Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-05
THE CENSUS TANGLE.

THE CENSUS TANGLE.
The other day the forecast was made in
the REcoRD-UNIoN that there would be
trouble with the census enumerators, be-
cause the wages allowed them are so small
that the men cannot make expenses, or
scarcely more than that, at the best. 1t
appears that the trouble has already be-
gun. In the East enumerators finding it i'm
possible to make their salt at two cents a
name with fifty questions to PROFOUND in
each case, are declining to serve, and the
Government officials are arresting them
for such refusal under the claim that after
they have taken the oath they must go on
with the work.
This is folly; man compelled to work
under order of Court in such cases will
not do so faithfully, and the results of his
labor will not be received by the public
with credit. In fit of false economy
Congress refused to make sufficient appro-
priation for the taking of the census, or
the districts are too small, or the Superin-
tendent of the work has endeavored to
gather too much data-in fact, all these
elements have combined to cripple the
work. But it is too late to remedy the
trouble now unless Congress should order a
Remuneration, and this is unlikely. The
enumerators ought to go on and do their
duty. They knew just what they were to
receive before they accepted the trust, and
since the time they are employed is brief
they cannot be losers, for as a rule the men
chosen to do the duty are those whose time
is their own, and the employment given
cannot greatly affect their condition as
wage-earners.
But there is another phase of the census
taking for the year that is also annoying,
and that Is the requirement that citizens
shall make responses exposing their physi-
cal infirmities, the presence of chronic
diseases in the family, the revelation of
mental weakness, idiocy. etc. Very many
refuse to answer the questions propounded
to bring out these disclosures. Anticipat-
ing this, the Superintendent secured the
aid of DIR. Billings, Surgeon United States
Army, and had him send circular to all
the physicians in the United States So
liciting the information concerning all
cases they have knowledge of, of idiocy,
mental weakness, chronic disease, physical
deformity, insanity, melancholia, paresis,
etc. In short, the physicians of the coun-
try are asked to reveal their professional
secrets, to violate the sacred confidence re-
posed in them, to act as spies upon their
patients, and to serve the United States in
the matter of uncovering the woes of
households. OF course it is set forth that
the information will be held confidential,
that it is needed in the interests of sci
ence, and that it is essential to have the
facts In order to arrive at conclusions that
are of high value in ascertaining accurate
vital and hygienic statistics But why is
it necessary to take the names of afflicted
parties, and of their parents? Medical
science through its own agencies arrives at
conclusions on these subjects without max
ing up roster of the unfortunates of the
country, and so can the United States
Government. Moreover, what value can
be placed upon the returns asked, whea
every one knows that parents will do all
they can in making their replies to cover
the Affections of their households? The
questions are such that the answers will
fall within the category of the Kentuckian
who, refusing to disclose On the witness
stand an affair that involved the name of
woman, was congratulated by the oppos-
ing counsel for having periured himself
like a gentleman.
The Superintendent of the Census has
taken one step in this matter that is far
from creditable to him; the enumerators
are instructed to act as Paul Prys, and if
refusal is made to answer delicate ques.
tions, the enumeration is told to ascertain
the facts from other sources, to inquire OF
the neighbors, and those who are outside
of the household, as to whether the next
door family is afflicted with members who
are idiotic, the victims of chronic dis
ease, and its character and cause, whether
there are any who are deformed, manned,
insane, Predetermined, have cataract, are
possessed OF mania in any form, are sick
from injuries, and if so, the cause, etc.
That is 10 say, the enumerators are ex-
pected to nose about the community and
report gossip and neighborhood chatter,
and on such basis is to be erected sta
tistical structure
Ii ever there was proceeding on the
part of Government more mean than
this We have not heard of it, nor is it on
record in history. We think with our
contemporary, the San Francisco Aha,
that the enumerators should fill the blanks
sent them opposite the question, "Do you
know of those who are idiotic or insane,
etc, with the statement: Eyes; Superin-
tendent Porter, of the census, and DIR.
Billings, Of the army"
PROPERTY IN BRAINS.
The San Francisco Gail takes hating is