The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-22
WOMEN In THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
Why More Of Them Are Not Employed The
Future Outlook Favorable.

WASHINGTON Sept 20 The following is a
copy of letter written by John NJ. Gregory, of
the Civilservice Commission, on the employ
ment of women in the public service:
docs the new civil-servce system favor the
appointment of women to public service7 1t
must be admitted that fewer women have OBJ
tanned places under this than under the old sys-
tenn. Out of 33l appointments to the classified
service made under the civil-service rules since
July 16, 1883, not including special pension ex-
aminers, only thirty two have been of females
1t is already generally known that the civil-serv-
ice examinations for clerkships are open alike
to men and women; that all applicants are ex-
amined alike, marked by the same rules, and
placed, if they pass, common registers for
certifcation to the appointing officers, the heads
of departments
When notices of vacancies are received by
the commission, if no mention of the sex re-
quired were included in the notice, the four
names graded highest would be sent without re-
gard to sex; but thus far all requests, except
two, for names to fill vacancies have contained
the significant words males or females. Two
requests in which no sex was mentioned were
recalled and the omission corrected. The
wrong, therefore if wrong there be- lies not at
the door Of the Ciyil-service Commission. nor at
that of the system, unless it be claimed that the
system has relieved the appointing powers from
pressure. and left them at liberty to select for
service such persons as they deem best
tsNo explanation has as yet been given of the
reasons of this preference for male clerks; but it
is limited that under the old system an undue
and inconvenient proportion of female clerks
was pushed upon the departments. and that the
heads of these departments are now using their
opportunity to even up the force. 1t is true that
excessively large numbers of female clerks and
copyists are found in some bureaus. One mem
Der of Congress is said to have procured the APP
pointment of forty women from his district and
few men in power were able to resist the impor-
tunities of women who claimed to be in poverty,
with infant children aid aged parents to sup
port. Nor were women's establishments always
found powerless as means Of winning places.
1T is said also that the bad conduct of some
unworthy women has created prejudices against
female clerks in some bureaus while in other
cases the difficulty which chiefs of divisions fnd
or feel, in enforcing order and industry among
female clerks renders them hostile to any in
crease of such clerks
MANY of the best examinations have been
passed by women, aud the books of the commits
sion contain at this time the names of many who
would do honor to tho service There is no gem
eral prejudice against good female clerks, and as
far as known, the heads of the executive depart
ments are disposed to do full justice to women,
and to give them their proper share Of the places
when the needs of the service will permit
ssThe new civil-service system must inevitably
favor the future employment of women: first by
bringing to the notice of appointing officers the
high qualifications shown by female applicants
in the examinations, and second, by introducing
to the officers class Of women whose capacity,
industry and good conduct will prove to any
doubling chief Of bureau or division the ster.
ling value Of true wornan's service