Fergus County argus., 1890-04-17
TAKING THE CENSUS.
Some Pointers for the Information of Those
Who Would Be Enumerators.

Who Would Be Enumerators.
Some time ago Census Supervise
! Hon. W. L. Speer was interviewed d,
q reporter of the Butte Miner. and in {
lengthy interview impaired some in
formation regarding the census. tn,
following portion of the interview vii
be Of interest to the people and thos,
who are ambitious to he eenumerat ors
In making application for the posi-
ton of enumcrator, n man must give
his full Christian name, place OF birth
present legal residence and post office
address, principal facts Oi his e,luca.
ton, professional or business expert
ence, including "a statement of all
offices he may have ever held, and
present occupation. Then every per-
son appointed is obligated to perform
the duties of the position. That is, he
cannot quit or neglect to do the work
After an appOintee once accepts and
qualities he must finish his work un-
der penalty Of u fine not exceeding
$500. He must also keep to himself
all information gained 10y him in the
performance OF his duty, under SINH
lar penalty.
GLOW about compensation of enum-
orators, Mr.. Speer?'
''The law provides two ways, a per
diem compensation and a per capita
compensation. This matter will rest
wholly with the superintendent OF cen
sus and the secretary Of the interior
In special cases enunerittors will he
paid per day not to exceed SO. The
per capita enumeration will be as fol
lows: For every living person. 2cents;
for every death, = cents; for every
farm. | . cents; Tor every factory, 20
cents; for every veteran or veterans $
wI'low, ) cents. The latter mode Of
compensation is intended for I he thick
ly settled communities, the rates OF
compensation being fixed according to
the difficulties of enumeration, having
reference to the nature of the regions
to he canvassed and the density or
sparseness of settlement, or othercon
sIderations pert aiming thereto, but the
compensation allowed to any enlimer-
ator IN any such district shall not he
less than SO nor more than 81 per day
OF ten hours Of actual field work each"
"Of course there is II provision in the
law compelling people to make truth
IN! answers to questions asked by
enunerators in their Official capac-
lty?"
Certainly, and the punishment pro-
vided for refusal to give informatiOni is
quite severe. Every person more than
al l..x 4
NY residing IN any enumeration dis
trlct or subdivision. and in the alb
sence oI the head of the family, is re-
pulre'l to render "A true account to the
best oi his or her knowledge of every
person belonging to such family in the
various particulars required by law.
In the absence oi the heads or other
members of such family any represen-
tative oi such family shall furnish the
desired information. Whoever shall
wllfully refuse or fail to give such in
io:mal ion will be guilty of misde-
meanor, and upon conviction shall lac
iine'i IN ~ sum not exceeding 500.
The same section also provides that ii
any president. treasurer. secretary.
agent. director or other officer of any
corporation from which answers to
any of the schedules provided by law
are required wiliully refuses or ne
elects tn give true and complete an
swer-, or wiliully gives false iniorma-
ton. lie shall be guilty of a misde-
lneanor and on convict ion shall be
tined not exceeding SlO.OOO. to which
imprisonment not exceeding one year
may he added. You see. ample pro
visions have been made to get II cor
rect census. While on the subject oi
penalties, I'll also tell you that there
~ no dearth Of penalties for the pun
lshnent of enlinerat ors for violating
their duties. have already given you
the penalty for divulging Information.
Here are some more: Enumerators
can be punished for perjury if they
knowingly swear false. In such cases
the punishment is fine not exceeding
$500 and three years Imprisonment.
For knowingly making false certiii-
Gates or fictitious returns they can be
fined not exceeding 81, 900 and he i'm
prlsoned not exceeding two years. All
fines and penalties can he enforced by
indictment or iniormationi in any court
OF competent jurisdiction"
'When must the enumerat ion begin
and when must it be completed?"
THE law is very plain. 1t says the
enumeration must commence on the
first Monday of June, and each enum-
orator must complete his enumeration
and forward the same to the super
visor OF his district on or before the
first day OF July. Special provision is
made for taking the census OF cities
that had over 10000 inhabitants I'M