Evening star., 1920-01-04
D. c. CITIZENS GLAD
TO AID IN CENSUS
Enumerators Meeting With
Cheerful Cooperation in
Collecting Data.

Washington is cooperating heartily
and with good will in the immense
task of taking the 1920 decennial
census in the National Capital.
Everywhere census enumerators
have gone during the past few days
they have met with the best of CO.
operation. and have in many cases
found the answers to their questions
them. according to statements made
by several of the enumerators when
they reported last night to Director
Robert E. Mattngly. Nowhere in the
District of Columbia have any of the
367 enumerators met with rebuffs or
any unkind act, Mr.. Mattingly said
last night, and to date the census
taking in Washington has run OIL
very smoothly.
The enumerators recounted last
night on finishing their work IN
Washington many of the usual funny
census stories concerning the answers
put to their questions. Mr.. Mattlngly
reported that one woman was SO
solicitous regarding correct enumera-
ton of herself and family that she
telephoned in her new place of ad-
dress after having been enumerated
Friday 1t turned out that SRe hhd
moved Friday afternoon, after sne
had been enumerated in her former
home.
Some Answers Dimdent.
Several enumeratorS reported ulHl-
dent answers to several of the ques-
tions Some of them said colored per
sons who were nearly white had re-
ported white" when asked their color
and race In this case the enumera-
tor is authorized to use his dlscre-
ton, but must report such cases TO
the director. others found difficulty
in making themselves understood
where they enumerated persons OF
\, ,,{1, n m
with the English language. AL
though anxious to help the enumera-
tors and willing to answer questions,
these persons in some cases WlShed
to know what it was all about.
II almost had to draw blue print
of the whole census for one Chlnese
whom 1 enumerated" one enumerator
said, recoLnting an experience with
an oriental iaundryman. Another said
she had found women who did not
know their correct age, but who, on
being questioned closely and told the
purpose of the census. found their
senses and gave correct answers. No
cases were recorded yesterday or Fri
day of reluctance to answer the dues-
tions asked, and in no case was re-
course had to the warning authorized
by the census bureau that maximum
fine of 500 may be levied on persons
who refuse to give answers to the
questions put Dy enuneTdtOTS. mere
is also a fine, following conviction,
for giving incorrect answers.
EnumeratOrs Work at Night.
Other enumerators pointed out the
factor of loss of time while persons
being enumerated are counting up
their ages and in getting the exact
age of all children in household.
which they are required to get. One
enumerator reported last night that
on interrogating the head of house
hold she learned that the daughter
had been married Friday. This young
woman was reported as single, as
census regulations require that per-
sons single on January 1 shall be SO
recorded for census purposes.
Scores of the enumeratorS who are
working on a piecework basis@that
is, cents for, each name enumerated
continued their work last night.
They were SO authorized by Director
Mattingly, who recognized that in
many cases there is better chance
to secure full information in the
evening, and particularly on a cold
evening. Enumerators have been di-
rected by Mr.. Mattingly to hurry
their work as much as possible, in
order that the District may be one of
the first half million population class
to make its returns to the director
of the census. To this end he has
asked enumerators, wherever possible
and where it does not interfere with
other business, to work during hours
when there is likelihood of catch
ing members of a family at home.