Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-02-05
TO EXAMINE
 APPLICANTS TODAY Would Be Census Enumer ators 10 Take Test at
 10 O'Clock A. M.
MUST BE COMPETENT
Fifty Applicants For Jobs In This COunty-NegrOes Will Take Gen.
 suS Among Negroes.

in the United States will be held to- day for the purpose of testing the competency of applicants for the pos ition of census enumerators. In all previous censuses, papers have been mailed out to applicants to have them fill the paper at their leisure and return them
 As prospective enumerators have heretofore received assistance in filling out these papers. and after being appointed were, in some instances, found to be incompetent to discharge their duties, it has been decided to assemble the applicants at convenient places and have them take the test under the supervision of the census supervisors and postmas- ters
 From this test that will he ned, about 10O00 enumerators will be ap- pointed the latter part of Marcn 10 begin the work on April h.
 The test will be held at the post office building in this city this morning at 10 o'clock by the civil service board under the supervision of Postmaster F C. Furth.
 There are about fifty applicants for census jobs here. Several negro applicants have been recommended by Postmaster Furth and they will he used in securing a census enun- eration in the eolored settlements ex- elusiyely.
 The test will consist in filling out a sample schedule of population from description of typical families. and in case of enumerators whose work will be in the rural districts filling out, also, a sample schedule of agri- culture from Information furnished
 Applicants will not be permitted to receive any assistance and will he given three hours to fill out the popu- lation schedule. In the case of those from the rural districts. an addition al hour will be given to fill out the agriculture schedule
 Status of Negroes.
 After giving the matter careful consideration, Director of Census E. Dana Durand has directed the ap- pointment of negro enumerators u enumerate negro families only in districts where negroes constituta a about half of the population. where competent negroes have applied. Th's matter was given special coa sider- ation at the conference held at New Orleans and at Atlanta, between the director and the supervisors for thc Southern states, and it developed that in various Southern cities tie boards of education regularly employ ed negro enumerators to take the negro population. This is true. fo" example, in Montgomery Alabama and Savannah. Georgia. This prac- tice of the school boards in ,hcsn cities has been found to be devisabl- and satisfactory
 On the other hand, it is consilal ed undesirable to have negroes apCoini- ed as enumerators with authority to enumerate white families
 It is certain that, in perhaps most instances. negro enumeratorS would not be able to obtain as accurate statistics regarding the white popula- tion as white enumerators. It will therefore, be necessary in man. clu- meration districts to appoint both . white enumerator and negro en lnl- orator in order that the entire poau. lation may be properly enumerated
 The commissions issued to the ne gro enumerators will give authority to enumerate negro families only. .t> within the meaning of the census ac servants living on the premises O white families constitute part c that family, it would take the censu; of such negro servants. So that un der no circumstances, will negr( enumerators be brought in eontac with white families.
 The negroes who have filed aplica tions will be required to take th same test as the white applicants and special care will be exercised t determine their competency. Nearl all of the negroes who have filed au plications in this district have conn recommended by representative whit people, they are of the better class ana among their number are quit a few preachers and school teachers
 Women Eligible.
 By this arrangement it will be ne cessary to have white enumerato for every district. In some instance!