Morning journal and courier., 1890-06-03
THE ENumEnAroRs BKGIN.

THE ENUmERATORs BKGIN.
Uncle SANS Census Takers Busy as
Their Task A Good Days Work
Done Perlls OF tho Enumerators
and Perils OF the Public - Dogs and
Irase Housewives Make the Census
Takers Life Nos Happy one.
Yesterday the census enumerators were
bvsy enumeratinR. There were fortY-one
busy men prodding people with all sorts Of
questions and each carrying around a.formid-
able array of blanks. One enumerator had
by noon got down 1873 names, most Of which
brought him two cents name and . part
more than that. He felt satisfied that he
should pan out So before sunset. He had
met with no decided rebufs and but few
refusals to answer the questions on which
the most squeamishnsss il anticipated. One
enumerator ''struck II rioh" yesterday, strik-
ing many large families. With families of
from Eve to ten each the enumerator's fees
become quite profitable and productive of
cheerfulness. There were also some long
faces among tbs enumerators. This was
when they struck In among people who re-
Rarded the census men with grave suspicion
and resented the inquiries % to their personal
affairs. In vain the enumerators pleaded
in their own support the acts of congress,
the power of the government, their duties as
humble and patient agents of the census bu.
reau, their large families at home depending
upon their labors for bread and butter. The
irate housewives would not yield an inch in
their rspugnance and suspicious, and main
tanned their ground 80 firmly that the agents
had to get q friend of the obstinate ones to
intercede and explain matters, which result
ed usually successfully. frequently little
consultations Of neighbors with arms all
soapsuds were held over the back fences Of
the tenement yards, as the census taker
stood battling with refractory damsel, try
ing to earn his two cents name, and unreg
istersd and ferlorn-looking dogs stood around
looking askancs at the census man a. If anx-
ious to take toll from his trousers for enter
ing the premises. Altogether the census
takers life is not happy one.
Those who have not yet been visited by the
enumerators and who desire to make out
their own enumeration lists, may obtain the
requisite blanks from the enumerators. All
who are apt to be away from home when the
enumerators call, or who intend to 20 out Of
town, are particularly requested to obtain
blanks, 6ll them out and return to the
enumerator in the proper district.
In view of the criticisms that have been
made and of the public indignation and re-
| sentiment that have been aroused In regard
| to some of the questions in the schedule, it
is, perhaps, not an unfair estimate that after
| the enumsrators shall have finished their
work and the supervisors shall have made
their returns to Washington the attorney
general may find himself confronted with
anywhere from 2, 000, 600 to 20, 900, 900 cases
| of refusals to answer, and in that event the
inference seems warranted that he will hard
| ly care to undertake such wholesale prosecu-
ton as would be necessitated in order to
bring the dslinquents to account.
| The questions considered most objection
able and those which have provoked the most
severe criticism from all GLASSES of people are
those which relate to such private griefs and
domestic misfortune as are implied in ques
ton No. %, wherein the enumerator is sup
posed to inquire whether any member of the
family is suffering from any acute or chronic
disease, with the name of the disease and the
length of time afflicted, and the QUESTION:
ranging from Nos. 90 to 80, inclusive, which
assume to put the head of the household on
| inquiry In regard to the condition of his
property. In the latter case it is assumed
that full records OF the condition of real
estate are to he more readily and more
accurately obtained from the registers
Office, where all such matters are sup.
posed to be recorded, and the objection
to the question about diseases Is that it can
serve no public purpose, the information Ia
response thereto being essentially of q pri
vate nature and of the kind in regard tc
which most people are sensitive. In view Of
| the wholesale job which the attorney general
is likely to have on his hands if he should
attempt to bring to account up to the full
limit Of the law all persons who may decline
| to give proper answers to these questions, al
timid citizens may feel assured that 1t will
be reasonably safe for them, in case they
shall not feel disposed to reply to the emu
merators, to refuse to do so.
There il supplemental schedule relating
to soldiers, sailors. marines and to widows Of
the same. If one has been q soldier detaile
of his service are recorded in a supplements
schedule, which is framed to give exhaustive
information about the service of the person
to DO registered, including the name of hi
company, regiment or vessel, the dates o.
enlistment and discharge, tine length Of ser
vice, the disabilities incurred and such othel
remarks as may be pertinent. The supple
mental schedule relating to persons diseased
blind, insane, idiotie and feeble-minded, only
whom otherwise diseased or physically de
fsotivs. There are separate scht dulles, ais
for those suffering only one of thes
Affections. In these cases the nature ant
cause of defect will be noted and mucl
other information that could be hardly givel
In response to q general question. Tn
schedule relating to the blind instructs tn
enumerators in regard to the degree of de-
fectivs sight which may be properly recorded
under this heading. and otherwise IL seeks I,
obtain such information as may be valuable
for statistical purposes. There is supple
mental schedule relating to insanity, which
10 designed also to bring out important In
formation in this regard. Statistics Of benev
olence are to snumerate the names of person.
In benevolent institutions and to state tn,
causes of their sf1iction. Indeed, the sup
Elemental schedules arc SO exhaustive Ii
their scope that there would appear to be n,
legitimate reason left why the question
touching family Affections should be included
at all In the general schedule