The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-24
CENSUS QUERIES.

in the next census are now being
distributed by the Census Office to
the enumcrators, who will start to
work on June /. The schedules
contain questions which some per-
sons may think prying, prrposeless,
or excessive in number. But their
number and character have been de-
termined by Congress, not by the
Census Office, and all OF them have
been asked in previous censuses.
The only important change since
1890 is that some questions have
been abandoned.
People are often offended at the
question, "How old are you?" and
are apt to wonder what use the Gov
ernment can make of their replies.
Taken as whole the replies are as
important as any class of informa-
ton the Census Office collects. Age
returns penetrate and elucidate ev-
cry other branch of statistical know
ledge. They show where child labor
is prevalent, and where the proper
ton Of persons able to supportthem-
selves is large or small. They re-
veal the great number Of colored
children and the short life of the
negroes under present conditions,
They make it possible to ascertain
whether the average length Of lifeis
increasing or decreasing, how many
men the nation contains who are
capable of voting orof bearing arms,
and whether the relative number Of
children is increasing or decreasing
In Mohammedan or semi-civilizet
countries like India householders arc
often unwilling to answer the oues'
ton regarding the sex OF persons in
the house, but in civilized countrie.
where the sexes are regarded as on
an equality, such unwillingness does
not appear. The answers to tn.
questions show that in nearly all
cities the females Outnumber the
males and that the same is true OF
most of the states along the Atlantic
coast. The belief is widespread that
taking the world in general there
are more females alive at any given
time than males, and that it'it were
not for immigration there would be
more females in the United States
than males. But census statistics
show that we cannot explain the
great excess of males lover one and
half million) in the United States
by immigration alone, for when the
the foreign-born are LETT out of ac.
count, there are still above 100000
more males than females.
Few would dispute the necessity
for asking questions regarding race
AL! arguments regarding the future
of any particular race in this coun.
try, like the Indian, the negro, ol
the Chinaman, must hinge upon tht
returns in the census. With tn,
Indians, moreover, it is of the high
est Importance to learn what success
the policy of the Government ha'
met with in establishing them apar
from their tribes and reservations
and whether such Indians are in
creasing or decreasing.
Some mothers may shrink from
stating the number of children the.
: have had and the number who ar
living. But from the answers t
these questions, the country viii
learn whether the native America
population is holding its own, Q
whether, as some have claimed, it
being gradually supplanted and di'
placed by the children of recent in
migrants.
In the light of such explanation
and onlya few Of the most impor
ant questions have been touched W
on, it may perhaps be clear to IL
public that no question has been o.
, dered by Congress, or has been asl
. Il L.. Al N>.,c.,o neHoo vvhsoh