New Britain herald., 1930-03-29
Census Takers Overlook
 Most Interesting Information

the enumeratOrS Will be around to
 count you and tell you whether you
 are one person or two. Judging from
 the frequent scandals that have been
 flashed across front pages during re-
 cent years, it would seem that many
 persons were leading double lives
 and should be counted twice. At least
 twice. However, we suppose the
 enumerators will not pry too deeply
 into the private affairs of their eli
 ents, customers victims, or whatever
 you call them.
 And this failure to probe deeply
 is. in our opinion. where the census
 will prove a failure. Not that we
 would criticize the government too
 severely, for we have no desire to be
 classed with the communists, but it
 seems to us that the census is too
 superficial. We know that city dwell
 CTS will be asked some 80 questions
 and farmers more than 100, but even
 so there is nothing in the list of
 queries which could not be found
 out without asking. And if it is nc
 cessary to ask some questions, why
 not make them searching ones? To
 eXplain:
 The census blanks. of course, pro- vide spaces for the names of all res-
 idcnts-surname, given name, and middle initial, if any. But there is no
 provision for asking why you were named Henry instead of John and recording the valuable information that your Uncle Henry offered your
 parents $10 to name you after him while Uncle Johns bid was only spavined horse.
 And the same fault may be found with the space for addresses. The enumerator can see at a glance at what number on what street you live. But why doesn't he ask, What reason do you give your friends for not living in Q better neighborhood And what is the real reason?' He might also ask. DO you know any other good addresses?' You will also be asked whether you own your home or pay rent, but no opportu- nifty will be given for recording how much rent you pay and showing the world that your landlord is a blank even be quericd as to whether you have a radio set, but do you think the enunerator will say, Flows re- He will not, the bcnighted beggar. And reception, naturally, is the most important part of radio next to scraping together the money for the next installment.
 Questions regarding your sex, race, and age Chow many white lies' will be told in reply to this one ) will also be put to you. but the color of your eyes and hair. whether or not you are handsome and shapely will be left untouched, although we think this information is of prime import ance. If we should learn, for exam pie. that the census showed the girls than anywhere else in the United States, do you think you could stop us from moving there?
 Then they will inquire about your condition. They will say, Are you divorced?" But that's not the point They should ask, Would you like to be divorced?'
 Educational advantages will also be recorded, one of the questions be- ing Can you read or write" Worth less, say we, unless, when answered in the affirmative, the enumerator then inquires, Gan you spell?"
 Under the section reserved for of the customer" and his father and mother those who the questions have shown one gleam of intelligence, for the census taker is specifically warned to distinguish between Canada French and Canada English, also be- tween Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. And. in New Britain, he might be advised to differentiate be- road track.
 The questions regarding native language do not go far enough. The person should not only be qucried regarding ability to speak, English but should be made to dem onstratc how well he can do so. And he should also be made 10 tell if he uses "ain't," those kind" and T done it." And. if it develops that the answering person has immigratcd to the United States, he should be made to answer this: Do you want to go back to the old country?' If anyow replies in the affirmative. he should be made to do so and then write the state department for , years in an effort to explain his mis- taken ideas.
 Regarding occupational questions, we feel that here also the eXamina-4I ton is merely superficial. The enum- orator, besides finding in what in dustry you work and just what your part in it is, should also ask, How many hours q day do you loaf?' and why do you think you should get three times your present pay?' Pos sbly, with the business situation what it is at present, all questions to employment should be as the final totals may prove embarrassing.
 And, dinally, you will be asked if you arc d war veteran and, if so, of what war. A pertinent question here, we think, would be, Would you go lgain?'
 All of which proves the total mad equacy of the coming census. And things will never improve, we assert, until new questions are inserted and we are enabled to get official totals on Should the dry law be replac- ed?" What do you think of the lIinstein theory eff anything) ?" Where were you last Tuesday night l It s o'clock? 2" Did the old man sleep with his whiskers under the | sheets or over the shcctS?" and l What is this all about. anyway" Patronage of Y. NJ. C. \. Reveals Need for New Building.
 Now that the Y. NJ. C. X. has i