The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-03-27
OF PUBLIC INTEREST,
ELEVENTH CENSUS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Qualifications, Duties and Compensa-
ton of Census EnumeratOrs.


Qualifications, Duties and COmpensa-
tiOn of Census EnumeratOrs.
The law prescribing the manner of
taking the eleventh census of the
United States in June next does not
differ in its essential features from the
acts of March 3, 1879, and April 20,
1880, under which the tenth census
was taken.
The present act, approved March 1,
1889, provides for the appointment of
supervisors of censuses, one or more to
each State and Territory and the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and the designa-
ton by said supervisors, and, with the
consent of the Superintendent of Cen
sus, the employment of suitable per-
sons as enumerators within their re-
spective districts. 1t is further pro-
vided that such persons shall be resi-
dents Of the subdivisions for which
they may be appointed, and that they
shall be selected solely with reference
to fitness, and aoikhont reference to
their political party affiliations.
The appointment of enumerators
should be made with reference to phys
ical activity and to aptness, neatness,
and accuracy in writing and in the use
OF figures. The census requires active,
energetic men, of good address and
readiness aUitA tie Pen. Only such
can do the work with satisfaction to
the Government or profit to them
selves.
The number of inhabitants to be in
cluded in an enumeration district shall
not in any case exceed four thousand,
and only in very exceptional cases
should this limit be reached.
The enumeration required by the
census act will commence on the first
Monday of June next, and must he
completed in cities having over 1000
inhabitants, according to the census of
1880, within two weeks from that date,
and in all other districts on or before
the first day of July next thereafter.
Each applicant for appointment as
census enumerator must make a writ
ten application to the supervisor for
his district, giving his christian name
in full, his place Of birth, his present
legal residence and post-office address,
the principal facts of his education and
professional or business experience, in
cluding a statement Of all national,
State, county, or municipal offices at
any time held by him, and the place
and nature of his present occupation.
This application must be throughout
in the handwriting of the applicant,
and he must SO certify therein.
1t will be necessary for each emu
merator, before entering upon his du-
ties, to receive a commission, under
the hand of the supervisor of the dis
trict to which he belongs, and to take
and subscribe an oath or affirmation
that he will faithfully discharge all the
duties required of him under the law.
The small size of the enumeration
districts, and the employment of local
enumerators, will operate largely to
the advantage of the census, both as
to accuracy and completeness of re-
turns. The enumerator, if a resident
of the subdivision, knows, presumably,
every house and almost every family,
and is in little danger of making omis-
sions, and can not be easily imposed
upon by false statements.
The compensation to be paid to
enumerators is fixed by section I of
the act of March I, 1889, and pro-
vides a minimum rate of two cents for
each living inhabitant, two cents for
each death, fifteen cents for each farm,
twenty cents for each establishment of
productive industry, and five cents for
each surviving soldier, sailor, or ma
rine, or widow of soldier, sailor, or
marine, enumerated and returned, for
all subdivisions where such allowance
shall be deemed sufficient. In all
other subdivisions, where higher rates
are to be paid, according to the diff
Guilty of enumeration, the maximum
rates shall not be more than three
cents for each living inhabitant, twenty
cents for each farm, and thirty cents
for each establishment of productive
industry; nor shall they be less than
three nor more than six dollars per day
of ten hours actual field-work each, in
case per diem compensation is estab-
lished. Except in extreme cases, no
claim for mileage or travelling expenses
will be allowed to any enumerator,
and tEen only when authority has
been previously granted by the Super
intendent Of Census.
The law provides penalty for an
enumerator who shall, without iustif-
able cause, neglect Or refuse to per-
form the duties of his position, after
accepting an appointment and quail
flying for the work.
ROBERT P. PORTER,
Supt. of Census.