Bisbee daily review., 1910-02-27
No HARM COMES
FROM TELLING
CENSUS TRUTHS
Mistake to Think that Answers
to QestionS Mean More
Texas, Legal Troubles, or
Injury.

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Feb. 2s.-
Letters from the census supervisors
to the United States Census Bureau
show the erroneous apprehension Of
a considerable element OF the popu-
lation that their answers to the emu
merators' questions in the next cen
lsus. beginning April Is. this year,
viii cause increased taxation. legal
|entanglements or injurious conse-
quences to their persons and prop
erty
In order to quiet such unfounded
ears. which would. unless removed
materially affect the accuracy Of the
census. the bureau has prepared a.
official statement relative TO the de
cennial census. its origin. purpose
and uses.
This statement should furnish
complete assurance to those concern.
ed that information given the emu.
merators is held by the Census Blu
reau in the strictest confidence with
reference 20 the identity of the in.
formants. as required by the policy
OF the bureau and commanded by
the law OF the United States.
The bureau earnestly hopes that
clergymen. priests. physicians. school
teachers. employers. and other pub
! lic-spirited citizens who come 10
contact with large numbers OF peo-
pie. viii cooperate with the bureau
by telling persons who are believed
to entertain erroneous opinions of
the census the real facts and urging
them TO give fun replies to the emu
merators. Teachers are particularly
requested to speak of the census
to the school children and ask them
to tell their parents about It.
The statement issued by the bu-
reau explains that the Constitution
requires a census of the population
to be taken every ten years in or.
der to reapportion state representa-
tion in the National House of Repre-
sentatives. II is the means also
to ascertain the increase in the pop-
ulation. agriculture, industries. and
resources of the nation since the
last census.
1t is emphatically declared. By the
statement that the information
sought from the people Of the United
States is used solely for general
statistical purposes. 1t will neither
be published nor used in any other
way to disclose facts regarding any
individual or enterprise. The cen
sus, 1t goes on to say. Is not, neve.
has been. and can not be employed
to obtain information that can be
used in any way in the assessmen
of property for purposes of taxation
or the collection OF taxes. either ns
tional. state. or local; or for depoT
tation proceedings. extradition meas
ures, army or navy conscription, in
ternal revenue investigations. com
pulsory school attendance. child-la
Dor law prosecutions quarantine
regulations. or in any way to az
feet the life. liberty. or property OF
any person.
1t points out that replies to the
enumerators are and must be held
by the Census Bureau in strict and
absolute confidence. All the bureau
officials. supervisors clerks. enumer-
ators. and interpreters. before enter
ing upon their duties. are obliged to
take a solemn oath not to disclose
any information they may obtain.
except to the Census Bureau. and
violation OF the United States law
in regard to this oath means a
$1,000 fine or Imprisonment for two
years. or both. in the discretion OF
the court.