The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-03
WRONG VIEWS
OF The CENSUS
NO HARM CAN COME TO ANY PER-
SON WHO ANSWERS THE
QUESTIONS.

Washington. March 3.-Letters from
the census supervisors to the United
States census bureau show the enron
eous APPREHENSION OF considerable ele-
ment of the population that their an
swers to the enumerators' questions in
the next census, beginning April 16,
this year, will cause increased taxation,
legal ENGAGEMENTS, or injurious conse-
quences to their persons and property.
In order to quiet such unfounded
fears, which would, unless removed,
materially affect the accuracy Of the
census, the bureau has prepared an
official statement relative to the de-
cennial census, its origin, purpose and
uses.
This statement should furish COM
plete assurance to those concerned that
information given the enumerators is
held by the census bureau in the strict
est confidence with reference to the
identity of the informants, as required
by the policy OF the bureau and COM
manded by the law OF the United
States.
Cooperation 10 Urged.
The bureau earnestly hopes that cler-
@Jl PRIESTS SSlIOOi
teachers, employers and other public
spirited citizens who come in contact
with large numbers of people, will CO.
operate with the bureau by telling per-
sons who are believed to entertain err
roneous opinions of the census the real
facts and urging them to give full re-
plies to the enumerators. Teachers are
particularly requested to speak OF the
census to the school children and ask
them to tell their parents about 1t.
The statement issued by the bureau
explains that the constitution requires
census of the population to be taken
every ten years in order to reapportion
state representation in the national
house of representa- ttves. 1t is the
means also to ascertain the increase in
the population, agriculture, industries
and resources of the nation since the
last census.
For Statistical Purposes.
1t is emphatically declared, by the
statement, that the information sought
from the people of the United States is
used solely for general statistical pur-
poses. 1t will neither be published nor
used in any other way to disclose facts
regarding any individual or enterprise
The census, 1t goes on TO say is not
never has been, and can not be employ
ed to obtain information that can be-
used in any way in the assessment OF
or the collection of taxes, either ma
tional, state or local; or for deportation
proceedings, extradition measures
army or navy CONSUMPTION, interna
revenue Investigations, compulsory
school attendance, child-labor Law
prosecutions, quarantine regulations, Of
in any way to affect the life, liberty Of
property of any person.
1t points out that replies to the emu
merators are and must be held by the
census bureau in strict and absolutS
confidence. All the bureau officials
supervisors, supervisors clerks, num-
orators and interpreters, before enter
ing upon their duties, are obliged tc
take solemn oath not to disclose any
information they may obtain, except &
the census bureau, and a violation o.
the United States law in regard to this
oath means a $1,000 fine or imprison.
ment for two years, or both. in the
discretion of the court.