The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-05-01
fFrom the New York independently
WOMEN CLERKS I'm WASHING,
TON.

We publish tho following letter bear.
ing the signature OF woman,-- clerk
in the Treasury Department, though twe
have no personal acquaintance with her.
II her statements are true, they should
arrest tho attention of tho public; il
falsc, let them be exposed:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WASHING.
TON, ID. c., March 10, 1860.--In the
last number OF the Independent noticed
a paragraph stating that tho compensa-
ton OF tho women employed in the de.
partmenis at Washington was about to be
made the same as that paid TO men and,
us woman, and an employc of the Gov.
ernment, l trust there can be no objcc.
tion against my presenting my views re-
garding tho subject.
The masses Of the women at the pres.
cnt time employed 10 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 tho week by counting.
house calendar; and they owe their up.
pointments and continuance in Office to
their personal advantages. When q man
receives an appointment TO clcrkship, he
is obliged TO appear before band of dc.
partmental officers, and undergo an ex-
animation and, although the GAMMA.
ton is not ns strict as that imposed on
the graduating class Of New England
college, yet il is 30 difficult that not one
woman 10 hundred could pass it salts.
factorily.
], for onc-claim that women--cduca
ted women, Of course arc as competent
TO perform brain labor as men but do
most cmphatically. objectto having girl,
in their teens. with no other recommen
dation than pretty face or pretty foot
place themselves upon an intellectual pal
with men and women Of education.
| am sorry to make the confession, buI
the truth forces it., that the department,
are filed with emalcs-crowded, may
say. with those who serve the govern
mcDt in no other way except 10 enibarras.
the public officials in the discharge o
their duties. / could furnish the name,
Of scores and scores Of women, whom The
heads Of departments have tried to gc
rid Of for months and years as being ut
terly worthless, yet have been unable e
do so on account of outside influences. ~
could furnish the names Of scores o
women who do not perform an hour
work per dicm for the government; no
in every instance because they are un
willing. but because they do not have iht
work--therc oeing too many engaged il
the same labor. In the Office of thc
J, Comptroller Of the Currency, for instance
one third of the force employed would b
quito sufficient to perform The labor
This is no speculation on my part
know whereof affirm.
In the post Office department the las
provides for fifty female clerks, and desk
are arranged for that numbcr; set cx
Postmaster General Randall appointed
one hundred and five. During the twt
weeks immediately prior TO his exit b,
'appointcd thirty female clerks and fo
what reason heaven only knows, sine,
nearly onc.ffth of those already employ
ed had nothing to do-nay, not even
sea, ia the Office. can conceive Of n,
earthly reason Randall had in appointin;
these women, unless il was TO cmbarras
his successor.
In conclusion, | hold that women VIII,
arc competent to perform the same laoo
as men should receive the same compen
satioa, aud be subject TO the same condi
tions, for violating which they should b
dismissed.
. Every woman employed should be sub
jecied TO the same examination as men
aud personal beauty or laxity of moral
ought not TO be q recommendation. as i
ton often the case. The examining boar,
: should be women. In order TO prcycn
corruption in all bureaus where wome
are employed, there should be femal
auditors. have an instance in my min
I where one malicious woman clerk causes
the removal of some five or six faithful
/, men, simply because they refused TO len
g money to her husband CD, u worthless
blackguard, who never paid his debts.
am happy to state that the auditor VIII
made these removals has just resiguc
a and gone TO the West.
Congress or the President ought to al
ford us some protection, If they allow u
to occupy Offices. We ought not to b
: insulted by having the paranours an
a mistrcsses of members of Congress force,
e upon us, and be obliged to tolerate thci
a society day by day. Let Mr.. Boutwcl
clean out the riffraff and pollution of hi
Q department. Let him appoint moral an
P competent women; then let us be pai
$ according to our merits Such is th
earnest prayer of every honest woma
clerk. HANNAH TYLER"