The Red Cloud chief., 1881-05-19
FEMALE OFFICIALS.
Tn e employment If Women in Cover
Ment Service.

Tn e Employment If Women In Govern.
ment Services.
To how great an extent are women
of various classes qualified to under
take the responsibilities attached to
Offices under Government? This qucs-
ton may be best answered after a CON
s;deration of facts bearing on the subject
gathered from different countries
where the services of ONE have been
employed by the State.
= In Switzerland the Administration
employs women in the Postal and in
the Telegraph Departments. In fact,
there are no greater difficulties for
women TO encounter in obtaining APP
pOintmcnts in hat Republic than for
men. Preliminary inquiries are made
as To character and health; those who
have replied satisfactorily TO these in
quirles then pass an educational exam
nation. In Switzerland il would be
considered quite becoming we're the
daughter of a Director General or Of 4
Minister to take Office as a clerk. The
distinctions of class are maintained.
Experience has proved that, in cases
where the staff is composed partly of
women, of men and of bows, the inliu-
encc of wOmen has a beneficial effect
ON their associates in Official work.
The women may marry, but if absent
from their duties they have TO pay
for the services of a suitable subSti-
tute. The Swiss Administration has
had cause to congratulate the country
On the satisfactory manner in which the
women it employs have performed their
duties.
The Austrian Government formerly
permitted the widows of postmasters
TO succeed their husbands. About ten
years since it was enacted that men
named by the postal authorities should
a X the active management OF these
offices, while the widow provided means
of transport. At that time horses were
used to carry the mail-bags. Whcnthc
authorities availed themselves of the
facilities offered by railroads, Il fixed
sum was given to the widows, on con-
sideration of their using the RAILWAYS
for the conveyance of letters.
Since 1873, ladies have been employed
i'm Austria i'm minor functions, such rs
the sale of stamps, registration of let
tiers. and SO forth. Eighty ladies are
employed at po~st-oilices in Vienna i'll
services of this character. In the rural
districts of Lower Austria, where there
are, say, sever hundred post offices,
about n hundred and fifty of these
are intrusted to ladies, who carry out
the service independently and with
promptitude. Nominations are given
by the Directors of the post offices, of
which there are eleven in Austria, in
the principal towns of each country of
the Empire. Persons of influence fire.
Quently endeayor to obtain these places
for ladies in whom they are interested.
They are not open TO public COMPETE
ton. Inquiries are made as TO the an
tecedentS and manner OF life of the can-
didates through the medium of the po-
lice; nevertheless il sometimes happens
that the person nominated comes under
the classification of females rather than
ladies'. Speaking generally, the employ
ment of women in Austria. particularly
in the country, may be considered sat
isfactory; they are, for the most part.
remarkable for attention and applica-
r ton to their duties. In order to obtain
these appo ntmentS, candidates must
pass an examination of moderate fl
cplty. They receive one form Austrian
money a day. Those who obtain places
as postmistrcsses or assistant agents
have TO take an oath, like II other
fuRctiOnary of the State. They must
moi be under eighteen, and while hold
ing such appointments they cannot
marry. Their position i'm society is not
affected by their occupying posts under
Government. Ladies are also employed
in the Telegraphic Departments. and
they can marry
In Italy. ladies wolk k in the telegraph
galleries; they are expected to pass an
educational test. They mix in society,
and their social status is not compro-
missed by the character of their occupa-
ton. Occasionally. indeed, these ladies
belong TO patrician houses. but this is
rarely the case. They are not allowed
to marry.
The Government of Russia employs
lad es; but, as in Italy, only in the tele-
graph galleries. These ladies are uSrl-
ally related to officials i'm the service of
the State. They must be acquainted
with four languages. They are well
received in society. Sometimes nomi-
nations are given by influential per-
sons.
In Germany the employment of
women has not met with the success
which has attended efforts in that d.
rection in other countries. The cause
of this may. perhaps, be found when
we recollect that German women are
essentially good housewives. much of
their attention being usually bestowed
on what We may call the domestic
science of cooking, plying the busy
needle, and ministering themselves to
the comforts of home. In fact, they
study domestic economy in the most
practical manner.
In the Netherlands ladies are now
employed as clerks in the ~post-ofice,
and also in the capacity of assistants.
The system of open competition has
been introduced; but we have no data
by which to judge of the results.
The Belgian Government has shown
a disposition to try the experiment of
giving official occupation to women
Many women of the bourgeoise class.
not ladies. are employed in small post
Offices and as telegraphists. At Namur
an attempt has been made to employ
women as clerks. They are nominated
by influential persons. 1t is too early
to speak with confidence as to the re-
suits.
The French Government employs
women in various departments of the
State. The Financial Ministry avails
itself of their services in the Bureau
de Tabac." These posts are given by
nomination to the widows and daugh-
tiers of military men, magistrates and
officials. The Bank of France employs
women in the branches of classification
and control. In the Educational De-
partmeEt they act as teachers, and as
superintendent of infant schools.
Women are employed by the post-ofice
as receivers; in the central administra-
ton as accountants, in the registration.
and in minor occupations. Candidates
go up for an educational examination.
They have 10 be provided with testi-
monials as to character by the Mayors
of their respective places of residence.
-or by q police superintendent. Women
employed by the French Government