The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-03
ENuMERAToRs ARE SCARCE

ENUMERAToRs ARE SCARCE.
AS already noted in The Gate City,
the officials entrusted with the work
of engaging persons to serve as
census enumerators are not receiving
as many applications as are desired.
This looks as if the country is so
prosperous that people are not as anx-
icus to get these responsible places
as had been expected.
In bulletin just issued the direc
tor of the census urges all persons de-
string places as enumerators to make
application at once, and he expresses
the hope that, in order to help get a
perfect census, pubIic-spirited and en-
ergetic people throughout the country
will offer themselves for these posi-
tions. even though 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 enumerat-
ors Some slight sacrifice of this sort
will be amply repaid by the improved
quality of the census returns.
Although the actual work of taking
the census will not begin until April
is, 1t is essential that those who wish
to act as enumerators should apply
Immediately Except under unusual
circumstances, no application receiv-
cred after January % will be consid-
cred. 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 considered for APP
pointment.
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
efficiency. For the purpose of aiding
the supervisors In determining the
competence of the candidates, writ
ten test will be prescribed, and any
person between the ages of eighteen
and seventy who is citizen of the
United States will be permitted to
take 1t. AS to the character of this
test the director of the census says:
1.-THE test will be of a strictly prac.
teal character, substantially the same
as was used in 1900. 1t will consist
of filing out sample schedule Of
population, and, in the case of rural
| districts, filing out also sample
I schedule of agriculture, these sched-
/ ules being precisely the same as will
actually be used by. the enumera-
| tors in their work later on. In order
to assist candidates in preparing for
! the test. copies of the blank schedules
and general instructions regarding the
manner of filling them will be furnish
ed to each candidate In advance
Any person of ordinary common
school education and good judgment
should have no difficulty in passing.
This test is not civil-service ex
animation. 1t will be conducted un
der the direction of the supervisors Of
& the census, and the papers will be ex
amined only by the supervisors ant
by the census bureau. In order thai
convenient examination places may
be provided for all candidates, Ioca
cfvil-service examining boards AM
postmasters will be called upoI
to preside at the actual takins
of the test In certain cases, but il
this respect they will act merely a,
the representatives of the supervisor
OF the census"
The supervisor of the census for tn,
First congressional district of low;
is Hon. John w. Rowley, Keosauqua
Iowa, to whom applications for pos
. tens as enumerators in southeastern
: Iowa should be addressed. The enum
orators will earn about $50 eacf
2 Those in the rural districts must CON
5 Pete their work within thirty days
I and those in cities of 5000 and NOR
; population at the preceding censu
within two weeks, from April Is, 1911,