Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-04
CENSUS DEPARTMENT WORRIED
OVER LACK OF APPLl-
GIANTS
POSITIONS MUST BE FILLED
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS
Test is Not Severe and Politics Does
Not count-Enumerator to Earn
About $50 Each-Month's Work in
Country, Two Weeks in Cities of
Over 5000.

Washington, Jan. 4.-CenSus Director
Durant, slater today that, as a result of
his conferences with the supervisors OF
census thruout the country he finds
that in many sections, especially in the
larger cities, there have not been as
Yet sufficient applications for the po-
sitions of enurnerators. 1t looks, he
thinks, as if the country is so pros
porous that people are not as anxious to
get these responsible places as had
been expected.
The scarcity is giving the director
some concern, as only 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
enumerators, leaving nothing for an eN-
tension of the date for shutting down
on applications.
Urges Quick Action.
The director therefore urges all per-
sons desiring places as enumerators TO
make application as quick as pos
sible, and he hopes that, in order to
help get perfect census. public spir-
tied and energetic people turnout the
country will offer themselves for these
positions, even tho they may not care
for them from the standpoint of the
pay involved. He also trusts that en-
ployers will deem it their duty to give
leave of absence to their employees
who may desire to act as enumerators.
Some slight sacrifice of this sort will
be amply repaid by the improved quail
! ity of the census returns. Continuing
| the director said:
"Altho the actual work of taking
! the census will not begin until April
Is. it is essential that those who wish
TO act as enumerators should apply i'm
mediately. Except under unusual cir
cumstances, no application received at
ter Jan. % will be considered. About
| $4,000 enumerators will be required
Each will work in his own locality. Any
competent person is entitled to apply
for this position, and will be fairly con-
sidered for appointment.
Politics Doesn't Count.
Political recommendation are no
necessary. The supervisors, to whom
application must be made, have beer
instructed to consider all candidate!
and to select solely on the basis of eff.
ficiency. For the purpose of aiding thu
supervisors in determining the com
petence of the candidates. written ties
Will be prescribed, and any person be
tween the ages of IS and 20 who is ;
viii !,
permitted to take it.
The test will be of a strictly practi
cal character, substantially the sam
as was used in 1900. 1t will consist 0
filling out sample schedule of pop
ulation, and, in the case of rural dis
trists, filing out also a sample SEIZED
ule of agriculture, these schedules be
ing precisely the same as will actual
be used by the enumerators in thei
work later on In order to assist can
didates in preparing for the test. copie
OF the blank schedules and general in
) struction regarding the manner c
filling them will be furnished to eac
candidate in advance. Any person 6
, ordinary common school education an
:, good judgment should have no diff
Guilty in passing.
Not Civil Service Test.
This test is not civil service es
y animation. 1t will be conducted III
; der the direction of the supervisors {
the census. and the papers will be es
, amined only by the supervisors and b
. the census bureau. In order that cor
venient examination places may
provided for all candidates. local civ
d service examining boards and pos
masters will be called upon to presto
0 at the actual taking of the test in eel
o tain cases but in this respect they wi
5 act merely as the representatives
7, the supervisors of the census.
1T is impossible to exaggerate tt
o importance of obtaining correct Gel
0 sus of the population and agricultul
% of the country. The correctness of Il
Y, returns depends wholly upon the con
petence of the enumerators."
g The enumerators will earn about $
20 each. Those in the rural districts mu
complete their work within thirty day
and those in cities of 5000 and mo
g population at the preceding Gems
n