The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-10

any statement made to the contrary, either
to myself or the department at Washington
or elsewhere, is false, and does me a very
great injustice.
Now, as to statement of the facts of the
case. The enumerators recommended by
me for appointment to the honorable su.
perlntendent of census were each recon-
mended to me for such appointment by
prominent residents of your city, and were
solely recommended by me upon the rec
ommendation and solicitation of such citi-
zens. They are residents of your place,
with not one of whom I am personally &C
quainted.
After all enumerators had been appointed
and work of enumeration was about to
commence, I was notified that the census
of Helena and Butte whould have to be
completed in two weeks. This, ] believe, in
your case could be done, from the data in
my possession kindly furnished by your
own officials to me to approximate the popu-
lation, for the purpose of creating districts
Tor enumeration purposes of proper size
10 change districts at this time would
work much confusion, and ! was confident
that few days extra would be granted
where necessary for enumerators to COM
plete their districts. Three days extra time
was granted, of my own accord, to one or
more enumerators. In the meantime YOUR
| citizens held public meeting, and your
mayor telegraphed me for more time, among
other things, which dispatch ! sent to the
superintendent by wire Immediately. Dur
ing this time several enumeratOrs had re-
turned their schedules, all claiming, l be-
lleve, that they were through with their
work, and part of them at least that they
did not want or require further time. The
schedu les were Immediately returned with
instructions to I'LL enumerators. with in
structions to the effect to go over their dis
trlcts and collect any who might have been
missed in the first canvass: also to take all
names presented them by the citizens COM
mlttee. which this public meeting had ap-
pointed for this purpose, and to compare
such names so furnished by such committee
with those already upon the schedule. and if
not found thereon, to place them there upon
being satisfied that such persons were en-
titled to be enumerated. This, it is to be
presumed. that the enumeration did. En-
umerators were granted time without day
such time as was necessary to complete
their districts. After this enumerators re-
turned schedules of their own motion, to
this Office, and / had every reason to be-
lieve that your place had as accurate CEN
sus as it was possible to obtain. All
schedules in the meantime we're returned
from your place and, with one exception,
We're examined, corrected and mailed to
Washington.
1t was very surprising at this time, to be
notified that was represented as withdraw
ing the schedules from your place so as not
to allow fair enumeration Of your people.
1t is needless to say that this statement
met with the rebuff that it deserved. The
enumerators are sworn officers. engaged in
the census work, and it is presumed that
they performed their duty in the manner
provided by law, at least prefer to take Their
statement upon the subject to that contain
ed in document prepared and signed Pc
tition-like, as this Of yours must have been.
AS to that portion of your communica
| TO- IL =.
ment expressed by you. if the sentiments
expressed therein are yours, relating to fur
ther time for enumerators to complete their
work, have to say that as schedules have
been sent to Washington, and as it is i'm
possible to continue enumeration without
the names already taken, it is beyond my
power to grant your request. Your place,
as understand it, has had substantially
two enumerations.
Very respectfully.
w. O. SPEER,
Supervisor of census for the district of
Montana.