The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-29
Women as Clerks in Washington.

SERIOUS CHARGES BY WOMAN.
The Independent says:-"We publish the
following letter, bearing the signature of
woman-a clerk in the Treasury Department
though We have no personal acquaintance
with her. II her statements are true, they
should arrest the attention of the public; If
false, let them be exposed
"TRBAsURY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, d.
D., March 10, lS69.-In the last number OF
the Independent | noticed a paragraph stating
that the compensation OF the women employed
in the departments at Washington was about
to be made the same as that paid to men;
and as q woman, and an emplOye OF the uoV-
eminent, | trust there can be no objection
against my expressing my views regarding
the subject.
1.-THE masses of women at the present time
employed in the departments are not pos
sessed of very brilliant clerical abilities. On
the contrary, very many OF them have scarcely
education enough to tell the day OF the week
by n counting house calendar; and they owe
their appointments and continuance in ofhce
to their personal advantages. When man
receives an appointment TO a CleTkship he is
obliged to appear before board OF depart
mental officers, and undergo an examination;
and although the examination is not so strict
rs that imposed on the graduating class OF
New England college, it is so difficult that
not one woman in hundred could pass it
satisfactorily.
81, for one, claim that women-educated
women, of course-are as competent to per-
form brain labor as men; but do most en-
pbatioally object to having girls in their teens,
with no other recommendation than pretty
face or q pretty foot, place themselves on an
intellectual par with men and women OF edu-
cation.
al am sorry to make the confession, but the
truth forces it, that the departments are filled
with females-crowded, may say, with those
who serve the Government in no other way
except to embarrass the public officials in the
discharge Of their duties. | could furnish the
names of scores and scores of women, whom
the eheads of departments have tried to get rid of
for months and years. as being utterly worth
less, yet have been unable to do 80 owing to
outside influences. l 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 unwill-
ing, 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, Tor instance, one-thlrd OF the force
employed would be quite sufficient TO perform
the labor. This is no speculation on my
part. know whereof | affirm,
'ln the Post Office Department the law pro-
vides for fifty female clerks, and desks are
arranged for that plumber; yet ex-POstmsster-
General Randall appointed one hundred and
five. During the two weeks Immediately prior
to his exit he appointed thirty female clerks;
and for what reason heaven only knows,
since nearly One-ffth OF those already en-
plOyed had nothing to dO-nay, not even a
seat in the office. l can conceive of no
earthly object Randall had in appointing
these women, unless it was to embarrass his
successor.
SIN conclusion, hold that women who are
competent to perform the same labor as men
should receive the same compensation, and be
subject to the same conditions, for violating
which they should be dismissed.
"Every woman employed should be sub
jected to the same examination as men, and
personal beauty or laxity of morals ought not
to be a recommendation, as is too 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 nay
mind where one malicious woman clerk caused
the removal of some five or six faithful men,
simply because they refused to lend money to
her husband %, worthless backguard, who
never paid his debts. l sm happy to state
that the auditor who made these removals
has just 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 insulted by
having the paramours and mistresses of mem
bers of Congress forced upon us, and be obliged
to tolerate their society day by day. Let Mr..
Boutwell, clean out the riffraf and the pOllu-
tiOn of his department. Let him appoint
moral and competent women; then let us be
paid according to our merits. Such is the
earnest prayer of every honest woman-clerk.
"HANNAH TYLER"