The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-12-31

Washington, D. c., December 20, 'O9.
BY January 25 all applications for
the positions of enumerators in the
Thirteenth Decennial United States
Census must be filed with the super
visors of census for the supervisors
districts in which the applicants reside.
Between that date and February the
supervisors will send out cards to ap-
plicants informing them where they
are to report for the "test" to be held
in every one of the $50 supervisors
districts on February 5 only.
Census Director Durand emphati-
cally states that persons desiring to
hold such positions should not stand
in fear of the "test" to be made. Any
person of average. public school educa-
tion who can write plainly and reason
ably fast will go through the test
with "colors flying" In fact, the "test"
is rendered simply to help the super
visors pick suitable persons and to
enable the Director Of the Census to
exercise intelligently his power Of ap-
proval of those whom the supervisors
designate for appointment
Ii will involve the filling in of either
a sample population schedule, by those
who will make the count in the cities,
or of both a sample population and
agricultural schedule, by candidates
who will enumerate the country.
To prepare the way and to insure
every applicant being given far
chance, the supervisors will send in
advance to each and every candidate a
set of printed instructions for filling
in these sample schedules.
I'VE consider that a very important
point" said Acting Census Director
Willoughby to-day, mot only in treat
ing these candidates fairly and giving
them a chance to answer the questions
properly, but also as means Of edu-
cation Of the candidates who are after
wards to be appointed.
"They will study more thoroughly
the instructions for filling in these
schedules if they realize their chances
of appointment depend upon that study
than if they were appointed first and
had to do the studying afterwards.
You will see, therefore, that this test
is not an appalling thing. 1t is not
for the purpose Of keeping people out
of the places. 1t is applied simply to
enable the Director to eliminate those
who are plainly incompetent. Any
person of good judgment and ordinary
common-school education--for the
work requires some little thinking
power-can easily pass the test"
Between February and February
% the supervisors will go through the
test" papers, satisfy themselves as
the qualifications of those who have
passed, and make their destinations or
recommendation to the Census Direc-
tor. The next step will be the Direc-
tors approval, and then the super
visors will issue the commissions to
the enumerators.
Director Durand expects to have the
army of $1,000 or more enumerators
picked, tested, designated and com
missioned by the middle or latter parl
of March. From then on until April
Is the supervisors will send the enum
orators circulars and books Of In
structions concerning the meaning o.
the schedule questions and the way
the enumerators should write in th,
answers obtained from the people o.
the country.
1t is very probable that census spe
eial agents may be assigned to certain
supervisors districts for the purpose
of meeting the enumerators personally
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