The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-28
CENSUS DIFFICULTIES.

CENSUS DIFFICULTIES.
As census time approaches. the feel
ing against some Of the questions to be
propounded becomes decidedly acrid and
the columns Of the press are being used
as medium for many indignant pro-
tests. There may be some men who are
perfectly willing and even ready to tell
the enumerator what mortgage they
carry on their homes, what imperfec-
tions, physical and mental, they are con-
scious of in their own persons and those
of their families, whether they have had
any personal acquaintance with the
matter of divorce, and other like sub
jects. But beyond doubt there are
others who will be Of opinion that there
are some matters in the list a govern
ment has no right to know or inquire
into, matters that are not fairly includ-
ed in census of the population, mat
ters, it may seem to them, Of an entirely
private character. There are even
found people to declare that under our
free government the forms Of law can
not give an employee Of Uncle Sam the
right to interfere with purely personal
concerns and who are willing to test the
validity of their statement in a court Of
justice. It is within the limits of pos
sibility that the enumerators may find
some difficulty in dealing with those who
feel strongly on the subiect. in spite Of
the penalty that may be i'm
posed for refusal to answer the
required questions Such re-
fusal is, in the eyes Of the law, q mis-
demeanor and the guilty person is sub
ject to imprisonment and fine not TO
exceed 800. The law allows the euura-
orator to call to his aid the United
States marshal, or, by showing his COM
mission, to request the assistance OF any
policeman to arrest the delinquent. In
the city of New York trouble has al
ready begun. The census supervisor for
that locality is said to have expressed to
a reporter his hope that she would not
he obliged to use the means the govern
n1ent pats in our power to get the infor-
NATION We are to give to the superin-
serGeEt of the census- but" he added,
at IL a-ors shan likely we will have TO
III sou-t. cases." What assistance he is
likely TO rst.srvs from the police force
nag ~ gathered from the answer re-
sGIrzer.kin By The board OF police when
q. .ssyv9aatsd sheen TO instruct the mem
Eers Of sGs force that it was their duty,
vFler called upon by an enumerator, to
arrest any person who refused to an
sxer shs Census questions. "The New
York police will do all that it lawfully
may under the statute" The New
York Sun brilliantly points out that
this means the New York statute, not
the federal census law, and goes on te
state that, while the statute in question
warrant any person committing in hi
presence any breach Of the peace or of
Tense directly prohibited by act Of thu
legislature or by any city ordinance
there Is neither legislative act nor nun
icipal ordinance that compels either
Of the state to report his physical all
ments and his financial standing to an.
stranger, though he may demand tn
information in the name Of the govern
ment Of the United States.
In fact, the census enumerator cal
claim in New York city no privilege tina
every one of its inhabitants is not on
titled to. II he loses his way, an Office
will be polite enough to direct him; i
he has the misfortune to fall Will
crossing slippery street, the same ter
der-hearted official will hasten to sc
him on his legs again; if he is unfol
tunate enough to provoke the active il
dignation of some citizen whom he ha
goaded to a loss of self control by hi
salaried inquisitiveness, he may look t
the same quarter for protection Blu
If the enumerator dreams that the Ne,
York force will be anything but disin
terested onlookers when he request
them to arrest some citizen who object
to giving the tale of his debts and dis
eases for the advantage of statisticlans
he is the victim Of delusion and
snare.