The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-19
TESTING THE ENUMERAToRs.
Census Director Durand Will Follow
Plan Pursued in 1900.

Plan Pursued in 1900.
Washington, oct. 19.-U. S. Census
Director T.. Dana Durand stated toda!
that the primary responsibility for Sc
curing efficient enumerators must res
with the supervisors OF the census.
1t has been suggested from time To
time" said the director, that more ef-
ficient enumerators might be secured
nv competitive examination open L
everybody. There is no doubt that j
the expense and time required were
not prohibitive. il would be advantage
Gus TO hold such an examination, al
| though it would be necessary, instead
of merely selecting those whose rank
I ing in the examination was the high
est, To refer all candidates who passed
/ to the supervisor, and allow him to
select those whose personal character
istics. such as cannot be tested by any
written examinations, were most suit
able. The difficulty with such an open
examination is the expense and delay
| involved. 1t is probable that for the
65. goo places there would be several
hundred thousand candidates, and the
grading of their papers would require
large force for long time. At some
future census this plan might be worth
trial, but it can scarcely be attempt
cd at the present census within the
limits of time and appropriations set
by law.
1.-THE Census Bureau does, of course
undertake to protect ITSELF" he contin-
ued, against such obviously incompe-
tent enumerators as the supervisors.
through political influence or through
oversight, may happen to choose. At
the last census the enumerators rec
commended by the supervisors were all
subjected TO a test examination, and
the same policy will be pursued this
time. About one-siXth, or 5000, of the
candidates selected by the supervisors
were rejected as a result OF this test i'm
1900. 1t may be wise to make the test,
at the present census trfe more Sc
we're 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 clear
ly lacking i'm an understanding of their
duties. 1t can do little to assure the
selection of men of industry, tact, or
honesty. The judgment, efficiency
and integrity of the supervisors must
be the prime reliance for securing emu
merators who possess these funda-
mental qualifications.
Il hope and believe that the super
whole higher type of men than those
at any preceding census. The COM
pensation offered to supervisors is
somewhat more than ever before, but il
is not really an adequate remuneration
for men of the character needed /
believe that very considerable proper
ton of the supervisors who have been
appointed are men who in their regular
occupations or professions are able to
earn much more than the supervisors
pay, and who have accepted the posi-
tions because Of the honor and respon-
sibility involved, or from patriotic mo-
tives. There has, however, been no
new departure with respect TO the gem
eral method Of selecting supervisors.
save only that in large cities, or most
of them, selections have largely been
made Independently Of political recon-
1t may not be Inappropriate here To
explain the reason why so-called polit- |
ical recommendation must be sought
in the appointment of supervisors in |
most of the districts. The supervisor, i'm |
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 ex-
Neither the director of the |
census, his superior officer, the secre-
tary of commerce and labor, nor the |
president. can possibly have personal |
acquaintance throughout the country
with men suitable to fill these posi- |
tons, whose advice they can seek. The |
representative OF the district in con-
gross or the party leaders in the dis
trict have the necessary knowledge of |
local conditions and local men. and il |
is not only natural but practically nee |
essary as matter of good admlnistra-
ton that they should be asked to make |
for positions of this
character.
Fortunately, members of congress
and party leaders are coming more and |
more to appreciate the Importance of
accurate census statistics. The spoils
idea of appointments is growing con-
stantly less dominant. The director OF |
the census has done everything possi-
Die to Impress upon those whose opin-
ions were asked regarding the super
visorships, the Importance of the ne
cessity of having men of marked exec
utiVe ability and of absolute integrity. |