TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. 33 



remaining, as proposed, permanently in office, would certainly acquire a 

 knowledge of the township and expertness in collecting statistical data, 

 that would more than offset this slight additional expense. The first year 

 of trial, the expense might be somewhat greater than under the present 

 system, but not afterward. 



You are doubtless by this time asking, By whom shall the local statisti- 

 cians be appointed? In answer, the law establishing the system should, 

 provide that crop correspondents who will accept appointment shall be the 

 local statisticians. The list of correspondents in this state contains the 

 names of a large number of men who have for years served the state 

 almost gratuitiously. The state should avail itself of the experience in 

 statistical work these men have acquired; besides, it is only justice that 

 they be given the preference. In townships where there are no corre- 

 spondents the township board should appoint the statistician. 



In 1884, census enumerators were appointed by township boards. 

 The promptness and accuracy with which the census of that year was 

 taken proves that the boards were careful in making the appointments. 

 The mistakes in enumeration were in the main due to inexperience. It 

 may be assumed that township boards would exercise no less care in the 

 selection of local statisticians. But the statistician once appointed should 

 in no case be removed without the consent of the secretary of state, and 

 his consent should never be given except for neglect of duty or manifest 

 incompetence. This will insure permanence in office, which is one of the 

 principal advantages to be gained under the proposed system." 



A DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER. 



Mr. Hewitt added that the local statistician should leave with each 

 farmer a crop report blank, in June, and call for it in December, but he 

 fears the people are scarcely yet ready for this provision. 



Called upon by the chair to give his opinion of the paper, to question 

 Mr. Hewitt upon it, Mr. L. B. Rice of Port Huron said, " It is so clear 

 that we do not need ask questions. There is nothing left to ask." 



Mr. R. Morrill of Benton Harbor asked Mr. Hewitt to supplement 

 the paper with an estimate of the cost of carrying its provisions into 

 effect. 



Mr. Hewitt: I have made none. But it would require 84 miles of 

 travel by the statistician of each township. I do not know how much 

 time the supervisor requires to do his annual work in connection with his 

 assessment, but probably the taking of the statistics occupies half of that 

 time. 



Mr. Morrill: Say $50 per township. 



Wm. Hale, supervisor of Eaton Rapids township: It requires from 

 fifteen to twenty-five days' time to take the assessment and statistics, and 

 about half the time for statistics. 



Mr. Hewitt: That would be $20 to $25 as the maximum of cost; and 

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