Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-10-22
TESTING THE 4
ENUMERATORS
Census Director Durand will
follow the plan pursued
in 1900,

Washington, D. G., October 10,
1909 u. s. Census Director E.
Dana Durand stated to-day that the
primary responsibility for securing
ff6cient .enumerators must rest with
the supervisors of the census.
SIT; has been suggested from time
to time, said the director, ttthat
more efficient euumerators might be
secured by competitive examination
open to everybody. There is no
doubt that If the expense and time
required were not prohibitive, IL
would be advantageous to hold such
an examination, although it would
le necessary, instead of merely Sc
lecting those whose ranking 10 the
exa mination was the highest, to refer
81 candidates who passed. to the
supervisor, and allow him to select
those whose personal characteristics,
spchs as cannot be tested by any
written examination, were most suit
able The difffoulty with such an
open examinationis the expense and
delay. involved: tits probable that
for theie5s0OO places there would be
saveral, hnndred thousand candi-
dates and the; grading of their
papers would require large force
for q long time, At. some future
census this plan might be worth a
trial, but'it can scarcely be attempt.
ed at the present census within the
limits of'time and appropriations set
by law. 49, 49,
i"The Census Bureau does, of course
undertake to protect itselfr he con
tlnued. s'against such obviously
IincomIetent enpmerators as the super
visors, through political influence or
through oversight may happen to
choose. At-the last census the enum.
orators recommended by the super
'yisors were all subjected to a. test
examination, and the same policy
will be pursued this time. About
oheSixth, or 1900, ofthe candidates
selected by the supervisors were re-
jected as result of this test in 1900,
1t may be wise to make the test st
the present census atrifie more severe
than at the twelfth census At best.
however, such an examination can
do no more than eliminate those who
csnhot write plainly and who are
clearly lacking in an understanding
Of their duties. Il can do little 70
assure the selection of men of indus.
try, tact, or honesty. The Judgment
efficiency and integrity Of the super
Risefs mnst'be the pEime reliance for
sec9ting enumeFaters who possess
these fundamental qualifications.
Is 81 hops and believe that the super
visions at the present census are On
she whole i G1higher type of men than
thoss at The preceding census. The
COMPENSATION offered to supervisor
is somewhat more than ever before,
but IT is not really an adequate re.
muneradon fol, men of.the character
eeeded, / believe that a very con.
siderable proportion Of the super,
visors' who have been appointed are
men who in their regular occupation.
OF ptoIessieIe aregable-to earn much
more. 1hsn thesnpsfvisor's S pay, and
who ihavs accepted the positions be-
cause, Of the homer and responsibility,
invelTsd, or from patriotic motives
There has, however, been no new ds
parture with respect TO the general
method of selecting supervisors, save
only that in large cities, or most %
thema seleOtienss have largely beer
made independently Of political reco
lamentations.