The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-05
CENSUS MEN SCARCE.
Supply OF Enumerators Is Said to Be
Short.

Washington, d. c., Jan. Census
Director Durand stated today that, as
result of his conferences with the
supervisors of census throughout the
country he finds that in many sec
lions, especially. in the larger cities,
there have not been as yet sufficient
applications for the positions of emu
merators. It looks, he thinks, as if
the country is SO prosperous that peo-
pie are not as anxious to get these re-
sponsible places as had been expected.
The scarcity is giving the director
some concern, as only a few weeks re-
main before the date for closing the
consideration of applications. 1t will
be impossible generally to extend the
application time limit, as to examine
the test papers, with the necessary
care to insure the designation of quail
flied persons, will consume every mo-
ment of the time allowed for this
phase of the work of selecting the
enumerators. leaving nothing for an
extension of the date for shutting
down on applications.
The director therefore urges all per-
sons desiring places as enumerators to
make application as quickly as pos
sible, and he hopes that, in order to
help get a perfect census. public
spirited and energetic people through
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
it their duty to give leave of absence
to their employees who may desire to
act as enumerators. Some slight sac
rif1ce of this sort will be amply re-
paid by the improved quality of the
census returns. Continuing, the direc-
tor said:
ing the census will not begin until
April Is, it is essential that those who
wish to act as enumerators should
apply Immediately. Except under
unusual circumstances, no applica-
| ton received after January IS will be
considered. About $4,000 enumerators
will be required. Each will work in
| his own locality. Any competent per-
| son is entitled to apply for this po-
| sition, and will be fairly considered
| for appointment.
| political recommendation are not
necessary. The supervisors, to whom
application must be made, have been
| instructed to consider all candidates
| and to select solely on the basis of
efficiency For the purpose of aiding
competence of the candidates, a. writ
/ ten test will be prescribed, and any
person between the ages of 8 and 20
| who is a citizen of the United States
| will be permitted to take it,
1.-THE test will be of a strictly prac-
| teal character, substantially the same
| as was used in 1900. It will consis
| of filling out sample schedule OF
| population, and in the case of rura
districts, filling out also sample
schedule Of agriculture, these SEIZED
ules being precisely the same as will
| actually be used by the enumeration.
| in their work later on. In order tt
assist candidates in preparing for the
test, copies of the blank schedules ano
| general instructions regarding the
manner of filling them will be fur.
nished to each candidate in advance
Any person of ordinary common
school education and good judgment
/ should have no difficulty in passing.
This test is not civil service ex-
| animation. 1t will be conducted under
the direction of the supervisors of the
census, and the papers will be exam
| ined only by the supervisors and BY
| the census bureau. In order that con-
/ venient examination places may be
provided for all candidates, local civil
+ service examining boards and post
masters will be called upon to preside
at the actual taking of the test In
/ certain cases, but in this respect they
will act merely as the Representatives
Of the supervisors of the census.
TT is impossible to exaggerate the
Importance of obtaining correct cen
i suS OF the population and agriculture
of the country. The correctness Of
the returns depends wholly upon the
competence of the enumerators.
The enumerators will earn abou
$50 each Those in the rural districts
must complete their work within thir-
ty days. and those in cities of 5000
census within two weeks, from Apri
lis 1910