The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-04-15

Women as Clerks IN Washington.
The Independent says: eve publish the fol-
lowing letter, bearing the signature of a wo-
mana clerk in the Treasury Department
though we have no personal acquaintance with
her. If her statements are true they should
arrest the attention Of the public; if false, let
| them be exposed.
''TREAsURY DEPARTMENT.
| "WAsHINGTON, ID. c., March 10, 1863,
s'In the last number of the Independent
noticed paragraph stating that the compensa-
ton of the women employed in the depart
ments at Washington was about to be made
the same as that paid to men; and as woman
| and an employee Of the government, l trust
there can be no objection against my express
ing my views regarding the subject.
"The masses Of women at the present time
employed in the departments are not possessed
Of very brilliant clerical abilities. On the
contrary, very many OF them have scarcely
education enough to tell the day of the week
| by counting house calendar; and they owe
their appointments and continuance in office to
their personal advantages. When man re-
ceyes an appointment to a clerkship, he is
obliged to appear before board of depart
mental officers, and undergo an examination :;
and although the examination is not so strict
as that imposed on the graduating class Of 4
New England college, it is so difficult that not
one woman in hundred could pass it salts
factorily.
81, for one, claim that women-educated
women, OF cOurSe-are as competent to per-
form brain labor as men, but do most en-
phaticay object to having girls in their teens,
with no other recommendation than pretty
face or a pretty foot, place themselves on an
intellectual par with men and women of edu-
cation.
81 am sorry to make the confession, but the
truth forces it, that the departments are filled
with females-crowded, l may say, with those
who serve the government in no other way ex-
cept to embarrass the public officials in the dis
charge of their duties. | could furnish the
names of scores and scores of women, whom
the heads Of departments have tried to get rid
of for months and years, as being utterly worth
less, yet have been unable to do so owing to
outside influences. / could furnish the names
OF scores of women who DO not perform an
hours work per diem for the government; not
in every instance because they are unwilling,
but because they do not have the work-there
being too many engaged in the same labor. In
the office of the Comptroller of the Currency,
for instance, one-third of the force employed
would be quite sufficient to perform the labor.
This is no speculation on my part. | know
whereof | affirm.
sin the Post Office Department the law pro-
vides for fifty female clerks, and desks are ar
ranged for that number; yet ex-Postmaster
General Randall appointed one hundred and
five. During The two weeks imme diateiy prior
to his exit he appointed thirty female clerks
and for what reason Heavens only knows, since
nearly one-iifth Of those already employed had
nothing to do-nay, not even seat in the office.
can conceive of no earthly object Randall had
IN appointing these women, unless it was to
embarrasS his su cessor
''In conclusion, hold that these women who
are competent to perform the same labor as
men should receive the same compensation
and be sub lect to the same conditions, for viO-
lating which they should be dismissed
every woman employed should be subject
ed to the same examination as men, and per-
sonal beauty or laxity of morals ought not to
be a recommendation, as is to often the case
The examining board should be women In
order to prevent corruption in all bureaus
where women are employed, there should be
female auditors. have an instance in my mind
where one malicious woman clerk caused the
removal OF some five or six faithful men, simp-
ly because they refused 70 lend money to her
husband CD, worthless blackguard who
never paid his debts. l am happy to state that
the auditor who made these removals has lust
resigned and gone to the West
congress or the President ought to afford
US some protection, if they allow US to occupy
offices. We ought not to be insuted by having
the paramours and mistresses of members of
Congress forced upon us and be obliged to toll
crate their society day by day. Let Mr.. Bout
well clean out the ritt,ratt and the pollution of
his department. Let him appoint moral and
competent women then let US be paid accord
ing to our merits. Such is the earnest PRAYER
of every honest woman clerk
HANNAH TYLER"