The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-05-21
THE CENSUS.
A Few Points on the Duties OF
Enumerators and the 0bll-
cation to Answer.


Uni.ed States commences. As is al
ready known, Secretary a. L. Thomas
hes been appointed supervisor of
census for this territory, and from
time to time tue names OF enumera-
tors, ss they have been appointed by
him, have been published in these
columns. The object of these publ
cations have been to keep the public
as we'll posted on this matter as pos
sible, as it is one that directly inter
ests them. EnumeTRtors always meet
with more or less difficulty IN getting
the information which it Is their duty
to obtain, and this difficulty arises
from a lack OF knowledge as to the
duty Of the enumeTatOr and the |
authority conferred upon him by his |
appointment and qualification. Not |
withstanding every effort Is made |
to give all the Publicity possible - the |
the duties Of enumerators, the |
authority they posses, and the neces-
slty and their power 10 compel an
sWers, there are still persona who |
lock upon these officers as individuals
trying to pry into private affairs, and
therefore resist them, which will only
end in trouble to the parties resisting. |
la view OF these facts following is
given a brief summary of the duties
OF enumerators, their rights, the
rights of citizens and the obligations
to answer, which it is desired for the
good of all, and that a full and
reliable census may be taken, will
be made as wide spresd as possible.
EnumeTators shall make the fol.
lowing inquiries, which, OF course,
must be answered: As to the relation
of each person enumerated to the
head OF the family, whether wife,
son, daughter, servant, boarder, or
other; as to the civil condition of each
person enumerated, whether married,
widowed or single; as to the place of
birth of the parents of each person
enumerated; and as to the physical
aud mental heath of each person
enumerated, whether active or dis
abed, manned, crippled, bed.riddeD,
deaf, dumb, blind, insane, or idiOtic.
aud whether employed or uuem
pIoyed, and if unemployed, during
what season OF the year. The super
intendent of the census may, with
the approval of the secretary OF the !
interior, add inquiries relating to the
acreage of the several crops reported; :
and inquiries are to be made
respecting the kind and amount t
of power employed in the es.
Adjustments of productive industry,
aud the kind and number ofmachines {
in use, together with the maximum
capacity Of such establishment, where
the superintendent of census shall :
deem such inquiry appropriate. In I
quiFies shall be made relating to the !
public Indebtedness of cities, counties,
incorporated villages, and towns, and
school districts; and such additional
Inquiries respecting the same, as well
as respecting the public paupers and
criminals, az the Superintendent OF
census shall deem necessary to secure
fall formation respecting the numb.
ers and condition Of these classes.
Schedule number fve shall contain I
inquiries as to the birthplace OF the
father snd mother Of each person re-
ported as having died during the year, !
and as to the usual occupation OF I
each such person.
Besides these questions, full inquiry
is directed to be made. as TO agricul- I
tural pursuits of every kind, including
the number, value, nd production
OF nurseries, orchards and market
gardens, but in no case shall farm :
Oflees than three acres be reported IN
less $500 worth of produce shall have :
been sold of it during She year. The q
compilation of manufacturing statis-
tics ls Withdrawn iroE the erumera-
tors and placed in the bands OF
experts and special agents, aud under !
this head comes telegraph, express,
railroad and insurance companies; :
but it Is provided that the fullest per
tinert information shall be collected
IN this connection, as set forth in the
act authorizing the census TO be ]
tskcr. The mortality is also among !
the schedules that are to be filed.
l. viii be seen therefore that wide l
scope Of inquiry Is allowed the enume- !
rators, and that it Is essential that It
shall he given as accurately as posi-
bic. The circular issued from the :
census department with instructions :
10 enumeTatore, contains the follow
ing, which shows that while enumera-
tors have the power to enforce
answers, there Is still due a courtesy
to those to whom the iLqGiries are |
addressed: {
It is the duty OF an enumerstorr in 6
the exercise Of his authority to visit I
houses and interTogate members OF
families resident therein as provided
by law, to use great courtesy and {
consideration. A rude, peremptlry, or
overbearing demeanor would not only
be a wrong to the families visited, but
would work an Injury to the census,
By rendering the members Of those
families less disposed to give in'orma-
ten with fullness and exactness. 1t
would doubtless be found in the long
run to be an injury to the enumerator
himself and TO retaid his work. By
the above remark it is not intended
10 imply that the enumerAtor need
enter into prolix explanations, or give
time to anything beyond the strictly
necessary work Of Interrogation. 1t |
is entirely possible for tie epumerator
to be prompt, rapid and decisive In
announcing h's object and his author
ity. aud in going through The whole |
/ let Of qGestions 10 be proposed. and |
al the same time not to arouse any |
antagonism or give any ofense.
TIE OBLIGATION To GIVE INFORMATION. |
It is not within the choice of any |
inhabitant Of the United States
whether be shall or shall not COM
municate the information required by
the Genius law. By the fourteenth
section OF tie set approved March 3,
/ 1879, II is provided:
That each and every person more than
! 20 yesrs of age, belonging to any tamlly,
! residing in shy enumeration district, ana
! in case of the absence of the heads snd
other members of any such family, then
any sgeut of such family, shall be, and
each Of tnem hereby Is required, II
thereto requested by the superintendent,
! supervisor. or enumerator, to render
/ true account, 10 The best Of his or her
/ knowledge, Of every person belonging 10
such family in the various particulars