District Supervisor Re-assures Those Who Think Questions Pry Too Deeply
Not a single doorbell has been rung by a census taker in Erie County.
But already Erie County residents feel Uncle Sam is being too inquisitive.
That reaction came after mailmen began delivering to every person with a mailing address a Census Bureau “advance report form.”
As soon as area residents began opening the envelopes, the phone started ringing in the office of District Supervisor Russell L. Bailey. Most of the callers felt the Census Bureau was being altogether too nosy. Census takers will begin making personal calls after April 1 to pick up the information asked for in the forms.
Forms Speed Interviews
To those reluctant to set down what they consider personal information, Mr. Bailey gives this explanation and reassurance:
“Federal law requires that census inquiries be answered completely and accurately. But it also guarantees that information furnished will be kept confidential.
“There is provision for penalties by fine or imprisonment for census workers who disregard this rule. And the census report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation.”
Purpose of the advance forms, being used for the first time, is to simplify and shorten the census taker’s work. The bureau’s request is that the forms be filled out, ready to be handed to the enumerator when he calls. This will eliminate much of the interview.
Crew Leaders in Training
Mr. Bailey said the form asks this information about individuals: Name, address, sex, color or race, month and year of birth, whether married or single, and relationship to head of household.
Regarding the dwelling, it asks for number of rooms, cooking facilities, plumbing and whether rented or owned.
Crew leaders are being trained. Each leader supervises about 20 census enumerators, Mr. Bailey said.
Buffalo crew leaders are:
Robert Gunn, Wanda Hartman, Donald Houck, Walter Lubelski, Theodore Ewing, James Fiske.
Elizabeth McDonald, Maryon Meaney, Raymond Michalek, Helen Nawrocki, Lucian Parlato, Edward Perrigo, Joseph Prucnal.
Cecile Rolek, Albert Salter, Marie Schwartzott, Antoinette Trautman, Joyce Van Every, Frances Walker.
Mary Wright, Mrs. Burnice Brown, Walter Carroll, Mrs. Audrey Javolick and Joseph Zahm.
Leaders in the towns: Roslyn Barten, Hamburg; Herbert Bechtel, East Aurora; Alice Breyer, Alden; Andrew Dziecheiarz and Jeanne McCann, Lackawanna.
Harriet Jurgens and Genevieve Roetzer, Cheektowaga; Mildred Eiss and Mae Schrader, West Seneca.
Royce Goodwin, Angola; Trena Grieble, Orchard Park; Jean Oliver, Snyder; Coleman O’Shaunecy, Williamsville; Norbert Rejowski, Depew.
Rolland Smith, Springville; Jean Specht, Blasdell; Catherine Spillane, Lancaster; Mildred Stirling, Lake View, and Ruth Zimmerman, Akron.
Reserves: David Fowler, Orchard Park, and Edward J. Repka, Lancaster.
