The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-06
THE 1910 CENSUS
First Interview Given Out by Super
visor,

/
visor.
1.-THE simple test which candidates
for enumerators' places will undergo
February does not take away the
supervisors right under the census
law to designate suitable persons for
such positions" said supervisor of
census, Elmer p. Spofford.
THE census will be taken, not by
the census bureau officers or the
supervisors, but by the enumerators.
They are the ones who come in con-
tact with the people and get the facts.
Unless every single enumerator does
his whole and proper duty there can
not be a correct census. There can
not be anything of greater scientific
value to this country than accurate
statistics as the basis of study of the
existing conditions regarding our
population agriculture, manufactures,
and mines and quarries.
All persons, unless specifically
disqualified, are entitled to apply to
take the test Only those under Is
years of age and over 70. and those
who have not become citizens of the
United States, are barred. Otherwise,
all persons, regardless of sex and
political affiliations. are eligible. 1t
is left to my judgment whether 1t is
wise to appoint women in my district.
They can do the work, | have no
doubt, especially In certain parts of
the district. There were a good many
employed all over the country in the
twelfth census.
THE time for closing the considera-
ton of applications Is January %.
Those received after that date will
have to be ignored. Applications
should be addressed in writing to me
at this Office and not to the ceneus
director. | will send inquirers the
necessary form and instructions con-
corning 1t. Afterward | will send
those on the list, prior to the test,
set of directions for filling out the
test papers. This will enable every
one to come we'll prepared. Nothing
could be fairer or better calculated
to insure a satisfactory applicant
passing the test.
THE test itself need not deter
anyone Any person with common
sense and a common school educa-
ton can pass it, All 1t consists of
Is giving the candidates sample popu-
lation and agricultural schedules, up
on which are to be written in the
proper columns the required details.
which are found in printed descrip-
tions, In narrative form, of typical
families and farms supposed to be in
district There will be some in
stances requiring the exercise of
Judgment to decide whether a given
entry should be made under one col
umn heading or another. You can
see how simple and elementary 1t is.
1.-THE test will be held all over the
country and in every supervisors dis
trict February S. There will be sew
eral places in each district for taking
1t. One place would be insufficient.
1t would not hold all the candidates.
AS supervisor, shall have the direc-
ton of ALL and the test examination
at each, no matter under what Off
cial agency it Is held. will be that sole
and simple one prescribed by the CEN
sus director
az am given until February % to
rate the papers in a very simple
way, and to gain an idea of the quail
ifications OF those rated as having
/ passed. Next / Will lOTWdIu INC pa
pers of the successful candidates,
with my recommendations or designa-
tions, to the census director. He will,
IL satisfied that suitable persons have
been selected, give his consent to
their appointment, and they will be
commissioned.
April Is the census army will
move forward in the enumeration.
Certainly the Federal census-tak-
ing is as necessary and as honorable
as jury duty, and, as all good and
useful citizens do not hesitate to re-
spond to the call for such duty, /
therefore ask the same high-grade
citizenship to come forward and help
me have the census taken accurate
ly and expeditiously.
LAS President Taft has said. the
pay is not large but the work is worth
doing we'll, and some day we shall
feel proud in the consciousness that
we had par however humble. In
taking this census"