The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-29

aspect to the new enumerator, SO far as
color is concerned. The purpose of the
innovation suggests no disrespect. Ex-
perience has demonstrated that very few
colored people have any definite idea as
to the extent of their white blood, If
they have any, and Uncle Sam cannot af-
ford to hire specialists to inquire into
their genealogies.
ANOTHER OMISSION
will be the question whether you were a
soldier. sailor or marine during the Civil
war or whether you are the widow Of
such. This was included ten years ago
in the census law through a special
amendment, but brought results so i'm
perfect that they caused an enormous
correspondence and expense, which, how
ever, never Strengthened the figures out
II a householder you will be asked
whether you own or rent your home or
whether 1t is free from incumbrance
There will be no repetition of the special
investigation into the proprietorship and
Indebtedness Of farms and homes or into
mortgages. The simple questions re-
tanned will he sufficient to show whether
the tendency of people to own rather than
rent their homes is increasing or not.
= The new law prescribes that ladies who
refuse to tell their ages or who indulge in
inaccurate Statements thereof shall, upon
conviction be fined $Io0, as shall all other
persons refusing to reply to questions or
making false statements. The enumera
tor besides question as to age and color.
will ask you whether you are male or
female; married, single, widowed or di-
vorced; whether married during the CEN
sus year: whether A mother, and If so, of
how many children; how many Of these
are living; place of your birth and of
the birth of your parents; number of
years in the United States; whether natu
rallied and If papers have been taken
out; your profession, trade or occupation;
the number OF months you have been un-
employed during the census year; your
attendance at school during the census
year: whether you are able to read or
write; whether you can speak English
and If not what language: the number of
families and of persons In our house and
the number of persons in your family.
This is the population schedule so far as
decided upon at present Some further
changes may be made.
ECONOMY OF TIME
in the new census Is to result from q
general wedding out of hundreds Of in
vestigations regularly covered by other
established bureaus of the government.
EOr instance, there lS " NC ItO lhci
inquiry into irrigation, since the agricul-
tural department is now covering that
problem thoroughly. Fisheries are to be
left entirely to the fish commission. In
dams to the Indian Office and bureau Of
ethnology, railroads and others means OF
transportation by land to the Interstate
commerce commission. Insurance statis-
ties will not be collected.
The compilers of rast censuses have
gotten into troublesome snarls and
tangles In attempting to discover in all
of the states and territories whether
death or disease is more fond Of white
people than those of other hues, males
than females, people of one age than
those of another, and the extent to which
each occupation appears to be productive
of funerals and doctors bills. Exper-
ience gained,s especially ten years ago.
shows thatt these statistics were at best
very iiaaperfeet, except when gathered