Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-01-05
CENSUS ENUMERAToRs.

CENSUS ENUMERATORs.
Interview Given Out by Supervisor
+. r. Sponord.
1.-THE simple test which candidates for
enumerators' places will undergo Febru-
airy does not take away the supervisors
right under the census Law to designate
suitable persons for such Positions" said
Supervisor OF Census Elmer p. Spofford at
his once at Deer Isle the other day.
at is designed to aid the supervisors in
the exercise OF that discretion and to en-
able the census director intelliGently TO
use the power Of approval Of the super
visors' designations conferred upon him
BY law.
SIT il very we'll UNDERWOOD that Presi-
dent TAFT, Secretary Nagel, and Census
Director Durand Ill hold tine supervisors
responsible for the enumeration. There ID
I: no doubt, therefore, that our hrst and
| most important duty il the selection Of
honest, capable and active pernons to
make the count.
sThe census will b. taken, mot BY the
census bureau officers or the supervisors,
but by the enumeratofs. They arc the
ones who come in contact with the people
and get the facts. Unless every single
enumerator does his whole and proper
duty, there cannot b. correct census.
There cannot b anything Of greater Sci
entinc value to this country than accurate
statistics q the basis Of study OF the ex-
listing conditions regarding our popula-
ton, agriculture, manufactures, and mines
and quarries.
"All persons, unless specifically dis
qualified, arc entitled to apply to take the
test. Only those under eighteen years Of
age and over seventy and those who
have mot become citizens Of the United
States, ara barred. Otherwise, all par
sons, regardless Of sex and political afali-
Ations, are eligible, It il left to my judg-
ment whether it il wise to appoint women
in my district. They can do the work, I
have no doubt, especially in certain parts
OF the district. There were . good many
employed all over the country in the
twelfth census.
1.-THE time for closing the consideration
Of applications il January %. Those re-
ceived aftef that date will have to b.
ignored. Applications should Be- ad-
dressed in writing to me at this ONCE
and not to the census director. / will
send inquirers the necessary form and
instructions concerning it. Afterward I
will send those on the list, prior to the
test, set Of directions for filling out the
test papers. This win enable everyone
to come well prepared. Nothing could
be fairer or better calculated TO insure .
satisfactory applicant passing the test.
THE test itself need not deter anyone.
Any person with common sense and .
common-school education can pass Il.
All it consists Of il giving the candidates
sample population and Agricultural sched-
ules, upon which are to BE- written in the
proper columns the required details,
which are found in printed descriptions,
in narrative form, Of typical families and
farms supposed to Be in district. There
will be some instances requiring the ex-
ercise OF Judgment to decide whether .
given entry should be made under one
column heading or another. You can 80
how simple and elementary it il.
'Srhe test will be held all over the
country and in every supervisors district
February5. There will Be several places
in each district for taking it. One plscs
would be insufficient. 1t would not hold
all the candidates. A. supervisor, I shall
have the direction Of all, and the test ex-
animation At each, no matter under what
ofncial agency it il held, viii b that sols
and simple one prescribed By ths census
director.
III am given until February q to rate
the papers in . very simple way, and to
gain an idea Of the qualifications Of those
rated - having passed. Next will for
ward the papers Of the successful candi-
dates, with my recommendation or desig-
nations, to the census director. He will,
il satisfied that suitable persons have been
selected, give his consent to their appoint
ment, and they will be commissioned.
The middle or latter part Of March should
SO everything settled. and the selected
and commissioned enumerators will be
sent more circulars and books of instruc-
tions relative to the Interpretation or
meaning Of the questions on the two
schedules.
"April Is the census army viii move
forward in the enumeration.
'sCertainly the federal census-taking
10 - nesessary and 40 honorable ~ jury
duty, and, a. all good and useful citizens
do not hesitate to respond to the call for
such duty, therefore ask the same high
grade citizenship to come forward and
help me have the census taken accurately
and expeditiously.
''As President Taft has said, the pay ID
not large, but the work Is worth doing
well, and some day we shall all feel proud
in the consciousness that we had part,