The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-05-02
Women in The Civil Service.

One of the lady clerks in the department
at Washington, who had been eighteen
years employed there, and known as being
one of the most capable clerks in her divis
ion was asked her opinion, and expressed
herself as glad that the new law applied to
both sexes alike.
sHer observation was that there were
quite as many incompetent clerks among
men as among women. Many women had
been appointed for sentimental reasons.
So have many men, for the matter Of that.
What we women look forward to in the
Civil Service Reform Movement is not
only the opportunity it gives capable wo-
men for appointment and 4dvancement in
the service, but also the effect IL win have
if they administer the law properly, in
preventing the appointment of incompe-
tent women. The odium of their inefi-
cheney falls on all Of us-for men judge
themselves as individuals and women as
a class. A man who is useless clerk, in
temperate and good for nothing generally,
is as often kept in Office by political infiu-
ence as a woman who is inefficient. The
convenience to the Office is equally great,
but you never hear the remark, at is a
great mistake to appoint men to these
places" Those of US whose self-respect
demands that we shall earn every dollar
we receive, and who take pride in having
a good grade of work, and in doing it well,
always resent the appointment of wo-
man who does not perform her duties
faithfully and well.
Women are Disseminated against, If
they did but know it, in the character of
the work assigned to them. 1 consider
that every woman is Disseminated against
when she is given the easiest work, and is
thus made to feel that not much is expect
ed of her. She is also Disseminated against
when she is accorded greater privileges
than men in the way of shorter hours, etc.
Heads of bureaus allow irresponsible wo-
men to do as they please, and then go
about weakly complaining that women in
general are not as good clerks as men.
This policy of official codding, alternating
with official disparagement, does not tend
to increase the efficiency of any class OF
clerks
She said there was "a very general as
sertion made that women were not so
available for Office work as men," She
hardly knew what was meant by the as
sertion. Perhaps q case that had come
under her observation was an illustration
of this want of availability" A male
stenographer was about to resign from a
very well paid position. He told the
clerk below him-a woman-that he was
sorry she could not have his position. She
was perfectly competent to do all the
work, but then she wasn't available"
aFor instance" said he, "you couldn't
say to Senator, Good morning, Mr.. Sena
tor. What could 1 do for you, Mr.. Sen
ator?n
1t being considered by the authorities
that she could not say that, the place was
given to a man, who was altogether shaky
in his grammar and spelling if not in his
morals. But then he could say rotundly
@what can do for you, Mr.. Senatorg"
Inconclusion, this clear-headed, business
like lady remarked:
There are no better clerks in the Treas
ury Department to-day than the women
who were appointed and promoted under
the Civil Service rules in operation in Gen
Grants time. When women have a faii
field and no favor it will be in order to de
termine Of what value their services are
and what should be their status in the
civil establishment Under these condi
tions have no fear what the verdict will
be. If the Civil Service law is carried ouI
as it should be-as sll thinking clerks hops
it will be-then faithful and capable men
and women will work side by side, shar
ing an equal responsibility and receiving
equal pay for an equal amount of work
performed Cincinnati Morning Journal