The national Republican., 1869-02-05
Compen..,ion 70 women.

"Allow me- as one of many, to express
through your columns the keen sense and
appreciation which the women Of the coun-
try entertain toward General Spinner for his
eminently Just and timely recommendation
to Congress, that the pay Of women en-
ployed in the Treasury Department be raised
to the same standard as that of the men, and
also for his noble vlndlcation in his report Of
their efficiency and thoroughness.
"The eyes of hundreds Of capable, intelli-
gent, underpaid employees in various de-
partments of service are turned anxiously
upon the Senate, hoping the bill may find as
ready approval with them as 1t has with the
House
General Spinncr's frmncss Of principle,
equity Of dealing with the persons and af-
fairs under his direction, and his intense
scorn and hatred Of tyranny and injustice In
any shape, have won him the respect Of all
those connected with his bureau and as con-
versant with its business; while his we'll
known position in regard to finances should
insure him the support Of the party now in
power as well as of all persons who wish to
see the monetary affairs Of our country pros
pered and improved"
The above Is an extract of letter of a
lady correspondent of the New York Times,
written from this city. We cordially in
dorse all that this correspondent says re-
specting the high character and public ser
vices of the distinguished gentleman who
now holds the position Of Treasurer of the
United States.
We also believe with General Spinner and
with many others, that In every Instance
where women are as competent as men TO
discharge or perform certain public duties
and labors, and when they do actually per-
form the same labor aud DO It a. WELL their
compensation should be equal to that given
to the men. Why uotl
The principal objection made to this equal
iEatlon and the only one We propose to no.
tice is this; Women do not have, us gene
raj thing, to provide for families, and their
expenses are nothing like what men are sub
Jected to. II there Is amy argument In this
1t proves too much. The only Just principle
upon which compensation for labor per-
formed can be predlcatcd l. that Of ability
to perform, and, moreover, the actual per-
formance Of the work. In the light Of fair
dealing neither age nor sex nor personal ex-
penses should enter In to graduate the
amount Of compensation. It IA purely
question Of service rendered, and one person
performing 1t, and doing 1t as well, Is enti-
tied to just as much for his or her labor as
any other Individual, aside from all personal
expenses, be they what they may.
suppose we undertake to apply this scale
OF graduating the pay Of clerks in the De-
partments upon the ground Of their personal
or family expenses, where would it leadl We
know several 81 200 clerks who have very
large families, and we know, also, many who
have no families, and the one class do the
same work as the other. 1t Is clear that the
rule of discriminating between the male
clerks and of fixing their compensation upon
basis Of family or personal expenses can
not obtain, and will not be thought of. Why
then, should ii DO applied 10 women
''sauco for the goose and sauce for the gan
der"