Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1910 — Official Statement by the Director of the Census. [ARTICLE]

Official Statement by the Director of the Census.

On April 15, the census of the United States begins. It occurs every ten years. It is the basis of the distribution among the states of representation in the National House of Representatives. It is also the means by which the United States Government ascertains the increase in the population, agriculture, industries, and resources of the nation. It is required by €he constitution and by act of congress. The information sought will be used solely for general statistical purposes. It will neither be published nor used in any other way to disclose facts regarding any individual or enterprise." The census is not, never has been, and can not be employed to obtain information that can be used in any way in the assessment of property for purposes of taxation or the collection of taxes, national, state or local; for deportation proceedings; extradition measures; Army or Navy conscription; cumpulsory school attendance; child labor law prosecutions; quarantine regulation!; or in any way to affect the life, liberty or property of any person. , It has nothing whatever to do with the detection, arrest, prosecution, or punishment of any person, for any suspected or actual violation of a law, whether of a city or state or the National Government, or of a foreign nation.

The census inquiries are defined by act of congress. The questions on the schedules are framed by the director of the census in conformity with that act. They ajmly to all persons living in the United States on April 15, next, the “Census Day.” The same questions are asked about each person. All persons must answer all the questions. The census law, with reference to population, requires that the enumerator’s questions shall, for each inhabitant, call for: “The name, relationship to head of family, color, sex, age, conjugal condition, place of birth, place of birth of parents, number of years in the United States, citizenship, occupation, whether or not employer or employee, and, if employee, whether or not employed at the date of enumeration (April 15, 1910), and the number of mohths unemployed during the proceeding calender year (1909), whether or not engaged in Agriculture, school attendance, literacy, and tenure of home, and whether or not a surviver of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy; and the name and address of -each, blind or deaf and dumb person.” The same law, with reference to agriculture, requires that the enumerator’s questions shall call for: “The name, color, and country of birth of occupant of each farm, tenure, acreage of farm, acreage of woodland and character of timber thereon, value of farm and improvements, value of farm implements, number apd value of live stock on farms and rangei, number and’-'value of domestic animals not on farms and ranges, and the acreage of crops planted and to be planted during the year of enumeration (1910), and the acreage of crops and the quantity and value of crops and other farm products for the year ending December thirty-first (1909) next preceeding the enumeration.”

Census enumerators wearing badges, with “U. S. Census 1910” stamped on them, will go from house to house, and farm to farm, beginning April 15. They are not to be regarded as spies, detectives, policemen, constables, tax assessors, or officers of any city, county, or state. 'They are employed by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. They do not represent any other department of the United States Government, or any foreign nation. No pferson should hesitate, neglect, or refuse to answer all the enumerator’s questions. He only asks' thosa, necessary the schedules which are required by law. Nothing that is told him can in any way be used to the detriment or damage of any person, or his family, or his property. Replies to enumerators are, . and must be, held by the census bureau in strict and absolute confidence. All the U. S. Census officials, supervisors, supervisors’ clerks, enumerators, and interpreters, before entering upon their duties, are obliged to take a solemn oath not to disclose any Inforniation they may obtain, except to the Census Bureau, and a violation of the United State# law in regard to this wath means a SI,OOO fine, or imprisonment for two years, or both, in the discretion of the court. If any adult person refuses or willfully neglects to answer an enumerator’s questions, or, if any person willfully gives answers that are false, he or she can be arrested, carried to

court, and fined up to SIOO. Keepers of hotels, apartment houses, boarding or lodging houses, tenements or other buildings, in which persons make their homes, must help the enumerator when asked, or they will be liable to arrest and punishment by a fine up to SSOO. Horse Bills at The Republican office.