Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-01-12
ENUMERATODRS ARE SCARCE.
Census Department Wants Public
Spirited People to Apply ut Once.

the supervisors Of census throughout
the country he finds that in many
sections, especially in the larger cit
les, there have not been as yet sufn-
cient applications for the positions
of enumerators. 1t looks, he thinks,
as ii the country ie so prosperous
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
remain before the date for closing
the consideration Of applications. 1t
will be impossible generally to ex-
tend the application time limit, as to
examine the "test" papers, with the
necessary care to insure the designa-
ton of qualified persons. will con-
sumo every moment of the time al
lowed for this phase Of the work of
selecting the enumerators, leaving
nothing for an extension Of the date
for shutting down on applications.
The director therefore urges all
persons desiring places as enumera-
tors to make application as quickly
as possible, and he hopes that. in
order to help get perfect census,
public-spirited and energetic people
throughout the country will offer
themselves for these positions, even
though they may not care for them
from tho q
Volved. He also trusts that employ
ers Will deem 1t their duty to give
leave of absence to their employees
who may desire to act as enumera-
tors. Some Slight sacrifice of this
sort vii! be amply repaid by the i'm
proved quality Of the census returns.
Continuing, the director said:
"Although the actual work Of TAX
ing the census will not begin until
April Is, it IS essential that those
who wish to act as enumerators
should apply Immediately. EXCEPT
under unusual circumstances, no an
plication received after January 25
will be considered. About $4,000
enumerators will be required. Each
Will work In his own locality. ADy
competent person is entitled to ap-
ply for this position, and will be
fairly considered for appointment.
Political recommendation 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 pur-
pose Of aiding the supervisors in de-
termining the competence Of the
candidates, a written test will be
prescribed, and any person between
the ages Of Is and 70 who Is a citi-
zen OF the United States will be per-
mitted to take It,
"The test will be Of a strictly prac-
tcal character, substantially the
same as was used in 1900. It will
consist Of filling out sample sched-
ule of population, and, in the case of
rural districts, filling out also a
sample schedule Of agriculture, these
schedules being precisely the same
as will actually be used by the emu
merators in their work later on. In
order to assist candidates i'm prepar-
ing FOR the test, copies Of the blank
schedules and general instructions
regarding the manner Of filling them
will be furnished to each candidate
In advance AnV Of
common-school education and good
judgment should have no difficulty
in passing.
''rhis test is not civil service
examination. 1t will be conducted
under the direction Of the supervi-
sors OF the census, and the papers
Will be examined only by the super
Visors and by the Census Bureau. In
order that convenient examination
places may be provided for all can
didateS, local civil service examining
boards and pOstmaStcrs will be call.
cd upon to preside at the actual talk
Ing OF the test in certain cases. but
in this respect they will act merely
as the representatives of the super
visors Of the census.
1T is impossible to eXaggerate the
Importance of obtaining correct
census OF the population and agri-
culture OF the country. The correct
ness of the returns depends wholly
upon the competence Of the enumer-
ators."
The cnumcratorS will earn ab0ut
$50 each. Those in the rural dis