Evening star., 1929-11-23
HOOVER OUTLINES
l DUTIES IN CENSUS
Declares Residents Obliged
to Answer Questions Asked
by EnumeratorS.

It is the duty of all residents of the
country to answer questions asked by
census enumeratorS beginning next
April, President Hoover declared IN a
proclamation yesterday.
mo person can be harmed in any way
by furnishing the information re-
Quired," he said. emphasizing that the
CENSUS had nothing to do with taxation,
military or jury service, compulsory
school attendance or similar matters.
Any person refusing to answer is sub
ject to penalty.
The Presidents proclamation called
upon everybody in the United States to
cooperate with the army of census
workers who will be going from door to
door next Spring and after. He noted
the law required the decennial count to
determine representation of the States
in the House.
Text of Proclamation.
The proclamation read:
BY the President of the United States
Of America.
A proclamation.
Whereas by the act of Congress ap-
proved June 10, 1929, the fifteenth de-
cennial census of the United States is
to be taken beginning on the first day
Of April, $780, and
Whereas a correct enumeration of the
population every 10 years is required by
the Constitution of the United States
for the purpose of determining the rep
reSentation of the several States in the
House of Representatives; and
Whereas 1t is of the utmost impor-
tance to the interest of all the people
of the United States that this census
should be complete and accurate re-
port of the population and resources
Of the Nation
Now, therefore. I. Herbert Hoover,
President of the United States of
America. do hereby declare and make
known that, under the law aforesaid,
it is the duty of every person to answer
all questions on the census schedules
applying to him and the family to
which he belongs, and to the farm
occupied by him or his family, and all
other census schedules as required by
law, and that any person refusing to
do so is subject to penalty.
Returns Held in Confidence.
The sole purpose of the census IS to
secure general statistical information
regarding the population and resources
of the country, and replies are requir-
ed from individuals only to permit the
compilation of such general statistics.
No person can be harmed in any way
by furnishing the information requir-
ed. The census has nothing to do
with tayation, with military or jury
service. with the compulsion of school
attendance, with the regulation of i'm
migration or with the enforcement of
any national, State or local law of
ordinance.
There need be no fear that any dis
closure will be made regarding any
individuA! person or his affairs. For
the due protection of the rights and
interests of the persons furnishing in
formation every employe of the Census
Bureau is prohibited, under heavy
penalty, from disclosing any informa-
tion which may thus come to his knowl-
edge.
I, Therefore, earnestly urge upon all
persons to answer promptly, completely
and accurately all inquiries addressed
to them by the enumerators or other
employees of the Census Bureau and
thereby to contribute their share toward
making this great and necessary pub
JIG undertaking a success.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused to be affixed
the great seal of the United States.
Done at the City of Washington this
22d day of November, in the year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and twenty-nine, and of the independ-
ence of the United States, the one
hundreth and fifty-fourth
HERBERT HOOVER,
President of the United States.
BY the President,
HENRY L. STIMSON,
Secretary of State