Anderson, Odin W., University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill....... Battin, James K., United States District Court for the District of Chapin, F. Stuart, Jr., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C_ French, Rev. William H., Synod of Southern California, United Pres- Kaye, Adele J., secretary to Dr. Hauser, University of Chicago, Chi- Keltner, Margot, publisher's office, Fortune magazine, New York, N.Y_ Kjelsberg, Marcus O., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn--- Lancaster, Joel R., Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, McDermott, Miss, for Mr. Reston of the New York Times, Washington Samuelson, A. T., Director, United States General Accounting Of- 255, 293 239 Zelinsky, Wilbur, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill- I. Responses to Chairman Wilson's letter of July 1971-Continued E. Communications from academic institutions, news media, pri- II. Further compilation of communications received and reports prepared Page 216 238 255-394 A. Letter sent to State Governor's offices, by GAO inquiring 255 293 298 D. General Accounting Office report entitled "Bureau of the 305 E. General Accounting Office report entitled "Appraisal of Mid- 315 395 443 V. Additional materials and correspondence received_-. 519 MID-DECADE CENSUS TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1971 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CENSUS AND STATISTICS, Washington, D.C. The committee met at 9:43 a.m., in room 210, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Charles H. Wilson (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. WILSON. The meeting of the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics will come to order. The Subcommitte on Census and Statistics has been impressed with the wealth of substantive testimony presented in recent years at hearings on mid-decade census legislation. It has also noted pertinent references to the need for a population census every 5 years made at various hearings held on the 1970 census of population and housing. We have scheduled this hearing and others to follow in order that we may receive current testimony to assist us in measuring the need and uses of mid-decade census data in relation to other priority considerations at this time. It is somewhat of an anomaly that 5-year censuses have been authorized and are being executed in the fields of agriculture, manufacturers, wholesale and retail trade, services, construction, transportation, and governments, but that censuses of population and housing remain on a 10-year basis. We feel that it is about time to come to grips on the establishment of this mid-decade census series, and we plan to make every reasonable effort, if warranted, to enact the required legislation. It is clear from reviewing the records of the mid-decade census hearings within the past 10 years that the Budget Bureau (now the Office of Management and Budget), played a decisive role in opposing a mid-decade census. Basically, the Budget Bureau presented a position that the appropriations could better be used to further improve the overall current statistical program of the U.S. Government, and that such investment of funds would represent a wiser and more efficient course of action than authorizing a mid-decade census. Within the immediate future, we are hopeful of receiving the administration's present position on mid-decade census legislation. From our vantage point in the Congress, we are constantly reminded that current information is needed for planning programs and for efficient administration in the private and public sectors. Far-reaching public laws are being continuously enacted which directly or implicitly require the use of census data for allocation of funds or administration of programs. We have been advised that these programs could better be advanced if current small area data pertinent to the needs were available. It has also been brought to our attention that such detailed data are required more often than every 10 years, in view of the fact that decennial census data 5 or 6 years old becomes limited in its application. If an alternative program to a complete enumeration can be developed to provide current data by small areas, then this subcommittee will be most attentive in studying it. Before I introduce our first witness, I wish at this time to recognize the attendance of a large number of foreign technicians representing over 20 countries, with several of their instructors from the Census Bureau. These technicians are participating in an agricultural census course being given at the Joint United States-United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Agriculture Statistics Training Center, under the administration of the Bureau of the Census. On behalf of the subcommittee, I welcome you to these hearings, and to the Congress. We are very pleased to have you with us this morning. As our leadoff witness, I am most pleased to introduce Dr. A. Ross Eckler, former Director of the Bureau of the Census. During his long tenure with the Bureau of the Census, Dr. Eckler has appeared before the Congress on many occasions, and his testimony has always been authoritative, comprehensive as needed, and very responsive to the subject under discussion. Ross, it gives me great personal pleasure to welcome you once more to our subcommittee business. All of us are looking forward to your statement on mid-decade census, and to your responses to our inquiries following your statement. I think before you start, however, perhaps I could introduce the members of the committee to the guests who are here from the foreign countries. On my right is Mr. John Rousselot, who, like myself, comes from California. Mr. Rousselot is a Republican Member of Congress, from southern California, and a very valuable member of our subcommittee. On the right of Mr. Rousselot is Mr. Derwinski, who is a Representative from the State of Illinois, a longtime Member of Congress, and serves with distinction on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He has probably visited all of your countries at sometime during his career in Congress. On my left is James Hanley, a Democratic member of the committee, from the State of New York, and one of the ranking members of our Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. He also chairs the Subcommittee on Employee Benefits. And again I would like to welcome you and to express our appreciation that you are here with us this morning. Now, Ross, if you would present your statement. (See p. 135 for letter of invitation with attachment of various MidDecade Census proposals for which the subcommittee requested testimony.) STATEMENT BY A. ROSS ECKLER, CONSULTANT Dr. ECKLER. It was with real pleasure that I accepted the opportunity to appear again before this subcommittee in connection with the needs for a mid-decade census of population and housing. It is now about 10 years since my first presentation of this subject to a different chairman and a completely different subcommittee. On two later occasions in the sixties, 1965 and 1967, I had the privilege of submitting testimony and replying to questions raised by the members. After the 1967 hearings, the bill was reported favorably by the Post Office and Civil Service Committee and approved in the House by a vote of 255 to 127. There is reason to believe that if the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee had then brought out a similar bill, today's hearings would be unnecessary. My appearance today as a private citizen and statistical consultant should make it easier for me than ever before to satisfy the subcommittee regarding my objectivity. It is my sincere conviction that the case for a mid-decade census at this time is even stronger than it was in 1967. This statement, of course, applies not to today's needs, when the results of a full census are becoming available, but rather to the average need over a decade, including the years when the latest population census figures are 6 to 10 years old. Since my retirement in the latter part of 1969, I have devoted a good deal of my time to the preparation of a book on the census. The historical and international perspective that I have gained from this undertaking has strengthened my already firm conviction about the importance of having more frequent censuses. It is only natural that I have also watched closely all developments relating to the 1970 Census of Population and Housing. It has been a source of real gratification to me that the new Director, Dr. George Hay Brown, has on various occasions referred favorably to the new methods adopted in 1970, and has expressed confidence in the quality of the results. In view of the comprehensive record established in the hearings of 1961, 1965, and 1967, I shall not attempt to repeat the arguments for a middecade census made by a long list of Government and business witnesses. With a degree of unanimity seldom encountered in congressional hearings, these witnesses stressed the importance of midderade figures for many types of decisionmaking. The Government representatives, who included many State, regional, and local officials, stressed the importance of population data for the administration and evaluation of Government programs, for the allocation of funds, and for the locating of buildings and other facilities. Those who appeared in behalf of business organizations tended to stress somewhat similar uses, including the measurement of potential demand for goods and services, determining sites for production or service facilities, administration, evaluation of results, and research and planning generally. I would stress especially one particular use that should be of much interest to many of your constituents, that is, allocating funds on the basis of population. In an analysis that I undertook of the existing statutes governing the distribution of funds or the making of grants, |