Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-06-10
The Census.
Qsessisss that .sass he aaswev ID 10
month.
DUTIES or THE ENrMHRAroRs.

Under the provisions of an act approved
March 3, 1879. and amended April 20. 1850.
a census is to be taken of the population.
the wealth and the industry Of the United
States as il existed during the twelve months
which began May 81. 1879, and ended June
|, 1880. Outside of cities which have lO.-
600 inhabitants and more this census work
may extend all throughout June. But IN
such cities. such work will end on June IA.
Enumerators. by accepting their commits
sions and qualifying hereunder, bind them
selves to carry the work on TO completion.
unless prevented by reasonable cause from
doing so. They cannot throw up the work
from dissatisfaction or Incidence.
IL Is the duty Of each enumerator 20 visit
personally each dwelling in his subdivision.
and each family therein. and each individual
living out Of family in any place Of abode.
and by inquiry 10 obtain each aud every
item Of information and all the particulars
mentioned in his schedules. BY individuals
living out OF families is meant all persons
occupying lofts in public buildings. above
! stores. ware houses, factories, and stables
living solitary IN cabins, huts. or tents,
sleeping on rivcr boats. canal boats barges.
&c. and having no other usual place of
abode, and persons in police stations ha, ing
no homes OF the classes lust mentioned.
the most important, numerically, is the first.
In order 10 reach such persons, the enumer-
ator viii need To make enquiry of both Of the
parties occupying the business portion Of
such buildings, and also of the police. A
letter has been addressed from Washington
| to the mayor Of every large city in the Unit
ed States requesting the cooperation OF the
/ police 80 far a. 1t may be necessary 10 pre-
vent the omission Of these classes of persons,
| 1t is further provided by law that in case
no person shall BE- found at the usual place
OF abode Of family. or individual living out
OF family, competent to answer the vn-
| quircs made in compliance with the require
mcnts Of the act, then i, shall be lawful for
the cnumerator to obtain the required lnfor-
nation as nearly A. may be practicable from
the family, families, or person or persous
( living nearest to such place Of abode.
| IL is the prime object of the enumeration
! TO obtain the name and the requisite partic-
ulars as to personal description Of every per
| son IN the nlted States, Of whatever age.
| sex, color. race OF condition. IL j. the duty
4 Of an enumerator. in the exercise of his au-
/ thOriiy, 10 visit houses and InterTogatc mem
bcrs OF families resident therein. as provld-
/ ed BY laW. TO use great courtesy and cOnsid-
( Grafton The enumeTat0r need not enter
| into prolix explanations. or give time 10 any
| thing beyond the strictly necessary work OF
| Interrogation. Il IS entirely possible for the
cnumcrator to be prompt, rapid and decisive
/ in announcing his object and his authority,
; and in going through the whole list OF ques.
| tions to be proposed. and al the same time
! not 10 arullSt, any autauDuI.n or any utfen-e
II Is not within me choice OF any 'nhaoi-
tah' O. ihe lh!ted states whether ne shAI1
/ or shall not communicate the information
I required by the ccusus law. hy the four
teenth section oi The act approved March j.
7 lN''' y i provided fhAt each and ever!
I person more ti'An twenty years OF age DC
/ longing 70 an! family residing n an! numeF-
AtIoh ulStIict, anu III case OF ahsohee o' 'lo
heads and other members o' any sach family,
ihch any agent o. sueh iAihiIy snail oe' ana
e@eH oi tAcm HeTeoy Is required II thefet'
requested bH the 'uperih'ehaeh'' supervisor
or ehumtfa'or' 20 render > tue account 70
'ueh family IN the various particulars re-
CURED o law; ahd whoever sha!i "ihully
'AlI OF refuse sh14. oe gum! oil Am'saenheah-
Or anu upon S"i'''S''o" tneleoi sha1i 'os'c''
ana pay sum mol exceeding sloD. Emu
meratoFs WILL however 90 "eH ho' uhhfce'-
'ar'i! % "o''ude ". compulsory feature
OF 'he enumeration. II VIII oe 'ouhe IN 'he
vast majority OF cases IN. persons caI!eu upon
20 give Information viii 90 so without onlec'-
ION OF urlAt ana IL 'hs ehuiheIa'of enters upon
his worn IN . right spiT!t'he "Ai gehera!'y meet
~ith iaSotah!e ana even aeoru'al response
IL Is oh1I "heie information required by IA"
= refused 'hat that 'iie penalties lof non
compliance Heeu oe auN.t'ea 10. Inc emu
meratof VIII theh quIeu! uat hrm'y point
out ''e consequences oi pet.l''ehct IN Feiu'-
al. IL "iiI be instructive TO note that at The
census oi lS'o the agents "i the census IN
only Two or three instances throughout the
whole Inited States found II necessary to
resort to the courts for the enforcement OF
the obligation to give information as required
b, the law.
II Is further to be noted that the enumer-
ator Is not required to accept answers which
ne Knows or has reason 10 believe are false
lie has right to true statement on ever.
matter respecting which he Is bound TO en-
| quire, and he IS not concluded by false
statement Should any person persist IN
making statements which are obviously or
roneous, the enumeTator should enter upon
the schedule the facts as nearly As he can
ascertain them hy MS own ooseI' alton or D!
inquir, OF credible persons The foregoing
remark Is OF special Importance with refer
erenee TO the statements oi the heads OF fam
ilIes respecting aihieted members oi their
households he Law requires return an
the case OF each blind, deal and dumb, IN
sane OF ldioiie, or crippled person. IL not
unirequent, happens that father. and moth
ers, especial, the latter are disposed to con
ceal, or even deny the existence OF such m
hrmitie. on the part OF childrrn. Ia such
eases. II the fact = perspnaliy known TO the
enumeraior' OF shall be aseertained by IN
qniry from neighbors' It should be entered
on the schedules equally as II obtained from
the head OF the family \ second ei.s. OF
cases under TINS head concerns the reporting
Of the values produced IN agricultural or
other occupations. The enHmerator l. not
bound Os any statement ~hich ne Know. OF
ha. any reason 10 believe 70 De false. Ills
dui! Is to report the ae'aa! iao'' as nearly
a. ne San ascertain tnem' me enuiaerator
Is prohibited hy Ia" rom ae'egatin 70 any
other person MS authority 20 enter d"eiiing'
anu To ihterroga'e then mnanitahts' Inc
u "a : fa