The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-17
GETTING READY FOR.
The NEXT Genus.
Supervisors Will Have
Work for About One
Year-How Appointed.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March IL
fhe Act providing for the Fourteenth
aud subsequent decennial censuses
vas signed by the President on March
& The enumeration, which will be
made IN January, 1920, is now less
than ten months distant, and the Cen
sus Bureau already has under consid'
Grafton the selection and appointment
Of not to exceed 400 supervisors who
win have charge OF the 10000 enumer-
ators. The supervisory districts will
Ia cost cases, except in the large cit
ies, have the same boundaries as the
Congressional districts. The super
VisoFs, under the law, are to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary OF Commerce
(. upon the recommendation Of the d.
rector Of the Census.
The following instructions have
been given by the Secretary of Com
merce to the Director Of the Census
"a regard to the procedure to be follow
cd IN making selections and appoint
ments Of census supervisors:
CONFORMING to the assurances CIV
en- the President in my letter to him Of
March 8, you will please be guided by
the following instructions respecting
Appointments to the post OF supervisor
a connection with the taking OF the
Fourteenth Census Of the United
States:
4 "a test examination, Of which a rec
ord will be kept, is to be required for
appointment to the post Of supervisor.
u addition to this, a careful personal
INQUIRY is to be separately made re-
gpecting the qualifications Of each can
didate. or this inquiry, also, record
VIII be kept
''In making appointments from those
who shall have passed the test exam
nation and the separate inquiry as to
qualifications, preference is to be CIV
en- to those candidates who have had
executive, administrative, statistical,
Of accounting experience and to those
who have had charge Of bodies Of men
as administrators, provided in all
cases that men with the experience
stated possess the other qualifications
necessary.
"You will arrange to give notice to
the above effect to every candidate ap-
plying for appointment and to his spon-
sors, and no candidates are to be Sc
lected for appointment who do not
44taae both the fest examination and the
personal inquiry.
"You are requested to ask the Civil
Service Commission to prepare the
blanks for the test examination or to
cooperate with you in the preparation
Of them. You will welcome the assist
ance OF the Civil Service Commission
IA this and in any other respect in
which they can be helpful to you.
ut Is my earnest desire, as | know
e Is your own, that this census shall
Sc an example in its quality, as we'll as
ia Its promptness. need hardly say
that neither result can be had unless
the supervisors are selected with spe-
lcial care to their individual fitness for
thei rtask. ! am depending on you as
& inc rSSpOuSlULe OlLlCSL III ilAHASul"H'S
charge Of the work to see that every
precaution is taken to achieve this re-
suit. In particular, the appearance as
well as the fact of political patronage
are to be avoided and fitness for the
work to be done will be the controll'
ing factor IN the appointments"
The Director of the Census has al
ready taken steps to carry out the in
struttions Of the secretary.
The supervisors duties will occupy
their time for the greater part of a
year, beginning about July l, 1919.
Their compensation will be $500,
plus 81 for each thousand or major
fraction Of a thousand of population
enumerated. The total compensation
imam ayerage-sized district, outside a
large city, will therefore be between
$1,000 and $1,000. Clerk hire and 9TH
er necessary expenses will be paid by
the government.
All candidates for supervisorships
should address their applications to
the Director Of the Census, Washing
ton, D. G.