The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-31
Taking the Census.

W., ~ MluntSnt. 0J.
Mean temperature, 73 SO.
Taking the Census.
HIS GREAT WORK TO BEGIN on TUEsDAY--ALL
ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED FOR TnE woPK
N THIS L0cALIrr-fNsTRrcTToN TO THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR REFUSING TO
ANswgR--FAMILIEs AND HOMES.
fFrom the Baltimore Americana
Under the provisions OF acts OF Congress,
approved March 3, 1870, and April 20, 1880,
the taking OF the "census Of the popula-
ton, wealth, and industry OF the United
States," will begin on Tuesday morning
next, June 1st, throughonttbe entire coun-
try. The period OF enumeration Is by law
limited 10 the month OF June. and in cities
having 1O, 900 inhabitants and over, accord
ing to the census OF 1870, is still further
limited to the first two weeks OF the month.
The duty OF each enumerator is TO visit
personally every dwelling Ia his subdivi-
sion, and each family therein. and each in
dividual living out OF a family in any place
OF abode. and by inquiry made OF the head
OF such family, or Of the member thereof
deemed most credible and worthy Of trust,
or OF such individual living out OF family,
to obtain each and every item Of iDforma-
tion and all the particulars required.
1t is the prime object OF the enumeration
to obtain the name and the requisite par
ticulars as to personal description Of every
person in the United States. OF whatever
age, sex, color, race, or condition, with this
single eXception-viz., that "lndians not
taxed !" shall be omitted from the enumera-
ton.
1t is the duty OF an enumerator, in the en-
of ri i'm OF
tions-to "visit houses and interrogate
members Of families resident therein as pro-
yided by law, to use great courtesy and con-
sideration."
Br the above remark 1t is not intended to
imply that The enumeratOr need enter into
proix explanations. or give time 10 any
thing beyond the strictly necessary work OF
interrogation. 1t is entirely possible for
the enumeratOr 10 be prompt, rapid, and
decisive in announcing his object and his
authority, and in going through the whole
list Of questions to be proposed, and at the
same time not TO arouse ary antagonism or
or give any offence"
NO REFUsALs ALLOWED.
1t is not within the choice Of any inhsbi-
tant OF the United States whether he shall
or shall not communicate the information
required by the census laws.
Enumerators are, however, instructed
that they will do well not unnecessarily to
obtrude the compulsory feature OF the
enumeration. 1t will be found in the vast
majority OF cases that the persons called
upon TO give Information will do so without
objection or delay.
The enumerator is not required to accept
answers which lie knows, or has reason to
believe, are false. He has right to true
statement on every matter respecting which
he Is bound to inquire; and lie is not con-
cluded by false statement. Should any
persist in making statements which are OBJ
viously erroneous, the enumerator should
enter upon the schedule the facts as nearly
as he can ascertain them by his own OBJ
servation, or by inquiry OF credible per-
sons.
The foregoing remark Is OF special i'm
portance with reference to the statements OF
the heads Of families respecting afflicted
members of their households. The law re-
quires a retnrn in the case Of each blind,
deaf and dumb, insane or idiotic, or Grip
pied person. 1t not infrequently happens
that fathers and mothers, especially the lat
ter, are disposed to conceal, or even to deny,
the existence OF such injrmities on the part
OF children. In such cases, il the fact is
personally known to the enumerator, or
shall be ascertained by inquiry from neigh
bors, it should be entered on the schedules
equally as il obtained from the head OF the
family.
A second class Of cases under this head
concerns the reporting OF the values pro-
duced 10 agricultural or other occupations.
The enumerator is not bound by any state
ment which he knows or has reason to be-
leve to be false. His duty is to report the
actual facts as nearly as he can ascertain
them.
The enumerator Is prohibited by law from
delegating to any other person his authority
TO enter dwellings and 10 interrogate their
inhabitants. The work OF enumeration
must be done by the enumera!or in person,
and cannot be performed by proxy.
FAMILIES AND HOMES.
Five regular schedules are created by law
for the enumeration OF the several subjects
of inquiry, as follows: Population, agri-
culture, manufactures, social statistics, and
Schedule A (social statislics) has
been Withdrawn from the enumeration and
placed in the hands OF special agents and
experts. Upon Schedule (population) is
10 be entered the name OF every man,
woman, and child who on the first day OF
June, 1880, shall have his or her usual
place Of abode within the enume-
rators district. No child born between
the 1st day OF June, 1880, and the day OF |
he enumerator's visit (say June 9th or 18th |
,r 25tb) is to be entered upon the schedule. |
On the other hand, every person who was |
resident OF the district upon the 1st day |
If June, 1880, but between that date and
he day OF the enumerator's visit shall have
lied, should be entered on The schedule
precisely as il still living. The object OF
he schedule Is TO obtain list OF the In.
labitants on the 1st Of June, 1880, and all
.hanges after that date, whether IN the ma
ure OF gain, or OF loss, are to be disre-
,arded in the enumeration.
The word family, for the purposes OF the
ensus, includes persons living alone equally
With families in the ordinary sense OF that
erm, and also all larger aggregations OF
,eople having only the tie OF common
ooi and tables. A hotel, with all its in-
mates, constitutes but one family within the
meaning OF this term. A hospital, prison,
"a asylum, is equally family for the pur-
,oses Of the census. On the other band,
he solitary inmate - cabin, loft, or
com finished of sbSye store constitutes
family in the meaning Of the census act.
n the case, however, of tenemeDt.hollses
nd OF the so-caled fats " Of the great
titles, as many families are to he recorded
5 there are separate tables.
The result Of the Suffolk election was IS
)llows:
Funder Ticket--Mayor. BENJAMIN Rid.