The times., 1899-09-26


iect OF long conference yesterday be-
tween the Assistant Secretary of War,
Gen. J. =. Sanger. and Harrison Dingman
This census is under the direction of Mr.
Meklejohn, Assistant Secretary OF War,
but General Sanger the Military Director
of the Census OF Cuba, viii have imme-
date charge, with headquarters in this
city. Assistant Director Harrison Ding
man viii personally superintend the CEN
sus Of Porto Rico. with headquarters at
San Juan. II was decided yesterday that
Mr. Dingman should proceed to the island
October 4, instead of next Wednesday. as
first proposed. Il was also finally decided
that Porto Rico should be divided into
seven districts, and the following natives
were appointed supervisors;
Ricardo Hernandez, for the district Of
Bayamon; Manuel Badena for the district
OF Mayaguez; Guilermo Riekohl, for the
district of Humacao; Enrique Calom, for
the district OF Ponce; Jose Requez. for
for the district of Aracilo; Luis A. Tar
regIosa, for the district Of Aguadilla. and
Luis NJ. Morales, for the district of
Guyamas.
MIR. Dingmnn's Experts.
Mr Dingman viii leave Washington,
accompanied by a clerical force of six or
seven, all census experts Four of these
experts were appointed yesterday as fol-
lows: Theodore Friebus, jr, William NJ.
Hardcastie. Claude F.. King. and J. NJ.
Rose. all residents of this city. The sala-
ries attached to these positions rate al
81 800 per annum and expenses are de-
frayed by the Government. The following
regulations viii be published concerning
the census to be taken in Porto Rico:
By direction Of the President census Of the
population, Of the agricultural products, and OF
the educational conditions OF Porto Rice, shall be
taken.
Lieut. Col. J. P. Sanger, inspector General,
is appointed Director of the Census with Office
In Washington. Ii is made his duty to superin-
tend and direct the taking Of the census.
MIR. Harrison Dingman Is appointed Assistant
Director Of the Census, with Office in the city
OF San Juan, Porto Rico. and is charged, under
The direction OF the Director Of the Census with
the collection Of the information required by this
order and such instructions may be iss5ed. lie
VIII I'LL all vacancies which may occur among
the supervisors Of the census, and viii appoint
all eEHurnerators and such special agents may
be necessary, reporting his action 10 the Director
Of the Census Each supervisor shall be duly
commissioned by the Secretary of War. and shall
be sworn 70 the faithful performance Of his duty
by the Director the Assistant Director Of the
Census, or by any civil or military officer au-
thorized 70 administer oaths in the form and man
ner prescribed by the Secretary OF War.
The regulations prescribe that each
enumerator shall be commissioned in like
manner. Porto Rico as to be divided into
departments provinces, as in Cuba
and the supervisor is charged to consult
with the Director of the Census in regard
10 the division OF his department into
districts most convenient for the purpose
OF the enumeration; TO nominate suitable
persons as enumerators within his district.
for oh ri. ,1..,,
therein. Each enumeTator is charged VITA
the collection in his district of the facts
and statistics required by the Secretary OF
War, II being his duty TO personally visit
each dwelling house in his district, each
family therein, and each individual living
out OF the family in any place of abode,
and TO obtain each and every item OF in
formation, and all the particulars required
BY the order prescribed.
Supplies for the Work.
Assistant Director Dingman said ysster-
day that supplies for 1000 enumerators,
consisting Of eight tons of maps, blanks.
and stationery, would be shipped from
New York next Thursday. Only go super
visors viii be appointed from the start
however. as this number might prove u
be adequate for the census of Porto Rico.
AS the census viii embrace, besides the
seven divisions named also the divisions
of Niques and Cubeha, Mr.. DingmaI
thinks the enumerators will reach in num-
ber LOCO. Three thousand certificates have
been printed to be placed in the hands Of
the supervisors. enumerators. and Other
attaches of the census. The certificates arr
signed by Secretary Root, and countersign
ed by General Sanger They bear the greai
seal Of the United States and are fit for
preservation Ii is thought they viii
greatly encourage conscientious work Of
the census takers.
The enumerators blanks and instruc.
tions on the maps are all printed in the
Spanish language
The reports on the census viii b
printed both In Spanish and English
The supervisors and enumerators will
of course, have 10 speak and write tn
Spanish language. and a number OF trans
lators viii be employed in the c,erlca
force al headquarters.
The greatest obstacle anticipated
in the selection OF an efficient fore
OF sHperintendents and enumerators. T
meet these difficulties. however, the M
merous blanks TO be filed in by the prac
tical takers have been modelled a
closely az possible after the blanks use
by the Spanish Government in the forme
census Of Porto Rico. AS the Spanish sys
TEN OF census enumeration is much lIk
the American, il is thought that an OF
ganization can promptly be effected with
out resorting TO the employment OF PEI
SONS who do not appreciate the census pre-
3ect.
Mr. Dingmsn thinks it will requil
four months TO complete the census
Porto Rico. some weeks being allowed fc
organization Of the force after he reach,
that country.
The InsuiaT Commission, which went
Porto Rico last spring under the orders
the President and investigated all civ
matters with the intention Of proposin
such reforms in the government as
might deem necessary, has reported 10 th
President that there Is no reliable censg
statistics OF the island. The Spanish mad
some attempt il this direction in 1889, al
began one IL 1888: but this is not CON
plete and is not reliable.
Ignorance ON the Island.
There is no question" said Presider
Kennedy, OF the Commission. but ther
is great Ignorance throughout the entil
island. or population OF over 500 goo,
has been yariousiy estimated that from
to 20 per cent only OF the peopie can rea
and write. After full enquiry and caref
estimate OF the question. the Insaiar Con
mission is OF the opinion that not mo-
lDdI ~ per cent u inc ptOlle can req
and write. The country people have bee
mostly deprived Of school advantages an
compulsory education is unknown II
found that the people are now anxious
have their children educated and are e.
ceedingly soiiciEous for the establishmel
OF public schools"
Upon this question and the question
the new customs laws FOR the island Il
President. it IS said, is anxious TO recei'
from he FD~-.,, rtfr