The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-06-08

out the country 10 required 10 b completed
during the month, except in cities which had, -
the census of 1870 10000 inhahitant or oves,
where the time is further limited to tho flrst two
weeks Of June.
IN LEON COUNTY.
Eleven enumeratoB have been appointed 6nr
the eighteen election precincts of Leon county,
and the territory has been apportioned among
them as follows: W. T. Bannesman, Districsi1
and a. William Thompson, Districts and 2.
B. F. Hart. District 4 Ben. Chaires, 6r., Dstricts
and g.; Robert Gamble, District 8 o. B. Arm
strong, District O.; John Wallace, Districts 10
and II A Hopkins, District 12; E. c. Weeks,
District 13; R. j Braden, District IA; L. c. De-
milly, Districts 15 16, II and 1e
DUTY OF THE ENuMERAToR.
The law makes it the duty of the enumerator
to visit personally each dwelling in his subdivis-
ion, and each family therein, and each individual
living out of family in any place of abode, and
by inquiry made of the head of such family, or
of the member thereof deemed most creditable
and worthy of trust, or of such indv idual living
out of family, to obtain each and every item Of
information and all the particulars required.
By individuals living out of families Is meant
all persons occupying lofts in public buildings,
above stores, warehouses, factories and stables,
having no other usual place of abode; persons
living solitary in cabins, huts or tents persons
sleeping on river boats, canal boats barges, &C.,
having no other usual place of abode, and per-
sons in police stations having no homes. It ID
further provided by law that in case no person
shall be found at the usual place of abode of such
family, or individual living ont of family, CON-
petent to answer the inquiries made in compf-
ance with the requirements of the act. then IL
shall be lawful for the enumerator to obtain the
required information, as nearly as may be practi-
cable, from the family or families, or person or
persons, living nearest to such place of abode
1t is the duty Of an enumerator, in the exercise
Of his authority to visit houses and interrog2te
members of families resident therein a. provided
by law to use great courtesy and consideration.
A rude peremptory or overbearing dem6anor
would not only be wrong TO the families vi3ited,
but would work IN injury TO the census by!ren-
dering the members of those families less disposed
to give information with fullness and exacthesA
1t would doubtless be found in the long run to be
an injury to the enumerator himself and TO retard
his work. By the above remark II is not intended
10 imply that the enumerator need enter into
prolix explanations or give time to anything BE-
yond the strictly necessary work of interrogation
1t is entirely possible for the enumerator to 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 any antagonism
or give any offence
The enumerator is prohibited by law from dele
eating to any other person his authority to enter
dwellings and to interrogzte their inhabifants-
The work of enumeration must be done By fhe
enumerator in person, and cannot be performed
by proxy.
DUTY OF THE CITIZEN
1t is not within the choice of any inhabitant Of
the United States whether he shall or shall not
communicate the information required by the
census laws by the fourteenth section Of the
act approved March 8, 1879, it is provided:
That each aDd every person more than twenty
years of age, belonging 10 any family reading in
any enumeration district, and In case Of the 81
sence of the heads and other members OF anT
such family, then any agent Of such family, sksh
be- and each OF them hereby il, required, If there
TO requested by the superintendent SUPERVISOR or
enumerater, to render true account to the best
of his or her know ledge, Of every person belong
ing to such family in the various particulars re-
quired by law, and whoever shall wilfu1ly fail Or
refuse shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay q sum mot
exceeding one hundred dollars.
Enumerators are, however, instructed that they
win do well not unnecessarily to obtrude the
compulsory feature OF the enumerations. twill
be found in tie vast majority of cases that the
persons called upon TO give information win do
30 without objection or delay. No people in the
world are 80 favorably disposed towards the
work Of the census as the people Of the United
States With the high degree of popular intelii-
gence here existing the importance Of statistical
information is very generally appreciated; and if
the enumerator enters upon his work In q rieht
spirit, he will generally meet with fayoruhle
and even a cordial response. 1t is only where
information required by law is refused that the
penalties for non compliance need be adverted to.
The eDumeratcr will then, quietly bat firmly,
point out the consequences Of persistency In rs-
fusaL At the census Of 1870 the agentsof the
census in only two or three instances throuEhous
the whole United States found Il necessary to
resort 10 the courts for the endorsement OF ne
obligation to give information as required BY the
census act
The enumerator is not required to accspt an.
swers Which, he knows, or has reason to believe,
are false. He has . right to . true statement On
every matter respecting which he b bound %
inquire; and he n not concluded by faIse stAteI
ment. Should any person persist in making
statements which are obviously erroaeous the
enumerator should enter upon the schstule the
Enne hes