Even worse, they are subject to serious estimation errors. We note, for example, the disparity in population estimates published for Hawaii during the 1960's. The civilian estimates for mid-1967 ranged from the Census Bureau's 684,000 to the Department of Planning & Economic Development figure of 735,616. The military total reported by our Department of Planning and Economic Development a few years ago was 59,702 while that reported by the Bureau of the Census for the same date was 79,000. These discrepancies lead to heated debates over such questions as per capita tax burden: If the Census Bureau estimate is used, Hawaii ranked second in 1966-1967; but if the then-current State of Hawaii estimate is used, the State was fifth. Inaccurate current estimates affect published projections even more seriously, because recent migration trends are incorporated into the projection model. The official forecasts made by the Department of Planning and Economic Development in 1967 showed a total resident population in 1990 of 1,352,000, but after release of 1970 census results this forecast was scaled down to a more realistic 1,049,000.

Sample surveys fall far short of a full enumeration in meeting Island needs. This is because sampling variation in such a survey precludes publication of small area statistics, such as those for smaller urban places, census tracts, and blocks, yet such areas are those for which decennial data become most quickly out of date.

The subjects of greatest interest to State and local agencies in Hawaii, and thus deserving most careful consideration for inclusion in a quinquennial census, are those included in the full-count tabulations of the 1970 Census: age, race, sex, household relationship, occupancy and tenure of housing, plumbing facilities, persons per room, and rent or value. Also important are some of the items obtained on a sample basis in 1970: place of birth, place of residence five years earlier, years of school completed, employment status, occupation, industry, class of worker, place of work, and family income. Most of these series should be tabulated by census tracts.

In any such quinquennial (or decennial) census, we wish to urge that the Bureau of the Census take greater cognizance of regional differences than has been true in the past. One area where such awareness is important is in Hawaii's unique ethnic composition; although 46.7% of the babies born in the Islands in 1969 were of mixed race, the population was arbitrarily classified into one or another of the pure categories in the census, and tabulations were largely confined to the meaningless Mainland trichotomy of "white/Negro/other." Another needed distinction is one separating members of the armed forces and their dependents from the rest of the population, inasmuch as combining these three classs seriously distorts data on fertility, migration, family income, and other subjects. There should also be separate tabulations on owner occupied housing units on leased land, an extremely important category in Hawaii.

In summary, we would very much welcome a quinquennial census.
Aloha, and may the Almighty be with you and yours always.

Sincerely,

JOHN A. BURNS, Governor.

B. GAO Letter Transmitting Questionnaire Soliciting a Sample of Federal Agencies on Needs for Mid-Decade Census Data

U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR.: As you are aware, the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, conducts a census of population and housing once every ten years in accordance with the constitutional requirement. The principal purpose of the census is to fix representation of the States in the House of Representatives. Census information has also been a valuable source of information to Federal, State, and local levels of government in making policy decisions concerning such matters as the allocation of available resources.

During the past decade and within recent weeks, government officials and public and private interest groups have expressed the need for census information more frequently than once every 10 years. They point out that this need is created by the shifting population patterns and dynamic changes taking place within the States and cities.

In response to this growing concern, the House Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, Post Office and Civil Service Committee, is presently considering proposals for meeting these informational needs. The Chairman of the Subcommittee has requested the General Accounting Office to evaluate which method-a mid-decade census of the population or sample surveys-would produce more fruitful results, taking into consideration the costs associated with each method. The Subcommittee has requested that we submit our report by September 1, 1971.

The identification of the uses of census information is, of course, a significant factor in this evaluation. Although some general knowledge exists as to such uses, specific information is extremely limited. Therefore, in the interest of being fully responsive to the Chairman's request, we are making inquiries of each State and selected Federal agencies for information concerning their need for census information.

Enclosure I is a questionnaire on the information needs for one or more programs administered by your agency that we have selected for our survey. The programs were randomly selected from the catalog of Federal domestic assistance programs prepared by the Office of Economic Opportunity.

We request that an agency official responsible for the administration of each selected program be designated to complete the questionnaire and return it to Mr. Donald C. Pullen, Assistant Director, Room 5476, GAO Building, Washington, D.C. 20584. Enclosures II and III-an illustrative example of a completed questionnaire, with explanatory notes, and a listing of subject items included in the 1970 decennial census-are provided for reference purposes. We would appreciate receiving the replies by July 28, 1971, in order to allow time to summarize the information for inclusion in our report. Questions concerning this request may be directed to Mr. Kevin Boland at IDS code 189 extension 5483. We wish to thank you for assisting us in this important undertaking.

Sincerely yours,

A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, Civil Division.

Enclosures:

ENCLOSURE I

II. Program officials' comments on information needs

1. Do the available data satisfy your program needs from the standpoint of Geographical detail,

Subject detail,

Reliability,

Currentness?

If no, what improvements in the data are necessary for the effective administration of the program?

2. What means do you favor for satisfying these data needs?

Statistical programs administered by your agency;

Special censuses and/or surveys conducted by the Bureau of the Census at the request of your agency;

A mid-decade census of population and housing conducted by the Bureau of the Census; Statistical programs of other Federal agencies.

63-434 O - 72 - 20

ENCLOSURE II

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE ON INFORMATION NEEDS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF SELECTED PROGRAMS 1