The Mena weekly star., 1910-01-13
ENUMERATORS ARE SCARCE
Public. Spirited People Who Want a Nice Little Job Are Asked to
 Apply at Once.

OeuSuS DlEeCtOI DuTduu StdtCu eO- day that, as a result of his con terences with the supervisors of census throughout he country he finds that in many sections, especially in the larger cities, there have not been as yet suffi cient applications for the posi- tions of enumera'ors. 1t looks, he thinks, as if tho country is so prosperous that people arc not as anxious to get these responsible places as had been expected.
 The scarcity IS giving the Di- rector some concern, as only a few weeks remain before the date tor closing the consideration of applications. It will be impossi- ble generally to extend the appli cation time limit, as to examine Ihe "test" papers, with the ueces- sary care to insure the designa- tion of qualified persons, will con- sume every moment of the time allowed for this phase of the work of selecting the enumera- tors, leaving nothing for an ex. tention of the date for shutting down on applications.
 The Director therefore urges ali persons desiring places ss emu merators to make application as quickly as possible, and he hops S, that, in order 10 help get per feet census, public-s spirited and energetic people throughout the country will offer themselves for these positions, even though they may not care for them from the standpoint of the pay involved He also trusts that employers will deem 1t their duty to give leave of absence to their employees who may deslre to act as enumer- ators. Some slight sacrifice of this sort will be amply repaid by I
 the improved quality of the cen sus returns. Continuing, the Di- rector said:
 "Although the actual work of taking the census will not begin until April IS, 1t is essential that those who wish to act as enumer- ators should apply immediately i Except under unusual circum stances, no application receil e1 after January 25 will be consid- cred. About 6S,0OO euumerator~ will be required. Each will work his own locality. Any competeu, person IS entitled to apply foi this position, and will be fairly considered for appointment.
 "Political rscommenda tions are not necessary. The supervisors, to whom application must be made, have been instructed to consider all candidates and 10 se- lect solely on the basis oi efficiency. For the purpose of aiding the supervisors, in deter mining the competence of the candidates, written test will b prescribed, and any person be. tween the ages of Is and 7C, wht IS citizen of the Unit9d State , will be permitted 10 take it.
 "The test will be of a strictly practical character, substantially, the same as was used in l9C0 I will consist of filing out sample schedule af population, and, l. the case of rural distr cts, filling out also sample schedule of af : riculture, these schedules being precisely the same as will actually be used by the enumeralofs ia their work later on. Ia order tc assist candidates in preparing foi the test, copies of the bl nk schedules and general instruction regarding the manner of filing them will be furnished to eacb candidate in advance. Any per son of ordinary commons school education and judgment should have no difficulty in passing.
 "This test is not a evil servic e exs imitation. It will be conduct ed under the direction of the su- peryisors of the census. and the papers will be examined only by the supervisors of the Census Blu rean. In order that convenient examina ion places may te pro. vided for all candidates, local