The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-02
OFFENSIVE QUESTIONS ELIMI.
MATED.


merated next June. ought to be. and prob
ably viii be- the most complete and re
liable compilation of its kind ever made
in this country. 1t will he remembered
that there was developed considerable an
tagonlsm to the Eleventh census before
1t was taken, for two leading reasons; first,
1t was clear that political partsanship
was to cut a figure in the statistics gath
cred, and then some of the questions were
so impertinent that a great many persons
absolutely refused to answer them. AS
consequence the statistics were far from
correct or conclusive, and the figures of
the census, so far as they related TO the
South especially, were taken for what
they were worth"
In the matter of the forthcoming cen
sus il is promised that partisanshp will
be eliminated, as viii also the questions
which were found so Objectionable in the
preceding enumeration. That being true, it
ought to be possible for the enumerators
TO collect a mass of information that will
be of greatest interest and benefit to those
concerned. And it ought to be a pleas
ure, as it is the duty, of householders and
heads of families to give the proper in
formation requested by the representa-
tives of the government appointed as
enumerators.
The questions which gave most offense
in the last census were these: Whether
suffering from any acute or chronic dis
ease, and the length of time afflicted
whether defective in mind, sight hear
l.
ed or deformed, with name of defects;'
whether prisoner, convict, homeless child
or pauper." II can readily be understood
that If these questions had been answered
correctly the mass of information obtained
would have been very valuable. But it
can be as readily understood that persons
could not be reasonably expected to an
swer them correctly. They touched upon
the nearest interests of individuals, sucn
as are told only TO physicians or attor-
neys, and are then regarded by the law
itself as privileged communications" The
opposition to these questions was so acute
that il reacted upon the whole census and
vitiated il. Those to whom such queries
were propounded became SO incensed that
they refused to answer any questions al
all, or were careless of the replies they
gave
All of these questions however, have
been eliminated from the forthcoming CEN
sus The statistics of the infirmaries hos
pitfalls, asylums and prisons will be de-
pended upon for the data sought to be
ascertained by means of them, and only
questions which might be answered in
public will be propounded by the enumer-
ators. And, because of the Importance of
having full and accurate statistics in the
new census. it is TO be hoped that provis-
ions will he made by the heads of fami-
lies 10 have the queries of the enumerat
ors replied 10 unreservedly and correctly.
one matter which especially deserves at
tention is the statistics of crops, which will
be asked for. 1t will be nine months until
the time OF the enumeration. it is true,
but il is now time TO begin the gathering,
or. rather, the saving, of the crop figures
for the census takers.
The South. especially, should endeavor
TO make a full, accurate showing in the
next census 1t can achieve that end if
the people will anticipate the enumerat-
ors' visit by looking up and preserving
such statistics as will be called for, and
giving them freely when they are request
ed.