CENSUS BUREAU ANSWERS SEN. TOBEY
Census Bureau Answers Sen. Tobey DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census Washington Hon. Chas. W. Tobey V. S. Senate, Washington, D. C. My dear Sen. Tobey: I have your letter expressing the...
...Enumerator's rights—You have the right of admission to all dwellings (including insti-institutions) within your territory for the purpose obtaining information required by the Bureau of the Census...
...Untruthful replies—You have a right not only to an answer, but to a truthful answer...
...So, you see, the only difference between 1930 and 1940 on these matters arousing your "apprehensions" is that the 1930 instructions were executed by a field force selected by your own political party...
...Tobey, answered the questions without any charge that their private rights were being invaded...
...You a.sk me how you may answer these inquirers...
...Now let us compare the instructions of 1930 and those of 1940 covering your second "apprehension": 1930 Par...
...If the state is behind this plan," says Skinner, "you would find sweepstakes tickets in every pocket book and bureau drawer in Nebraska...
...This would be especially effective in view- of the fact that most of these letters came to you as a result of misinformation which the writers received from you...
...NEBRASKA LOTTERY A state operated lottery is being advocated in Nebraska by Paul F. Skinner, Democratic candidate for secretary of state...
...If sending them correct information places too much of a burden on the clerical force of your office, I propose that you permit us to mail them copies of this letter...
...If all other means have failed, call the attention of the person to the penalty provided in Section 9 of the census act for refusal to give the Information requested...
...Residents absent on census day—There will be a certain number of persons having their usual place of abode in your district who are absent at the time of the enumeration...
...Here thev are: FROM THE 1930 INSTRUCTIONS Par...
...194« Par...
...A very proper answer would be to write them and tell them honestly that the instructions on all these points are the same in 1940 as they were in 1930, when you cooperated fully and did not suspect a plot against the rights of the people...
...Here in this country we have detailed information concerning livestock, hogs, bushels of wheat, bales of cotton, and other data of that kind, but when it comes to an intensely human question like figures on unemployment there is a big argument on the subject because there arc no reliable figures available...
...1940 Par...
...You are not permitted to show anyone, other than authorized census employes, the schedules that you have filled out, or to retain copies of the schedules or any parts of them...
...Skinner claims that such a lottery w o u 1 d, If approved, provide $500 monthly pensions to all Nebiaskans over the age of 60...
...Do not accept any statement that you believe to be false...
...If all other means have failed, call the attention of the person refusing to give information to the penalty provided in Section 9 of the census act for refusal to give information requested...
...Par...
...That's what the universal gambling instinct will do...
...Any person who is not willing to answer the census questions is not a good citizen...
...The principal desire of the enumerators is to take a good census and they need public understanding and cooperation...
...These you must include and enumerate, obtaining the facts regarding them from their families, relatives, acquaintances, or other perspns able to give this information...
...Enumerator's rights — You have the right of admission to every dwelling (including institutions) withiin your territory for the purpose of obtaining information required by the Bureau of the Census...
...Now let us see how the instructions of 1930 and 1940 compare as to your third "apprehension": 1939 Par...
...Untruthful replies—You have a right not only to an answer, but to a truthful answer...
...That made a big difference...
...2. That Paragraph 20 in the same instruction directing the enumerator to not accept answers "believed to be false" and the additional direction to enter information "as nearly as you can ascertain it," together with instruction 21 "you are not permitted to show anyone" means respondents do not have the right to see what the enumerator enters about them...
...Par...
...The Socialist, party Is ready to launch its 1940 campaign...
...The census will collect vital Information on our people and their needs and will point the way for progress in better living and security...
...WASHINGTON, D. C—Refusing to grant the NLRB and the wage-hour administration enough funds for efficient operation, the house voted to sustain a $337,000 cut In the NLRB appropriation and a SI,035.000 rut In the wage-hnur appropriation...
...1940 Par...
...Tobey: I have your letter expressing the following four "apprehensions" regarding the 1B40 census: 1. That Paragraph 17—"Enumerator's Rights—in our book of Instructions to enumerators is a violation of the "searches and seizures" protection in the bill of rights...
...4. That Paragraph 372 directing enumerators to get information from neighbors or others when respondents are absent from home constitutes in your opinion "snooping" that to you seems "inconceivable...
...You say that your mail containing protests on these four instructions has been "mounting steadily" and you join with these protestants by charging that these Instruments "go far beyond anything that was ever intended by the congress," and "violate the spirit of the constitution...
...Tobey of New Hampshire regarding the U. S. census was a petty political gesture...
...Residents absent at time of enumeration—Some persons having their usual place of residence in your district may be temporarily absent from the household at the time of the enumeration...
...It should be obvious to everyone that the questions asked will bring information that will be of tremendous social value...
...The Progressive prints in adjoining columns on this page today a letter which was sent to Sen...
...These you must enumerate with the other members of the household, obtaining the information regarding them from their families, relatives, acquaintances, or other persons able to give it...
...Of course, at that time, the questions were asked by census takers who were appointed by Sen...
...3. That Paragraph 19 of the instructions directing the enumerators to call attention to the penalty clause constitutes a "threat...
...I think it would be enlightening for you to see...
...In the census of 1930 more than 122,000,000 Americans, including yourself, cooperated wholeheartedly with the enumerators...
...Now let us compare the instructions of 1930 and 1940 covering your fourth "apprehension": 1930 Par...
...Tobey by Vergil D. Reed, acting director of the census, which compares instructions to census takers for the present 1940 census and similar instructions for the census of 1930, which was taken during the Hoover administration...
...Do not accept any statement which you believe to be false...
...FROM THE 1940 INSTRUCTIONS Par...
...You did not think in 1930 that the rights of the people were being violated and that liberty was being threatened...
...Tobey objects were all asked in 1930, and that citizens generally at that time, including Sen...
...It appears that the questions to which Sen...
...Sincerely yours, VERGIL D. REED Acting Director Sen...
...You are not permitted to show anyone the schedules which you have filled out or to retain copies of the schedules or of any parts of them...
...in parallel columns, the actual instructions to enumerators on these -four points, word for word...
...It would be very helpful if you would tell them, what you know in your heart, that the census enumerators of 1940 are.no less patriotic than those of 1930 and that they have no ditbolieal designs on the liberties of the people...
...Where you know that the answer given is incorrect, enter upon the schedule the correct answer as nearly as you can ascertain it...
...Tobey's political party...
...Where you know that the answer given is incorrect, enter upon the schedule the correct answer as nearly as you can ascertain it...
...Tobey Is Stopped By Census Bureau Answer TT IS becoming more and more obvious that the issue raised by Sen...
Vol. 10 • April 1940 • No. 15
