Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-06
PUBLIC SPIRITED PEOPLE TO APP
PLY AT ONCE

Washington, D. c. Jan 4-Census
Director Durand stated today that
as a result of his conferences with the
supervisors of census throughout the
country he finds that in many sections,
especially in the larger cities, there
have not been as yet sufficient appli-
cations for the positions of enumerat-
ors 1t looks. he thinks, as If the coun-
try is so prosperous that people are
not anxious to- get these responsible
places as had been expected.
The scarcity is, giving the Director
eua1e 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 an
plication time limit, as to examine the
test papers, with the necessary care
ito insure the designation of qualified
persons, will consume every moment
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 applica-
tions.
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 perfect census, public spir-
tied and energetic people throughout
the country will offer themselves for
iiiSoc Gil lnONBtl lIey f{llS
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 en-
ployes who may desire to act A.,
enumerators. Some slight sacrifice of
this sort will be amply repaid by the
improved quality of the census returns
Continuing. the Director said:
Although the actual work Of taking
the census will mot haoir, A rril
Is, it is essential thu those who wish
to act as enumerators should apply
Immediately. Except under unusual
circumstances, no application received
after January 25 will be considered.
About $4,000 enumerators will be re-
quired. Each VIII work in his own To-
cality. Anv competent person is en-
titled to apply for this position. and
will be fairly considered for appoint
ment
Political recommendations 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 eff
flciency. For the purpose of aiding the
supervisors in determining the COM
petence of the candidates. written
test will be prescribed, and any per-
son between the ages of IS and 10 who
is citizen of the United States will be
permitted to take it.
THE test will be of strictly prac-
tical character, substantially the same
as was used in 1900. 1t will consist of
filling out sample schedule of popu-
lation, and, in the case of rural dis
tricts. filing out also sample sched-
ule of agriculture, these schedules be-
ing precisely the same as will actually
be used by the enumerators In their
work later on. In order to assist can
didates in preparing for the test,
copies of the blank schedules and gem
eral instructions regarding the man
ner of filling them will be furnished to
each candidate in advance. Any person
of ordinary common school education
and good judgment should have no diff
dculty 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 examin-
ed anlv hv thu srinarvisars and by the