Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-01
TO
BE GIVEN TESTS
UNITED STATES CENSUS DE-
TAIL ARRANGED
EVERY APPLICANT TO BE GIVEN
FAIR CHANGE
School of Instruction VIII Prepare
Field Workers for Their Duties
in Connection with Ma
tional Effort

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31,-By jan
uary 25 all applications for the posi-
tions of enumerators in the thirteenth
decennial United States census must
be filed with the supervisors of census
for the supervisors districts in Whlch
the applicants reside. Between that
date and February the supervisors
will send out cards to applicants in
forming them where they are to report
for the test to be held in every one
of the $50 supervisors districts on
February only.
Census Director Durand emphatical-
ly states that persons desiring to hold
such positions should not stand in fear
of the test to be made. Any per
son of average public school education
who can write plainly and reasonably
fast will go through the test with
"eolors flying" In fact the test" Is
intended simply to help the supervis-
ors pick suitable persons and to en-
able the director of the census to eX-
ercise intelligently his power of ap-
proval of those whom the supervisors
designate for appointment.
1t will involve the filling in of either
sample population schedule by
those who will make the count in the
cities, or of both a sample population
and agricultural schedp'a, by candi-
dates who viii lenumerate the country.
Printed Instructions
To prepare the way and to insure
every applicant being given a fair
chance the supervisors will send in
advance to each and every candidate
a set of printed instructions for filling
in these sample schedules.
1--WE consider that a very important
point" said Acting Census Director
Willoughby, mot only in treating these
candidates fairly and giving them a
chance to answer the questions prop
erly, but also as a means Of education
of the candidates who are afterWard to
be appointed
"They will study more thoroughly
the instructions for filling in these
schedules if they realize their chances
of appointment depend upon that study
than if they were appointed first and
had to do the studying afterward. You
will see. therefore, that this test is not
an appalling thing. 1t is not for the
purpose of keeping people out of the
places. 1t is applied simply to enable
the director to eliminate those who are
plainly incompetent. Any person Of
good Judgment and ordinary common
school educa tion-for the work requires
some little thinking power-can easily
pass the test
To Examine Papers
Between February and February
% the supervisors will go through the
test" papers, satisfy themselves as to
the qualifications of those who have
passed, and make their designations or
recommendations to the census direc-
tor. The, next step will be the di-
rectors approval, and then the super
visors will issue the commissions to
the enumerators.
Director Durand expects to have the
army of $1,000 or more enumerators
picked, tested, designated, and COM
missioned by the middle or latter part
of March. From then on until April
Is the supervisors will send the emu
merators circulars and books of in
structions concerning the meaning OF
the schedule questions and the way
the enumerators should write in the
answers obtained from the people of
the country. y
1t is very probable that census spe-
cial agents may be assigned to certain
of meeting the enumerators personally
and giving them additional informa-
tion concerning the character of their
duties.
Application forms for solicitors in
California with complete directions con-
cernlng the method of preparing thems
can be secured by writing at once to
the supervisor named in the list ap-
pended:
First district, H. Julian Wright Me-
vada City, Nevada county; Second dis
trict, Emmett Phillips, Sacramento,
Sacramento county: Third district,
James NJ. Burke, Oakland, Alameda
county: Fourth district, John j.
Deane, San Francisco, San Francisco
county; Fifth district John w. Rog-
ers. San Jose, Santa Clara county,;
Sixth district, Lewis L. bennett, Mo-
desto. Stanislaus county; Seventh dis
trict. Bert L. Farmer, Los Angeles,
Los Angeles countys Eighth district,
Lyman NJ King, Redlands, San Bernar-
dino county.