The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-06
TELL HIN ALL YOU KNOW
NOTHING ELSE WILL Do UNCLE
SANS YOUNG CENSUS
GATHERED S
YOU MUST TELL THE TRUTH
Old Maids Must Not Conceal Their
Ages or Capitalists Conceal
the Value of Their
Accommodations.

known that the various census SuperViS-
ors were having trouble getting enumera-
tors enough for the work, but since Di-
rector William R. Merriam has issued his
voluminous Instructions to the euumera-
tors, not only is the mystery explained,
but there is apparent a possibility of some
Of the enumerators who will be appointed
firing Of their work
During the two weeks which they are
allowed for the enumeration in cities, they
will certainly be very busy young men.
In fact, were it not for Mr.. Merriam s
foresight they might spend O considera-
bic portion of that time reading over the
rules laid down and directions for QUIZ
zing men and women, children and maid
ems. Mr.. Merriam says:
An official badge is provided for your
use, and it is required of you that you
wear it when on duty as an enumerator
during the entire period in which you are
engaged upon the census work. 1t is not
intended to take the place of your COM
mission (Form 1890, but it Is an addi-
tional evidence of your authority to make
the inquiries required by the census act.
1t should be attached to the vest under
the coat, and concealed or exhibited, ac-
cording as it's concealment or exhibition
may aid you in obtaining the information
you seek. 1t must not be given or lent
Son, but may be retained as a souvenir
after the completion of the enumeration
Enumerator's Rights-Your rights as an
enumerator are clearly indicated in the
census act. You have the right Of admis-
sion to every dwelling Qncluding inStitu-
tions) and to every manufacturing or me-
chanical establishment within your dis
trict for the purpose of obtaining infor-
nation required by this office. You have
the right to put every question contained
in the census schedules, and to obtain an
swers to each and all of them.
RefuSals to Answer-You are cautioned
however, not to obtrude needlessly upon
any person visited the compulsory feature
Of the enumeration. In case your author
ity is disputed, display your official badge
and also your commission, which you
should carry with you to be shown in case
of necessity. After all other means have
failed, call the attention Of the person re-
fuSing to give information to the penalty
in section Y Of the census act. Much can
be done by tact and persuasion. 1t is of
the utmost Importance that your manner
should, under all circumstances, be cour-
teous and conciliatory. In no instance
should you lose your temper or indulge in
alteration or threats. Many persons will
give information after a nights reflection
which they are indisposed to give when
first visited If, after exhausting your
powers you fail to secure the desired in
formation, report the facts to your su-
perior, who will be instructed what action
10 take.
Should objection be made to answering
any question upon any of the schedules, 1t
is your duty to state TO the person refus-
ing to give the information that such in
formation is strictly confidential; that it
will not be communicated to any person
whatever, and that. no use will be made
of it which can in any way injuriousiy
affect the interests Of individuals. Should
he still persist in his refusal enter in the
proper column or space the words Re
fused to answer" and. report the facts
to your superior. - ~
Untruthful Replies-You have a right
not only to an answer, but to a truthful
answer. Do not accept any statement
which you believe to be false Where you
know that the answer given is incorrect
enter upon the schedule the fact as nearly
as YOU can ascertain it.
Obligation to Secrecy-You have no right
to communicate to any person any 1nfor-
nation obtained by you in the discharge of
your official duties. By so doing you will
render yourself liable, upon conviction, to
a fine not exceeding $500. (See section Il
of census act) You are not permitted to
show your schedules, when filled, nor to
retain copies of the same; and it is your
duty to destroy all imperfect copies not
returned to your supervisor. If, at the
close of the enumeration, you are asked
what is the population of your district, or
of any portion thereof, reply that you
are forbidden by law to answer. All such
requests, whether from newspapers, local
officials or individuals are to be referred
to the director of the census.
Falsification of Returns-In canvassing
your you nave not the IlSHI 10
omit any dwelling, establishment, or resi-
dent, nor to enter upon the schedule of
population the name of any fictitious per-
son or persons, or of any person not en-
titled to be enumerated as resident of
the district; nor to make any fictitious
or untruthful statement concerning any
individual or establishment enumerated
by you. The penalty for Willful falSif-
cation of the returns is a fine not eX-
ceeding $1,000 and imprisonment not ex-
ceeding two years. (See section q of
census act.)
Canvassing- will not be allowed to
combine with the enumeration of the
population and products of your district
any other occupation, such as canvass.ng
for directory publishers, soliciting sub
scriptions to newspapers or magazines,
or the sale or advertisement of any ar
ticle whatever. Violation of this in
struction will subject you to discharge
tor
uniform rate of cents is fixed by
the law in per capita districts for the
return of each of the following items:
For each death reported on Schedule
No. (Form 7-25O.
For each person defective in sight,
hearing, or speech reported on special
schedule (Form 7-442).
For each proprietor reporting live stock
not on farms or ranges on special sched-
ule (Form 7-340).
For each prisoner reported on special
schedule Form 1903.
Endeavor to obtain a positive answer
to each inquiry according to the in
structionS herein given, but if an answer
TO any question can not be obtained from
the persons in the family or the neigh
borhOod as the law requires, enter, in all
cases where possible, the answer you be-
lieve to be true, In no case should ''un-
Known or "un' be entered unless every
effort to obtain the desired information
has been made.
The census day Is the day on which
the census begins, namely, June l, 1900
Get each question on the schedule an
swered with reference to the census day
Qf applicable). and disregard all changes
which occur in your district after that
time. Thus, If you visit a family June
T. in which a marriage took place June 2
enter the parties as single, because they
were so June l. Enter any person who
was alive and dwelling in your district
June l, even if he should die before you
visit the dwelling. Omit children born
after June l.
The word family, for census purposes,
has much wider application than it
has in ordinary speech, and means a
group of individuals who occupy jointly
a dwelling place or part of a dwelling
place. A person who boards in one place
and lodges in another should be returned
as member of the family where he
lodges. A domestic servant, unless she
sleeps elsewhere, is to be returned as
member of the family in which she works
All the occupants and employees of a ho-
tel, If they regularly sleep there make
up, for census purposes, a single family
because they occupy one dwelling place
The same is true of all officials and in
mates of an institution who live in the
institution building. But where officers
or employees of an institution sleep in
detached houses or separate dwelling
places, they are separate families
AS the census family may thus be much
larger than the natural family, so it NAV
also be much smaller, for one person
dwelling alone is to be returned as
family. A clerk in store who regular
~ sleeps there, is to be reported as a
family, and the store as his dwelling
place. Be careful to watch for and ask
concerning such persons living alone. 9TH