The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-10-21


competent enum orators as the super
visors, through political influence or
through oversight, may happen to
choose. At the last census the enumer-
ators recommended by the supervis-
ors were all subjected to n test exam
nation, and the same policy will be
pursued this time. about one-sixth,
or 5000, of the candidates selected by
the supervisors were rejected rs re-
suit of this test in 1900. 1t may bo
wise to make the test at the present
census n trihe more severe than at the
twelfth census. At best, however, such
an examination can do no more than
eliminate those who cannot write
plainly and who are clearly lacking In
an understanding of their duties. II
can do little to assure the selection of
men of industry, tact, or honesty. Th'
judgment, efficiency. an dintegrity OF
the supervisors must be the prime re-
lance for securing enumerators, who
possess these Fundamental qualifca-
tons. -
~ hope and believe that the SUPER
visors at the present census are on the
whoel a higher type of men than those
at any preceding census. The comper-
sa ton offered to supervisors Is some-
what more than ever before, but II Is
not really an adequate remuneration
for men of the character needed. I
belieev that n very considerable pro-
portion of the supervisors who havc
been appointed are men who in their
regular occupations or professions are
able to earn much more than the sup
ervisor's pay, and who have accept
ed the positions because of the honor
and responsibility involved, or from
patriotic motives. There has. how
ever, been no new departure with re-
spect to the general method of select-
ing supervisors, save only that in
large cities, or most of them. selec'
tons have alrgely been made fnde'
pendently OF political recommenda-
tions.
at may not be inappropriate here
to explain the reason why so-called
political recommendations must be
sought in the appointment of super.
visors in most of the districts. The
supervisory in order TO do his work
properly, must be a resident of the
district over which he has charge.
The position Is not one WHICH can be
filled by civil service examipation. A
supervisor should be man of exec
utive ability. such as no examination
can test, and he should, be Q man welt
known in his community. Indeed.
men of the type desired would not in
most instances be willing 20 submit
themselves to a civil service exam
inatoin. Neither the Director OF tha
Census. his superior officer. the Secre-
tary of Commerce and Labor. near the
President, can possibly have personal
acquaintance throughout the country
with men suitable 10 fill these posi-
tlons nor even with men, outside of
political positions. who's Q advice they
can seek. The representative of the
district in Congress or the party lead.
ers in the district have the necessary
knowledge of local conditions and To-
cal men, and il is not only natural
hut practically necessary as a mat
ter of good administration that they
should be asked 10 make recommenda.
tions for positions of this character.
Fortunately, members of Congress
end party leaders are coming moro
and more to appreciate the importance
of accurate census statistics. The
spoils idea of appointments Is grow
ing constantly leSb uoIiiHdnl. Inc Ri.
rector of the Census has done every
thing possible to impress upon those
whose opinions were asked regarding
the supervlsorships the Importance
of thenecessity or having men of
marked executive aoility and of abso-
Lutte integrity. The information fur
nished by members or Congress and
party leaders regarding the candi-
ates whom they have recommended
has been supplanted by full personal
statements required from each candi.
date. and in most cases by numerous
letters OF Endorsement from business
an professional men.
I'm the large cities the administra.
tion is evidently less dependent than
in the country districts upon members
of Congress and party leaders for in.
formation regarding available ma.
terial for such positions as that OF
supervisor of the Census, and the
Presidentand the Secretary of Com.
merce and Labor have Joined with the
Director of the Census In establishing
the policy Of making selections. when
ever the information on which to act
was available. without depending On
the recommendation OF political lead.
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