Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-15
Answer Up to
the Census Man
with Candor
Aid the Enumerators in Their
President Exhorts All Citizens to
Coming Task.

WASHINGTON, March 14-President
Taft, In a proclamation issued today,
urges everybody throughout the United
States Ito answer promptly, completely
and accurately all inquiries addressed to
then by the enumorators or other ems
ployes' who will be engaged in the taking
OF the thirteenth decennial census, which
work will begin one month from today.
The proclamation follows:
Whereas, BY the act of congress APP
proved July =, 1909, the thirteenth decen-
NAL census OF the United states is to be
taken, beginning on the 18th day OF April,
1910, and.
Whereas. A correct enumeration II the
population every ten years is required by
the constitution OF the United states for
the purpose of determining the representa-
ton OF the several states in the house of
representatives; ana,
Whereas, It is of the utmost importance
70 the interests OF ell the people Of the
United states that this census should pe q
complete and accurate epOrt OF the popu-
latlon or the country
Now, therefore. / William Howard. Taft,
president of the United States OF America,
do hereby declare aud make known that
under the act aforesaid 1t is the duty of
every person TO answer all questions on
the census schedules applying to him AMI
the family to which he belongs, and to the
farm occupied by MIN or his family, and
that any adult refusing 70 do so is subject
to penalty.
The sole purpose Of the census is to Sc
cure general statistical information regard
ing the population ord resources of the
country, and replies are. required from in
dividuals only in order TO permit the com
pflation of such general statistics. The
census has nothing to do with taxation,
With army OF Jury service, with the COM
pulsion OF school attendance, with the
regulation of immigration, or with the en-
torcement of any national, state or local
law or ordinance, nor can any person be
harmed in any way by furnishing the infor-.
nation required. There need be no fear
that any disclosure will be made regarding
the due protection Of the rights and inter.
ests of the person furnishing information,
every employe Of the census bureau Is
prohibited, under heavy penalty, from dis
closing any Information which may thus
come to his knowledge,
l therefore earnestly urge upon all per-
sons 10 answer promptly completely and
accurately all Inquiries addressed to them
by the enumerators or other employees OF.
the census bureau and thereby to con-
tribute their share toward making this
great and necessary public undertaking a
success.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this 18th
day Of March. a. D., 1910, and Of the in
dependence Of the United states Of Amer
lea the 134th. BY the president.
(Seai) WILLIAM H. TAFT.
p, c. KNOX, Secretary of State.
The proclamation is for the purpose Of
removing fears from the minds of some
people who are of the opinion that fnfor-
nation which they give concerning them
selves to the census taker may be used in
some way to the dtriment Of their per-
sonal or business interests. Against any
such abuse, however, the government has
thrown the strongest safeguards.