Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-10-29
NOTES UPON TIE OFFICE OF
ENUNERATOR UNDER THE
at CENSUS Ia W.


The prescribed duties OF an enumer-
ator at the Tenth Census, under the
Act of March 3, 1879, will, in the main,
be identical with those OF assistant
marshals at the Seventh, Eighth, and
Ninth Censuscs, under the Act Of May
%, 1880; but the provisions of the
law regarding the time for which the
enumeration shall continue and the
size of enumeration districts are such
as to make the Office OF enumerator
differ very widely from that of assis-
tant marshal under the law recently
repealed.
BY the Act of 1850 (Reviscd Stat
utes, 1878, s 2l7S) the subdivisions for
census purposes were not permitted to
iexceed 10000 Inhabitants, unless that
limitation should cause Inconvenience,
In which case the subdivisions might
be larger. By the Act of 1879 (Sec-
tion III enumeration districts are not
permitted to exceed 1000 inhabitants
according TO the census OF 1870. 1t is
the view of the Department that the
number OF inhabitants in numeration
districts should ordinarily, except in
cities and largo towns, fall considera-
bly, below this limit Only for the
strongest reasons should more than one
town or township, in States where the
civil-township system exists, be com.
prised in any enumeration district.
By the Act of 1850 assistant mar
sbals were allowed from June I, to
November !, to complete their canvass
and make their returns (Revised Stat.
utes, 1878, ) 214O. BY the Act OF
1879 (Section l9) the month of June
only is allowed Tor the enumeration OF
districts, while in cities having over
10000 inhabitants according to the
census of 1870, the enumeration is re-
quired to betakcn within two weeks
from the first Monday OF June.
Section 10 of the Act of 1879 con
tains provisions relating to the com
pensation of enumerators The Super
intendent Of Census is authorized to
allow, in such subdivisions as he may
select, a certain sum, as a maximum,
for each living inhabitant enumerated,
each death reported, each farm, shop,
ETC., returned, and in such subdivisions
no account of the number of days OF
field.work need be kept
In all other districts, if higher rates
of compensation are fixed, the amount
paid must not exceed 81 per day of ten
hours actual field work east of the
Tooth meridian, and Sc per equivalent
day west OF that meridian.
1t follows from the provisions recited
that, instead of service protracted
through three, four, or five months, as
in 1s50-70, the canvass is to last but
four weeks. as maximum. in the
country, and but two weeks in large
cities and that the aggregate amount
of compensation receivcdsby any emu.
merator east Of the Tooth meridian
cannot much exceed slOO. ~
1t follows also that enumerators will
wnrL wh ara .hey psrsenaii y LaAu-, q nd
are known by, practically all the per
sons they are called to enumerate.
Enumerators under the Act of 1879
therefore, entering upon service for SO
short a time, and working at short
range, through q district extending in
no direction far from their places Of
residence, will not bc obliged as was
! generally the case under the Act OF
1850, to fit themselves out expensively
for travelling, to close up their business
or mako arrangements for its being
carried on by others in their absence,
or to remain away much of the time,
both day and night, from their homes.
For little or none of the time, will
the enumerator have hotel expenses to
meet, and for much of the time nc
charges for horse hire and feed. There
is nothing in the requirements Of the
service inconsistent with the enumer-
ator giving portion of every day to
his ordinary business.
The compensation received for the
service under the Act OF 1879 will
therefore, be subject to but slight de
ductions for travelling expenses, or fol
consequential damages" onaccount Of
neglect or even abandonment of busi
ness. To great degree it will be net
a elaar addition to the usual profits o.
business or income iiom profession.
The advantage TO the Government
of such close limitation of districts will