The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-29
Guarding Census Enumerators.

Many newspapers are now publishing
a list Of the questions which the census
enumerators viii ask when they make
their rounds in early June This notice
helps the public TO prepare Itself on de-
tails OF personal and family history. II
takes rather well-inforned person TO
answer properly all the census inquiries.
but still wiser one TO put down on the
euumsratOrs blanks the facts thus etc
tied Besides throwing out these feel
ers'' 10 prepare the public for what Is
coming. the census office IS busy train
ing its eaumerators- Not counting
Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands, where
the census is 20 be taken by special
agents. there will be 52,ee enumerators
employed in the United States. In this
great army Of iaquisitors there can be
no laggards without vitiasing the whole
result: every one must be a fairly intel
ligent enumeration. and TO get sach an
army together all at once Is from many
points OF view a difficult task
Congress expressed itself so strongly
against examinations. OF anything that
smacked OF the Civil Service commission,
in the selection of enumeratoys. that the
plan which Director Merriam has devised
for wedding out the persons absolutely
united for this duty has been officially
named q test" The word '.examina-
ton" is tabooed. The supervisors still
have the selection OF the enumerators-
but the ones so selected are asked 70
take this written test by mail. and the
few who send in the very poorest ye-
sults-the submerged tenth--are "a cted.
and the supervisor is asked 70 pick out
somebody else.
The test is very simple \ census story
In narrative form is sent out, and the
candidate is asked 10 transcribe the facts
- tel he
enumeration is required to do this in his
own handwriting, but there is nothing
TO prevent his getting as much help as
he pleases. In certain parts Of the coun-
try IL is no easy matter 10 secure the
right persons. The work is paid for on
the piece system, 30 much per capita Ia
the cities. or per farm In the agricultural
schedules, but all so arranged that an
enumerator OF average diligence ought 20
earn about s. a day. Times are now SO
good that the proposal 10 pay more, IN
order TO induce better talent. has been
considered; but as the field work on the
present basis will cost 81, 10000. Director
Merriam has hesitated TO raise the rates.
The districts are so mapped out as 10
give two weeks work at least in each
case: for a less time than that. 1t is not
practicable to hire the man.
Besides this testing, the census office
does not intend 10 lose sight OF any emu
merator in the United State for a single
day after the work begins. Each one IS
provided with a set OF special postal
cards, properly addressed. containing
blanks on the back 10 be filled in. AT
the close of each days work the enumer-
ator must mail two of these, one 10 his
supervisor and the other TO headquar-
tiers here, telling how much work he has
iDl - ~ nnGt.kl
cards each morning in the early days Of
June! With this system, whenever an
enumerator fails through sickness, mat
tention. intoxication. incompetency, or
any Of the other ills that afflict the race.
his shortcomings will soon be discover
ed and a new man put into his place
The great work cannot stop. In this army
there is no chance for hospital and am
bulance corps. 1t is probable that the
census office will keep the telegraph wires
warm in the early June days stirring the
supervisors up TO hold their enumerators
in line.
Just now the enumerators' blanks are
going out of Washington in large boxes
made especially for the purpose. at the
rate of two car loads a day This enor-
nous freightage goes by registered mail.
which noninaly costs the census office
nothing There are $500 of the boxes, for
as many supervisors; they are all label
led so as to come back 10 the census
office without further marking, and all
the supervisor has got TO do Is 10 put in
his schedules Though these eases are
going out gradually. they will come In
with a rush. for they will all come at
once. 1t seems as II special mail trains
might have to be run to transport them
on the few days when the traffic is heayi-
est Each enumerator's schedules are
carried in a pair of pasteboard covers
on the inside front of which is a series
Of directions, ana at the back a definition
OF his district, and wherever practicable
a. map OF it. One OF the first things the
census Office did was 10 procure a map
of every city and town IN the United
States Of which one had been made This
was done by the geographical division
which in the early days was very busy
and employed thirty clerks.
The census establishment IL now
housed in large one-story building near
the capitol II does not belong 20 the
government although built especially for
this purpose. and probably with the eN-
pectation that Uncle Sam would finally
buy II for q permanent census Office.
The original plan, 10 have II large enough
for the entire work. was abandoned. Di-
rector Merriam. with good business In
sight. asked what was the Use In paying
rent for twa years on a building large
enough 70 contain all the force neces-
sary in the heaviest three months This
question was unanswered. and the cen
sus office Is therefore just large enough
for the permanent establishments II one
Is ever authorized, or for the two years
operations which are now under cOntetn-
plation For the rest Of the force. half
the available vacant office space 10
Washington has been engaged. and the
census work. az before. VIII be scattered
all over town. The ffre-proof vaults gre
In tne main building. and 20 them the
most valuable documents will each nigh;
be conveyed.