of manu-
factures, of mineral industries, and of other businesses, including the 
distributive trades, service establishments, and transportation (ex-
clusive of means of transportation for which statistics are required 
by law to be filed with, and are compiled and published by, a desig-
nated regulatory body), in the year 1954 and every fifth year there-
after, and each such census shall relate to the year immediately 
preceding the taking thereof: Provided^ That the censuses of manu-
factures, of mineral industries, and of other businesses, including the 
distributive trades and service establishments, directed to be taken 
in the year 1954 relating to the year 1953, shall be taken instead in 
the year 1955 relating to year 1954. The censuses provided for in 
this section shall include the United States and its Territories and 
such possessions as the Secretary may determine. 
§ 132. Controlling law; effect on other agencies 
To the extent that the provisions of this subchapter or subchapter 
IV of this chapter conflict with any other provision of this title or 
other law, pertaining to the Secretary or the Department of Com-
merce, the provisions of this title shall control; but nothing in this 
title shall be deemed to revoke or impair the authority of any other 
Federal agency with respect to the collection or release of information. 
SUBCHAPTER 
II—POPULATION, 
HOUSING, 
AGRICUL-
TURE, 
IRRIGATION, 
DRAINAGE, 
AND 
UNEMPLOY-
MENT 
§ 141. Population, agriculture, irrigation, drainage, and un-
employment; territory included 
The Secretary shall, in the year 1960 and every ten years thereafter, 
take a census of population, agriculture, irrigation, drainage, and 
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[68 S T A T . 
unemployment in each State, the District of Columbia, Alaska, 
Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The respective governors of Guam, Samoa, 
the Virgin Islands, and the Canal Zone shall, in the same year, take 
censuses of such islands and reservation in accordance with plans 
prescribed or approved by the Secretary. 
§ 142. Housing; scope of inquiries; territory included; supple-
mentary statistics 
The Secretary shall take a census of housing in each State, the 
District of Columbia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 
Alaska, in the year 1960 and every ten years thereafter in conjunction 
with, at the same time, and as a part of the population inquiry of the 
decennial census provided for in section 141 of this title in order to 
provide information concerning the number, characteristics (includ-
ing utilities and equipment), and geographical distribution of dwell-
ing units in the United States. 
Tlie Secretary may collect such 
supplementary statistics (either in advance of or after the taking of 
such census) as are necessary to the completion of such census. 
§ 143. Decennial census period; completion of reports upon 
inquiries 
(a) The period of three years beginning the 1st day of January 
in the year 1960 and every tenth year thereafter shall be known as 
the decennial census period, and, except as provided in subsection (b) 
of this section, the reports upon the inquiries provided for in sections 
141 and 142 of this title shall be completed within such period, 
(b) The tabulation of total population by States as required for 
the apportionment of Representatives shall be completed within eight 
montlis from the beginning of the enumeration and reported by the 
Secretary to the President of the United States. 
§ 144. Restriction on inquiries 
The censuses provided for by sections 141 and 142 of this title shall 
be restricted to inquiries relating to population, to agriculture, to 
irrigation, to drainage, to unemployment, and to housing. 
§ 145. Commencement of inquiries as to population, agriculture, 
and housing; time for completion 
(a) The census of the population and of agriculture and of housing 
required by sections 141 and 142 of this title shall be taken as of the 
1st day of April, and each enumerator shall commence the enumera-
tion of his district on the day following thereafter unless the Secre-
tary changes the date of commencement of the enumeration in such 
district by reason of climatic or other conditions which would ma-
terially interfere with the proper conduct of the work; but in any 
event, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each enum-
erator shall prepare the returns hereinbefore required to be made and 
forward the same to the supervisor of his district within thirty days 
from the commencement of the enumeration of his district. 
(b) In any city having two thousand five hundred inhabitants or 
more under the preceding census the enumeration of the population 
shall be completed within two weeks from the commencement thereof. 
§ 146. Mid-decade censuses of agriculture; exclusion of certain 
areas; preliminary statistics 
(a) The Secretary shall take, beginning in the month of October, 
1954, and in the same month of every tenth year thereafter, a census 
68 STAT.] 
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10i21 
• 
of agriculture. The census provided for by this section shall include 
each State, but, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 
shall not include the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto 
Rico, or such other areas or territory over which the United States 
exercises sovereignty or jurisdiction. 
(b) As to the areas excluded from the census provided for in sub-
section (a) of this section, the data available from various Govern-
ment sources shall be included as an appendix to the report of such 
census. 
(c) The Secretary may collect such preliminary or supplementary-
statistics, either in advance of or after the taking of each census pro-
vided for in subsection (a) of this section, as are necessary to the initi-
ation, taking, or completion thereof. 
SUBCHAPTER HI—GOVERNMENTS 
§ 161. Quinquennial censuses; inclusion of certain data 
The Secretary shall take, compile, and publish for the year 1957 
and for every fifth year thereafter a census of governments. 
Each 
such census shall include, but shall not be limited to, data on taxes 
and tax valuations, governmental receipts, expenditures, indebtedness, 
and employees of States, counties, cities, and other governmental 
units in the United States and in such of its Territories and posses-
sions as may be determined by the Secretary. 
§ 162. Acquisition of reports and material from governmental 
units, private persons, and agencies 
The Secretary may acquire by purchase or otherwise from States, 
counties, cities, or other units of government, or their instrumentali-
ties, or from private persons and agencies such copies of records, 
reports and other material as may be required for the efficient and 
economical conduct of the census of governments provided for in this 
subchapter. 
§ 163. Authority of other agencies 
This subchapter does not revoke or impair the authority of any 
other Federal agency with respect to the collection or release of 
information. 
SUBCHAPTER IV—INTERIM CURRENT DATA 
§ 181. Surveys 
The Secretary may make surveys deemed necessary to furnish 
annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered by 
the censuses provided for in this title. 
CHAPTER 7—OFFENSES AND PENALTIES 
SUBCHAPTER I—OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
Sec. 
211. Receiving or securing compensation for appointment of employees. 
212. Refusal or neglect of employees to perform duties. 
213. False statements, certificates, and information. 
214. Wrongful disclosure of information. 
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PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
SUBCHAPTER II—OTHER PERSONS 
221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers. 
222. Giving suggestions or information with intent to cause inaccurate enumera-
tion of population. 
223. Refusal, by owners, proprietors, etc., to assist census employees. 
224. Failure to answer questions affecting companies, businesses, religious 
bodies, and other organizations; false answers. 
225. Applicability of penal provisions in certain cases. 
SUBCHAPTER III—PROCEDURE 
241. Evidence. 
SUBCHAPTER I—OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
§ 211. Receiving or securing compensation for appointment of 
employees 
Whoever— 
(1) receives or secures to himself any fee, reward, or compen-
sation as a consideration for the appointment of any person as 
supervisor, enumerator, clerk, or other officer or employee of the 
Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, referred 
to in subchapter I I of chapter 1 of this title; or 
(2) in any way receives or secures to himself any part of the 
compensation paid to any person so appointed— 
shall be fined not more than $3,000 or imprisoned not more than five 
years, or both. 
§ 212. Refusal or neglect of employees to perform duties 
Whoever, being an employee referred to in subchapter I I of chapter 
I of this title, and having taken and subscribed the oath of office, 
neglects or refuses, without justifiable cause, to perform the duties 
enjoined on such employee by this title, shall be fined not more than 
$500. 
§ 213. False statements, certificates, and information 
(a) Whoever, being an officer or employee referred to in subchapter 
I I of chapter 1 of this title, willfully and knowingly swears or affirms 
falsely as to the truth of any statement required to be made or sub-
scribed by him under oath by or under authority of this title, shall be 
guilty of perjury, and shall be fined not more than $2,000 or impris-
oned not more than five years, or both. 
(b) Whoever, being an officer or employee referred to in subchapter 
I I of chapter 1 of this title— 
(1) willfully and knowingly makes a false certificate or ficti-
tious return; or 
(2) knowingly or willfully furnishes or causes to be furnished, 
or, having been such an officer or employee, knowingly or willfully 
furnished or caused to be furnished, directly or indirectly, to the 
Secretary or to any other officer or employee of the Department 
of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, any false statement 
or false information with reference to any inquiry for which he 
was authorized and required to collect information provided for 
in this title— 
shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five 
years, or both. 
68 STAT.] 
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1023 
§ 214. Wrongful disclosure of information 
Whoever, being an employee referred to in subchapter I I of chap-
ter 1 of this title, having taken and subscribed the oath of office, 
publishes or communicates, without the written authority of the 
Secretary or other authorized officer or employee of the Department 
of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, any information corning 
into his possession by reason of his employment under the provisions 
of this title, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not 
more than two years, or both. 
SUBCHAPTER II—OTHER PERSONS 
§ 221. Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers 
(a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully 
iieglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized 
officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or 
agency thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or author-
ized officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the ques-
tions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census 
or survey provided for by subchapters I, II, and IV of cnapter 6 
of this title, applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs 
or is related, or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the 
occupant, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more 
than sixtj^ days, or both. 
(b) Whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) 
of this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described 
in such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be 
fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than one year, or 
both. 
§ 222. Giving suggestions or information with intent to cause 
inaccurate enumeration of population 
Whoever, either directly or indirectly, offers or renders to any 
officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or 
agency thereof engaged in making an enumeration of population 
under subchapter I I or IV of chapter 5 of this title, any suggestion, 
advice, information or assistance of any kind, with the intent or 
purpose of causing an inaccurate enumeration of population to be 
made, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 
one year, or both. 
§ 223. Refusal, by owners, proprietors, etc., to assist census 
employees 
Whoever, being the owner, proprietor, manager, superintendent, or 
agent of any hotel, apartment house, boarding or lodging house, tene-
ment, or other building, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested 
by the Secretary or by any other officer or employee of the Depart-
ment of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, acting under the 
instructions of the Secretary, to furnish the names of the occupants 
of such premises, or to give free ingress thereto and egress therefrom 
to any duly accredited representative of such Department or bureau 
or agency thereof, so as to permit the collection of statistics with 
respect to any census provided for in subchapters I and I I of chapter 
5 of this title, or any survey authorized by subchapter IV of such 
chapter in so far as such survey relates to any of the subjects for which 
1024 
PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
censuses are provided by such subchapters I and II, including, when 
relevant to the census or survey being taken or made, the proper and 
correct enumeration of all persons having their usual place of abode 
in such premises, shall be fined not more than $500. 
§ 224. Failure to answer questions affecting companies, busi-
nesses, religious bodies, and other organizations; false 
answers 
Whoever, being the owner, official, agent, person in charge, or assist-
ant to the person in charge, of any company, business, institution, 
establishment, religious body, or organization of any nature whatso-
ever, neglects or refuses, when requested by the Secretary or other 
authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or 
bureau or agency thereof, whether such request be made by registered 
mail, by telegraph, by visiting representative, or by one or more of 
these methods, to answer completely and correctly to the best of his 
knowledge all questions relating to his company, business, institution, 
establishment, religious body, or other organization, or to records or 
statistics in his official custody, contained on any census or other 
schedule prepared and submitted to him under the authority of this 
title, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 
sixty days, or both; and if he willfully gives a false answer to any 
such question, he shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned 
not more than one year, or both. 
§ 225. Applicability of penal provisions in certain cases 
(a) In connection with any survey conducted by the Secretary or 
other authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce 
or bureau or agency thereof pursuant to subchapter IV of chapter 5 
of this title, the provisions of sections 221, 222, 223 and 224 of this 
title shall apply— 
(1) with respect to the answering of questions and furnishing 
of information, only to such inquiries as are within the scope 
of the schedules and of the type and character heretofore used 
in connection with the taking of complete censuses under sub-
chapters I and II of chapter 5 of this title, or in connection with 
any censuses hereafter taken pursuant to such subchapters; 
(2) only after publication of a determination with reasons 
therefor certified by the Secretary, or by some other authorized 
officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or 
agency thereof with the approval of the Secretary, that the infor-
mation called for is needed to aid or permit the efficient per-
formance of essential governmental functions or services, or has 
significant application to the needs of the public, business, or 
industry and is not publicly available from nongovernmental 
or other governmental sources; 
(3) in the case of any new survey, only after public notice, 
given by the Secretary or other authorized officer or employee of 
the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof at 
least thirty days in advance of requesting a return, that such 
survey is under consideration. 
(b) The provisions for imprisonment provided by sections 221, 
222 and 224 of this title shall not apply in connecton with any survey 
conducted pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 3 of this title, or to 
subchapter IV of chapter 5 of this title. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 740-AUG. 31, 1954 
1025 
(c) The provisions of sections 221, 222, 223, and 224 of this title 
shall not apply to any censuses or surveys of governments provided 
for by subchapters I I I and IV of chapter 5 of this title, nor to other 
surveys provided for by subchapter IV of such chapter which are 
taken more frequently than annually. 
(d) Where the doctrine, teaching, or discipline of any religious 
denomination or church prohibits the disclosure of information rela-
tive to membership, a refusal, in such circumstances, to furnish such 
information shall not be an offense under this chapter. 
SUBCHAPTER III—PROCEDURE 
§ 241. 
Evidence 
When any request for information, made by the Secretary or other 
authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or 
bureau or agency thereof, is made by registered mail or telegram as 
authorized by section 224 of this title, the return receipt therefor or 
other written receipt thereof shall be prima facie evidence of an offi-
cial request in any prosecution under such section. 
SEC. 2. Title I I I of the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682), as 
amended, is amended by inserting, immediately following section 312 
thereof (42 U. S. C, sec. 244), and preceding section 313 thereof 
(42 U. S. C, sec. 245), the following new section: 
"SEC. 312a. There shall be a collection of the statistics of the births 
and deaths in registration areas annually, the data for which shall be 
obtained only from and restricted to such registration records of such 
States and municipalities as in the discretion of the Secretary of 
Health, Education, and Welfare possess records affording satisfac-
tory data in necessary detail, the compensation for the transcription 
of which shall not exceed 4 cents for each birth or death reported; or 
a minimum compensation of $25 may be allowed in the discretion of 
the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in States or cities 
registering less than five hundred deaths or five hundred births during 
the preceding year." 
SEC. 3. Whenever reference is made in any other law or in any regu-
lation or order to the Census Office, such reference shall be held and 
considered to mean the Bureau of the Census referred to in section 2 
of Title 13, United States Code, as set out in section 1 of this Act. 
This section shall not be construed as affecting historical references to 
the Census Office which could have no present or future application 
to the Bureau of the Census. 
SEC. 4. If any part of Title 13, United States Code, as set in section 
1 of this Act, is held invalid, the remainder of such title shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SEC. 5. No inference of a legislative construction is to be drawn 
by reason of the chapter in Title 13, United States Code, as set out 
in section 1 of this Act, in which any section is placed, nor by reason 
of the captions or catchlines used in such title. 
SEC. 6. The provisions of this Act shall take effect on January 
1, 1955. 
SEC. 7. The sections of the Acts, and the Acts or parts of Acts, 
enumerated in the following schedule, are hereby repealed. 
Any 
rights or liabilities now existing under such statutes or parts thereof, 
and any proceedings instituted under, or growing out of, any of such 
statutes or parts thereof, shall not be affected by this repeal. 
P u b l i c 
Health 
Service. 
Birth and death 
statistics. 
R ef er en ces to 
Census Office. 
Separability. 
Legislative conr 
struction. 
Effective date. 
Repeals. 
39777 O—55—pt. 1 
67 
PUBLIC LAW 741-AUG. 31, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
Date 
Statutes at large 
Chapter 
Title 
Section 
Volume 
U. S. Code 
Title 
Section 
1899—Mar. 3 . 
1902—Mar. 6. 
D o — 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
Apr. 28. 
1903—Jan. 12. 
1916—May 10 
Aug. 7-
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
1924—Apr. 2.. 
1927—Feb. 24. 
1929—Jan. 25. 
June 18. 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
D o . . . 
Do... 
1930—June 27. 
1931—Mar. 4. 
1939—.-Vug. 11 
1945—May 21 
1946—July 6--
Do. 
1948—June 19. 
1949—July 15. 
1950—Sept. 7. 
1954—June 18. 
419 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
139 
594 
90 (part) 
117 
274 
274 
274 
189 
102 
28 
28 
28 
639 
490 
129 
541 
541 
502 
338 
910 
315 
Ill(part) 
Ill(part) 
III 
III 
III 
'10 
«11 (part) 
1 (part) 
1 (part) 
» 1, 2, 3. 4 
«5 
1
0 6 
II 1, 2, 3, 4, 
5,6 
1,2 
H 3 (part) 
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 
9, 10, 11, 
12,13. 
"14 
15 
'«16 
15,16,17,18, 
19 
'21 
VI 
1,2,3 
301 (part) 
301 (part) 
301 (part) 
1,2,3 
607 
1,2,3 
1021 
51 
51 
51 
51 
51,52 
52 
52 
52 
52,53 
53 
53 
S138 
« 767 (768) 
'110 
436,437 
31,32 
121205 
I
S 1119 
21 
21,22 
22-25 
25 
25 
25 
25,26 
20 
821 
1517 
1406 
1
8 188 
i«466 
2
0 466 
478. 479 
441 
784, 785 
258 
13,39 
13 
13 
13 
13 
3,111 
101 
77, 112 
6 
4 
281 
8 
7,69 
81-84 
85 
86 
71-76 
41a 
9 
201,202 
111, 203 
204-213 
214, 337 
215 
216 
215-219 
1-8, 
71, 72, 
73-77, 101, 
112. 
72a 
113 
106, 106 note, 
107 
220 
220 
114 
121-123 
1442 
251-253 
131 
1 As amended by Acts June 7, 1906, ch. 3048, 34 Stat. 218, 219; June 25, 1947, ch. 124, 61 Stat. 163; Sept. 7, 
1950, ch. 910, § 4, 64 Stat. 785. 
2 As amended by Act Apr. 27,1904, ch. 1626, 33 Stat. 362. 
' All provisions not heretofore repealed by Act July 2, 1909, ch. 2, § 33, 36 Stat. 10. 
• All following the words "Public Printer" in such section, and preceding the period at the end thereof. 
' The first proviso in the fourth full paragraph on this page. 
• On page 768, all following "Representatives" in such Act, and preceding the period at the end thereof. 
' The first two provisos in the fourth paragraph on this page. 
• « As amended by Act July 25,1947, ch. 331, 61 Stat. 457, 458. 
• As added by Act July 25, 1947, ch. 331, 61 Stat. 457 (458). 
'o As added by Act of July 25,1947, ch. 331, 61 Stat. 457 (458). 
" As amended (sees. 2, 4, 6) by Acts June 14, 1938, ch. 358, 52 Stat. 678; June 28, 1949, ch. 256, §§ 1, 2, 63 
Stat. 278. 
'2 The second proviso appearing on this page. 
" The last proviso appearing on this page. 
» All provisions of this section, as amended by Act July 6, 1949, ch. 298, §§ 1. 2, 63 Stat. 406, except the 
second proviso in the second paragraph thereof, appearing on page 21 of Vol. 46, Statutes at Large. 
" As amended by Act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 7, 62 Stat. 860. 
'« As amended by Act July 16, 1952, ch. 912, 66 Stat. 736, 737. 
1' First sentence only. 
1' In the fifth full paragraph on this page, the words commencing with "reimbursement for" and ending 
with "or surveys;". 
i" In the first full paragraph on this page, the words commencing with "reimbursement for" and ending 
with "or surveys;". 
2
0 The first proviso in the first full paragraph on this page. 
Approved August 31, 1954. 
Public Law 741 
CHAPTER 1159 
AN ACT 
August 31, 1954 
[H. R. 5499] 
rpQ provide for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Michaud 
Flats project for irrigation in the State of Idaho. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
prSj^^tTMahol^** United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Secretary 
of the Interior is authorized to construct, maintain, and operate the 
I, ntuh