better planning of state and local programs and more equitable distribution of Federal grant monies. Demographic and socioeconomic research by the academic and private sectors would also be facilitated. A mid-decade census operation would benefit the Census Bureau, too, in terms of personnel and budgeting. As it stands now, the services of many key field staff, geographers, computer programmers, and other who worked on the decennial census must be dispensed with as the Bureau enters the low-activity, low-budget middle stage of the present 10-year decennial census cycle. A mid-decade census would permit many of these people to be kept on and greatly facilitate planning and preparation for the 1980 census. In general, important activities, such as updating of maps and coding guides, tests of field procedures, and so on, could go on without a break and without the necessity of gearing up afresh for the decennial. The alternative route the Administration proposes, namely exploring the feasibility of using administrative records, in our opinion is not an alternative because it will not produce uniform statistics for planning Federal programs and distributing funds and, therefore, will result in dollars and energy diverted from our Nation's basic statistical needs. Further, the use of administrative records is very difficult. As anyone who has ever attempted matching of records from different sources knows, the results are rarely satisfactory, given lack of standardization in record-keeping and deficiencies in the state of the art for doing this kind of work either clerically or by computer. This is not to say that the use of administrative records should not be explored, but it is no alternative to a census. We urge that you contact your congressman and also Rep. Wilson if you are interested in having a mid-decade census. As Wilson noted at the hearings, outside support is essential, because the mid-decade census is not something that arouses intense congressional interest or passion. In the absence of concerted public support, the mere threat of a Presidential veto is likely to scuttle any bill that Wilson's Subcommittee reports out. Action to change the Administration's mind or at least mute its opposition must also be fast if a bill is to be passed soon enough to take effect. Census Bureau officials testified that a lead time of 30 months is necessary to mount a successful mid-decade operation. This means that legislation must be enacted in this session of Congress for a census in 1975 to become reality. We urge you and your organization to take action. (Rep. Wilson's address is 104 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.) ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, DEAR CONGRESSMAN WILSON: I just received your letter of July 19 on my return from vacation. I do still have positive views on the need for a mid-decade census, and I will make these views known to President Nixon and send you a copy of the letter I write, as you suggest. It may take me a few days to get around to this task, but I will do so as promptly as I can. DEAR MR. WILSON: Thank you for your letter of June 15 indicating the status of the mid-decade census. As you know from testimony I gave before your subcommittee a couple of years ago, we here in the California Savings and Loan League are extremely interested in census material, particularly on population. We believe it would be a decided mistake not to conduct a mid-decade census in 1975 because population trends in these days are difficult enough to determine without going a full ten years between census dates. Sincerely yours, FRANKLIN HARDINGE, Jr., NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN WILSON: On June 2, 1971, Dr. Huntington Harris, Vice Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Virginia, appeared before your Subcommittee on Census and Statistics on behalf of the National Associa tion of Counties (NACO). At the time Dr. Harris appeared, you and Congressman Rousselot asked that NACO poll its membership about support for a Mid-Decade Census. This issue was put before our County Planning and Development Steering Committee on Sunday, July 18, 1971. The Committee adopted the following two resolutions: "That NACO support legislation to conduct a census in 1975." "That any census conducted by or through the federal Bureau of the Census be by legislative directive recognized by all the federal agencies as the latest official census and that boundaries of SMSA's and urban areas be adjusted accordingly." When we discussed the issue of whether counties would be willing to provide part of the financial costs or personnel attached to a census, the general consensus of the Steering Committee was supportive. However, no resolution was passed on this matter. I hope that this information is of assistance to you. Please let us know if we may do anything further. Sincerely, Miss MARGARET S. SEELEY, C & P TELEPHONE, The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The White House, Washington, D.C. MR. PRESIDENT: As Forecasters, we find the Census Data most useful in our work in anticipating the future telephone needs of the American public. Thus, we would like to cast a vote for the first mid-decade Census in 1975. It is our understanding that Mr. George Brown's plan is running into stiff opposition. We think that this effort is very worthy of a piece of the taxpayer's dollar. Thank you. Sincerely yours, J. J. ARTHUR, Staff Supervisor, Forecasting. The PRESIDENT, CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Representative Charles H. Wilson of California, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Census and Statistics, has informed me that opposition to the 1975 Census has been voiced by several persons speaking for your Administration. As a user of many census data items, and as Census Tract Key Person for the Chicago Metropolitan Area, I would like to urge the Administration to support a 1975 Census. With the current complicated economy this country has developed, it seems obvious that the need is great for additional facts for further research projects of the Government, of private industry, and of academia. Would you please consider carefully the needs of the country before throwing away the opportunity for a 1975 Census. Very respectfully yours, DE VER SHOLES, Director, Research and Statistics Division. OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Oklahoma City, Okla., August 3, 1971. The PRESIDENT, The White House, DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am sure that you have been well advised on the pros and cons of a mid-decade census. Since I represent the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area as the key census tract individual and since I am also in daily contact with the commerce in this area, the necessity for a mid-decade census has been well recognized within the business community for a number of years. Business cannot operate with statistical information that is ten years old. This is in essence what will be happening in late 70's without a mid-decade census. I, representing the business community of this area, recommend that the administration support a mid-decade census for 1975 and every ten years thereafter. I appreciate any consideration that could be given to this important matter. Respectfully yours, JESS W. MATHENY, Manager, Industrial Development. DOULTON & Co., INC., Carlstadt, N.J., August 31, 1971. President RICHARD M. NIXON, Washington, D.C. DEAR PRESIDENT NIXON: I am writing to ask that every effort be made to retain funds for the proposed mid-decade census in the Census Bureau budget. In these days of sophisticated marketing, publication and census of manufacturers' data are of invaluable assistance to companies intent upon selling merchandise in the most efficient and productive manner. If we are to recover from this recession and forestall future declines in business activity of this proportion, we must have all possible means of stimulating consumer interest and optimism in our products. I hope there is no danger of a penny-wise but pound-foolish approach to the task of reducing government expenditures in the light of the proposed tax reduction. Very truly yours, JOHN E. MURPHY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS, Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, Chairman, Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This statement is submitted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders with respect to your Subcommittee hearings on the proposal to establish a mid-decade census series. The National Association of Home Builders is the trade association for the American home building industry. Its membership totals over 54,000 persons who belong to 494 affiliated state and local associations in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. We estimate that our members build two-thirds of all the apartments and houses produced by professional builders. NAHB strongly supports the proposal for a mid-decade census. Essential to the creation and maintenance of an adequate national housing inventory is the availability of up-to-date and reliable statistics covering family formations, mortgage finance, money supplies, wage and prices, market analyses, labor and related matters. Our Association for a long time has taken an active interest in the development of better statistics on home building and housing. It is pertinent at this time to quote from the report of the Presidential Committee on Urban Housing, A Decent Home, 1968 (The Kaiser Committee), with respect to the gaps in construction statistics: "Statistical coverage on the construction industry is probably less adequate than for any other major industry in the United States." The report showed that the problem of statistics has two dimensions: measurement of activity and employment levels, and measurement of price changes. Another study done by the Cabinet Committee on Construction, Subcommittee on Construction Statistics, Statistics on Construction, A Program for Improvement (October, 1970), suggests several approaches to an improvement in construction statistics. Major deficiencies identified by this committee fall into seven major areas: 1. Compensation and Industrial relations (wage survey, annual earnings, union practices, collective bargaining, health insurance and pension plans, determination of prevailing wage rates under the Davis-Bacon Act. 2. Price and cost statistics (output prices indices, price indices for mobile homes, price indices for materials). 3. Financial statistics (flow of intergovernmental payments, new source of financing). 4. Employment, manpower requirements, training safety (expansion of studies of labor and materials requirements, supply and demand for manpower, injury statistics). 5. Inventory changes (annual housing inventory survey, inventory of nonresidential structures and land use, housing quality, vacancies, life cycle of mobile homes). 6. Output statistics (improve data on value of new construction put in place, characteristics of new nonresidential construction, outlook for housing, new systems and methods, maintenance and repair of nonresidential buildings, geographical location of new mobile homes). 7. Industry statistics (annual survey of the construction industry.) With respect to the proposal for a mid-decade census, we should like to have both a sample mid-decade census and an expansion of the current sample survey. We believe that a five-year census program might accomplish some savings by reducing personnel turnover costs. It is likely that when tabulations are being completed for the decennial census, the timing will be such that preparations could get underway for the mid-decade census. This would eliminate much unproductive training of new staff. It would also improve the quality of the census because it would enable the buildup and maintenance of a core staff which would form the nucleus around which continuity of the programs could be centered. A major benefit would be the improvement in the quality of decisions affecting home building plans and proposals which would be made possible by the availability of more frequent and up-to-date information. A mid-decade census in housing would be invaluable at this point when city government and housing agencies are revising their approaches to the shelter needs. The extent of overcrowding, the lack of sufficient amenities, and the degree of deterioration are basic for intelligent solutions and programs. Up-to-date information on households and household formations is essential to business forecasts, solution of marketing problems and decisions on research projects. We appreciate the opportunity to submit this statement on why we support proposals for a mid-decade census and should be happy to assist your Subcommittee in any way possible with respect to furnishing additional information. Sincerely, JOHN A. STASTNY, President. ww Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, U.S. House of Representatives, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN WILSON: The members of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials would like to express their deep disappointment at the announcement of June 10 that the Administration would not support a Mid-Decade Census. At the same time, we would like to commend your leadership as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics and pledge our continuing support in efforts to initiate such a census. NAHRO represents, as you know, the administrators of local housing, urban renewal and housing codes enforcement agencies throughout the country. Currently, our membership includes over 1,800 local agencies and 8,000 individuals. In our testimony before your committee on June 2, we emphasized the importance of accurate and up-to-date population and housing statistics-a necessity to those involved in urban or rural community development. In a society as mobile and rapidly changing as ours, it is imperative that we have the necessary information to determine areas of rapid or declining growth; areas of abandonment or decay. Presently, we have no national vehicle other than the Census to give us these answers. It is only with these tools that the objectives of a decent home and suitable living environment, and the 10-year national housing goals can be met. As you point out in your recent statement, the investment in a Mid-Decade Census is extremely small compared with the investment in federal assistance programs to which it gives important policy direction and support. Housing census data is the base for assessing the scope of the national requirements for federal housing and urban renewal assistance, as well as the needs in individual localities. Local housing and urban renewal authorities use housing census data as programming tools to: (1) iedntify areas in the community that are declining; (2) acquire knowledge about the status and changes in the housing inventory; (3) assess the capacity of the housing inventory to handle the housing needs of those displaced by development activity. The NAHRO testimony of June 2 before the Subcommittee further articulates the great need for a MidDecade Census as well as indicating five specific areas NAHRO believes should be incorporated in the housing component of such a census. Again, we thank you and the Subcommittee for your leadership in this matter, and pledge our continuing support. Sincerely, ROBERT W. MAFFIN, Executive Director. Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, Chairman, Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. WILSON: The American Institute of Architects, representing 24,000 professional architects in the United States, wishes to go on record in support of Congressional authorization of the mid-decade census. We generally endorse the statement made by the American Institute of Planners before your subcommittee on June 2, 1971, and wish only to add our emphasis to certain specific points. First, while change has always been an important factor in the American way of life, we are struck by the acceleration of that change in recent years. The pace of change is so rapid that the decennial census no longer adequately meets the variety of uses and widespread needs to which the census data are put. A United State Department of Commerce statistic tells us that between March of 1967 and March of 1968 over thirty-six million Americans changed their place of residence. This statistic, symbolic of the rate of change in recent years, would have been unimaginable to the drafters of the Constitution. The American Institute of Architects therefore feels that the decennial census is an anachronism. Second, the need of architects, planners, and government officials for accurate data is undeniable. The American Institute of Architects feels that the federal |