Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-20
WOMEN IN THEPUBLIC SERVICE.
Letter from Hon. John NJ. Gregory on Their
Employment in the Departments


WASHINGTON. September 19.-The fol-
lowing is a copy OF letter written by Hon.
John NJ. Gregory, OF the Civil-Seryice Com
mission. on the employment OF women in
the pubic service:
"DoeS the new civil-service system favor
the appointment OF women to public SER
yicc?" IL must be admitted that thus far
fewer women baye obtained places under
this than under the old system. Gu. OF the
33l appointments TO classified service made
under the cIyil.service rules since July 10.
1883. not including special pensiOn-eXami-
nerS. only thirty-two have been OF females.
ii is already generally known that civil.
service examinations for clerkships are
open alike TO men and women; that all
applicants are examined alike. are marked
alike, and are placed, If they pass, on com
mon registers for ccrtilcation to appoint.
ing oflicers-heads OF departments. when
notices OF vacancies are received by the Com
mission, II no mention OF the sex required
were included in the notice four names
graded highest would be sent. without re-
gard TO sex. But thus far all the requests
except two for names To nil vacancies have
contained the significant word "males" or
"females." Two requests in which no sex
was mentioned were recalled and the omis-
sioL corrected. The wrong. therefore. il
wong there be, lies not at the door of the
Civil Service Commission, nor vet at that
of the system. unless il be claimed that the
system hos relieved the appointing powers
from pressure and left them at liberty to
select for the service such persons As they
deem best.
No 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 incOnyenient proper
ton Of female clerks was pushed upon the
departments, and that the heads OF these
departments are now using their opportu-
nifty to even up the force. 1t is true that
excessively large numbers OF female clerks
snd copyistS are found in some bureaus.
one member of Congress is said TO have Sc
cured the appointment of forty women from
bis district, and few men in power were
able TO resist the opportunities of women
who claimed TO be in poverty, with infant
children or aged parents TO support. 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 preiu-
dices against the female clerks in some OF
the bureaus. while in other eases the diff
feel, in enforcing order, and the industry
among the female clerks, renders them
hostile to any increase Of such clerks.
Some Of those who appreciate at its high
est the service OF many capable. industri-
OILS, ana altogether worthy women found in
the departments still feel reluctant to
ask for the appointment OF unknown wo-
men whose names may be sent them from
the lists OF the Civil Service Commits
sion. But doubtless much OF this will
change when the superior character and
ability Of the women brought forward
by the civil-service examinations shall be-
come known. Many Of the best eXanina-
tons have been passed by women, and the
books OF the commission contain at this
time the names OF many who would do
honor TO the service. While these women
are not superior to the best of those now in
the departments, they will certainly be
found better and more capable than hum
dreds who. under the old system. were
thrust in without examination, and too
often without merit, by the confluence OF
sympathetic congressman or OF others high
in authority. There is no general pre-
JUDGE against good female clerks, and a. far
Is known the heads OF the executive de-
partments are disposed to do full Justice to
women and to give them their proper share
Of places when the needs OF the service will
permit. The new ciyil-service system
must inevitably favor the future employ
ment Of women; first, by bringing TO the
notice OF the appointing officers the high
qualifications shown by female applicants
IN the examinations, and second, by intro
ducing TO the officer a class Of women whose
capacity, industry, and good conduct viii
prove TO any doubling chief Of bureau or
division the sterling value of true woman's
service.