The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-20
EXAMINATION OF
CENSUS TAKERS
College Graduates Needed Only
In Special Work
THE WORK is OPEN TO ALL
Anyone With Ordinary Education May
Take the Examination For Posi-
ton of Enumeration of
Census.
THE WORK is OPEN TO ALL

Washington. October 19.-(Special.)-
United States Census Director Durand
stated today that the impressions seems
to have been gained by some people that
the census bureau practically requires
that all candidates for the positions of
special agents for the collection of manu-
features and mining statistics must be
college graduates. This impression prob
ably arose because the application blanks,
provided for the examination to be held
November 3, contain a number of ques-
lions which give the applicant the op-
portunity to state fully what, II any, col
lege or university education he has had.
LAS matter of fact" said the direc-
tor, 1--WE are very anxious to- get as spe-
cial agents as many men as possible who
have had practical business experience,
ard a college education is by no means
required The circular announcing the
examination states specifically that It was
desired as far as possible to obtain per-
sons who have had college or university
courses in statistics or economics, and
persons who have had service In the
accounting department of some manu-
featuring or other business establish
ment This does not mean that a person
must have had both such economic edu-
cation and such practical experience.
I'VE hope that there will be a great
many applicants who have had practical
experience as boolxkeepers and account
ants or in other phases of practical bus
mess. Unfortunately, the most compe-
tent men who have had such experience
are very likely to be well placed in per-
manent positions, and to be unwilling to
take temporary positions with the CEN
sus bureau. 1t is partly because of the
danger that on this account there may not
be a sufficient number of applicants who
have had practical business experience
that the bureau has announced that it
desires also applications from college and
university men, In the belief that a con-
siderable number Of the younger men,
who have only recently finished their ed
ucation, may be willing to accept such
temporary employment.
IF a man has had good practical bus
mess experience, his lack of college
or university education will in no way
initiate against his appointment On tho
other hand, good work can doubtless be
secured in many cases from men who
have had a thorough college training in
economics and statistics, even though
they have had little business expert
ence.
I'VE have also noticed that good many
people who wish to be census enumerators
seem to think they must take the ex-
animation to be held November 3. That
examination is intended for special agents
who will collect the statistics of manu-
features and mining, and is not at all
required for enumerators.
1.-THE special agents are appointed by
the director of the census in the first
instance, and applications for the posi-
lions or for admission to the examina-
ton should be made direct to the census
bureau. On the other hand, census EMU
merators are designated in the first In
stance by the supervisors of the census
who are scattered through the country
although the enumerators thus selected
require the subsequent approval of the
director. People wishing to be enumera-
tors should, therefore, address their ap-
plications directly to the supervisor of
the census for the district in which they
live.
"While the work of the special agents
in manufactures and mining will begin
in January, and while applications for
the examination for this position should
be made Immediately, the enumerators
will not take up their work until April
15 and applications to the supervisors
will be in order for at least three months
to come.
THE enumerators will ultimately be
subjected to a test examination, but this
examination will probably not take place
before February and VIII be quite DIFF
ferent in character from the examina-
ton for special agents to be held on
November g."