The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-04-29
CENSUS MEN
HAVE TROUBLE
Many People Don't Like to An
swer Some of the
Questions.
SOME RESENT AGE QUERY
Property Questions Are Also OBJ
jected To-May Be Arrests
for Not Answering.

The expected troubles of the census
takers have started with more than the
expected force and variety. In their
rounds, the agents of Uncle Sam who
are delegated to ask numerous ques
tions which would be highly imperti-
nent if asked by anyone else, are going
up against lot of the people who don t
want to answer their questions, whether
the inquirer is backed by Uncle Sam
or not.
Among the main difficulties encount
cred are those connected with questions
about property interests. 81 have a
place with small mortgage on it,
said one angry citizen, "and l find
myself questioned for the government
| by man, almost neighbor, who is a
! business rival of mine, and he wants
to know all about my financial position,
mortgages, etc. 1t is all right to say
that the government will keep the in.
! formation secret, and that the census
agent can not disclose anything. But
! dom like to tell about these things
through such agents. Why could not
the government get that sort of stuff,
| if it needs it for statistical purposes,
through the banks and other financial
institutionsi'
Other troubles of the census men are
with women. on such questions as
GLOW old are you'" The responses
vary. Some are indignant and plainly
untrue, and meant for sarcasm. Some
are sweetly innocent and may be true
and may not. In some cases there is
refusal to tell. Every census taker
knows by this time how much real
truth there lies at the bottom of the
old comic-paper joke about woman Is
concealment of her age.
!, Inquiries as. to nationality and race
also cause pilikia. The two terms are
confused by many, and when they have
declared themselves American, this an
swer is regarded as settling the matter
and further inquiries as to race are
resented.
, Still another pilikia is being found
, in the close detail called for by the
questions to property owners as to the
/, products of their places. They are ask
ed, if they keep chickens, how many
they have and how many eggs they get
t If they have cows, figures are wanted
e about the amount of milk they get
Some do not know, and some do no
: want to give it away.
|, The various questions are all a par
e of very elaborate census report to b'
made by the federal government. Eacl
answer will be classified, listed anC
4 tabulated in dozens of tables, and will
9 be a part of statistical report which
q will cover ali lines of industry, ant
a give much valuable information as t.
the actual condition of the people, tn
census being far more than mer
counting of noses.
L There is ample law under which tn
+ census takers may compel answers t.
t their questions, and severe penaltie
h are provided for those who interfer
t with their work or refuse to answe
n questions properly put. AT the sam
a time, the law protects those who an
= swer questions of private nature, eS
a tabishing penalties for employees of tn
|, census who divulge anything they ma
/, learn as census agents.
e The experience of some of the agent
l. indicates that some arrests are likel
n within a day or two of people refusin
ID to answer their questions. The federf
% government proposes to back up il
t, agents, and there is pilil1ia in store fC
In anyone who does not properly answe
" the authorized questions.