The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-30
Census Queries.

The blank schedules to be used IN the
next eensDs are now being distributed
by the Census Office to the enumera-
tors, who viii start to work on June 1.
The schedules contain questions which
some persons may think prying, pur-
poseless. or excessive in number. But
their number and character have been
determined by Congress, not by the
Census Office, and all Of them have
been asked in previous eensuses. The
only important change since 1890 is
that some questions have been aban-
doned.
People are often offended at the
question, "HOw old are you ?" and are
apt to wonder what use the Govern
ment can make of their replies. Taken
as whole the replies are as important
as any class of information the Census
Office collects. Age returns penetrate
and elucidate every other branch of
statistical knowledge. They show
where child labor is prevalent, and
where the proportion Of persons able to
support themselves is large OF small.
They reveal the great number Of col
Ored children and the short life of the
negroes under present conditions. They
make it possible to ascertain whether
the average length of life is increasing
or decreasing, how many men the ma
ton contains who are capable Of voting
or of bearing arms, and whether the
relative number Of children is increas-
ing or decreasing.
In MOhammedan or semi-civilized
countries like India, householders are
often unwilling to answer the question
regarding the sex of persons in the
house, but in civilized countries where
the sexes are regarded as on an equali-
ty, such unwiliingness does not appear
The answers to the questions show that
in nearly ali cities the females outpum-
Der the males and that the same is true
of most of the States along the Allan
tic coast. The belief is widespread that
taking the world in general there are
more females alive at any given time
than males, and that if it were not for
immigration there would be more fe-
males in the United States than males
But census statistics show that we can
not explain the great excess of males
lover one and half milliOn) in the
United States by immigration alone,
for when the foreign-born are left out
of account there are still about 10000
more males than females.
Few would dispute the necessity for |
asking questions regarding race. All !
arguments regarding the future Of any |
particular race in this country, like the
Indian, the negro, or the Chinese, must |
hing upon the returns of the census
With the Indians, moreover, it is of |
the highest importance TO learn what |
success the policy Of the Government
has met with in establishing them
apart from their tribes and reserva-
tions, and whether such Indians are
increasing or decreasing.
Some mothers may shrink from stat
ing the number of children they have |
had and the number who are living.
But from the answers to these questions
the country will learn whether the
native American population is holding
its own, or whether, as some have
it is being gradually sup
planted and displaced by the children
of recent immigrants.
In the light Of such explanations,
and only a few of the most important
questions have been touched upon, it
may perhaps be clear to the public that
no question has been ordered by Con-
gress, or has been asked by the Census
Office, which, if properly and correctly
will not lead to suggestive
inferences regarding the American
people and their work.