Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-29
The Census aud the Enumerators.

The Census aud the Enumerators.
A Washington correspondent to the
Toledo Blade says: .a... -,..
1t is provided by law that the enum-
orator, by accepting his commission and
qualifying Hereunder, binds himself to
carry the work on to completion, unless
incapacitated by sickness from so do
ing. For neglect or refusal to perform
the duties required of him under the
law, he will be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and be liable, upon convic-
ton, to a fine not exceeding $500. An
enumerator cannot throw up the work.
therefore, simply because of dissatis-
faction or Incidence. He cannot en-
gage an assistant, either. He must hoe
bis row all alone. The law prohibits
him from delegating to any other per-
son his authority to enter dwellingsand
to interrogate their inhabitants. The
work of enumeration cannot be per-
formed by proxy.
Then an enumerator has to be polite,
and we all know how difficult 1t is for
some men to be decently civil. Super
intendent Porter says: at is the duty
of an enumerator, In the exercise of
his authority, to visit houses and inter-
rogate members of families resident
therein, to exercise courtesy and con-
sideration. A rude, peremptory, or ov-
erbearing demeanor would be an injus-
tice to the families visited, and would
render the members of those families
less disposed to give information with
fullness and exactness, and would SER
| fns1 olx rot nd tho NxynrR ~
ION the other hand, 1t Is not pecess-
ary that the enumerator should enter
into prolix explanations or give time to
anything beyond the strictly necessary
work of Interrogation. The enumera-
tor should be prompt, rapid and decis-
i've in announcing his object and his
authority, and in making his inquiries,
but in so doing he should not arouse
any antagonism or give any offense.'
You see what clever manone must be
to be successful enumerator. ..,,
But the burden is not all upon the
enumerator. The householder has o
load. He is compelled to talk. That
enumerator may come around when the
head of the family is In anything but 9
talkative mood, but the necessary in
formation must be forthcoming immed
lately. There is nothing to do but tt
lay aside the mood and visciousnesl
which doth SO naturally and easily be
set us, and talk. The law is somewhat
specific on this matter. Itsays, among
other Interesting things, "That eacl
, and every person more than 20 years o
age, belonging to any family residing
, in any enumeration district or sub-div
isiofi, and in case of the absencero th,
!, heads and other members Of any suct
family, then any representative of sucl
family, shall be, and each Of them here
by is required, If thereto requested b.
the superintendent, supervisor or en-
+; umerator, to render true account II
' the best of his or her knowledge of ev
. cry person belonging to such family il
! the various particulars required by law
and whoever shall wilfuIly fall or re
fuse shall be guilty of a misdemeanol
and upon conviction thereof, shall b
: fined In sum not exceeding $780,
!; See how you are fixed? %,t.ea
r "Enumerators are cautioned, howev
: err says Superintendent Porter, "no
y to obtrude unnecessarily the compuls
|, ory feature of the enumeration. It wi
!. be found very generally that the pei
sons called upon to give infOrmatio
. will do so without objection or delay
It is only where information require
g by law is refused that the penalties fo
noncompliance need be referred tt
a The enumerator will then quietly bU
firmly, point out the consequences {
persistency in REFUSAL" ere
), Now, when the enumerator gets afte
YOU next month don't try to deceiv
. him. Tell him the truth. Ifhe know
. you are attempting to deceive him, b
will more than get even with you. II
i is not required to accept answers whic
d he knows or has reason to believe al
Is false. He has right to true STATE
,. ment on every matter respecting whic
!, he is bound to inquire. Should yo
: persistin making statements which al
y obviously erroneous, the enumeratc
% will enter upon the schedule the fac
as nearly as he can ascertain them
o his own observation or by inquiry I
d credible persons. One part of the er
% umerator's work will be especially di
!. ficult. Irefer to the collection of fac
! concerning members of families wh
: are mentally or physically defective.
The law requires return in the cas-
\ Of each insane, feeble-minded, idio
s blind, or deaf person. or such as ma
: be crippled, MANNED or deformed. NJ
i unfrequently and not unnaturally pc
d sons interrogated are disposed to cor
4 ceal, or even to deny, the existence {
) such infirmities on the part of member
y of their household, especially as regarG
3 children. If the enumerator Is deceive
ls and knows it, he Is instructed to get tE
facts from the neighbors. In the sam
it way the enumerator is not bound b
Is any statement concerning the value
ID produced in agricultural or other occ,
y pations when he knows or has reaso
! to believe them to be false; also, n
garding homes and farms which are r.
L ported as having no membranes res
n ing upon them, no statement should
accepted which he believes to be falls
" His duty is to report the actual facts I
If nearly as he can ascertain them.
as IF the public generally understood Il
\ situation there would be less disincl
: nation to refuse information, or to di
tort facts. You may give much priva
y news to the enumeratOr but you do
is with safety. The ever present la
Ill says: ANY supervisor or enumeratt
is who shall, without the authority of tt
N superintendent, communicate to an
person not authorized to receive Il
same, any information gained by hil
:. in the performance of his duties, sha
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