Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-21
WOMEN IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
Commissioner Gregory Draws a ROseate
Picture of Their Chances.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-The following
is a copy of letter written by Hon. John
NJ. Gregory, OF the Civil Service Commits
sion, on the employment of women IN the
public service:
Does the new civil service system favor the
appointment of women to the public service?
1t must be admitted that thus far fewer
women have obtained places under this than
under the old system Out of 33l appoint
ment- to the classified service made under
the civil service rules since July 49, 1888, not
including specia' pension examiners, only 80
have been Of females. 1t is already gem
orally known that civil service examinations
for clerkships are open alike to men and
women. that all applicants are examined
alike, marked by the same rules, and placed,
II they pass, on common registers for certlhca-
ton TO the appointment officers OF the heads
of the departments. When notices of Vacan-
cies are received by the Commission, if no
mention of the sex required were included in
the notice, the four names graded highest
would be sent without regard to sex, but thus
far all requests. except two for names to fill
vacancies, have contained the significant
words males or females" The two re-
quests 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 Civil Service Commission,
nor yet at that of the system, unless 1t be
claimed that the system has relieved the ap
pointing powers from pressure and left them
at liberty to select for service such
has as yet been given of the reasons of this
preference for male clerks, but it Is hinted
that under the old system an undue and in
convenient 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 member of Congress is said to have pro-
cured the appointment of 40 women from his
district, and few men in power were able to
pgTG a m M II n W
ed to be in poverty, with infant children or
aged parents to support; nor were the
wOmen's Establishments always found power
less as means of winning places.
BAD WOMEN IN PLACE.
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 the chiefs
of the divisions find, or feel, in enforcing
order and industry among female clerks rem
ders them hostile to any increase of such
clerks. Some of those who appreciate at the
highest the service of many capable, induStri-
GUS and altogether worthy women found in
the departments still feel reluctant to ask for
the appointment of unknown women whose
names may be sent them from the lists of the
Civil Service Comm ssion. but, doubtless,
much of this will change when the superior
character and ability of womeA brought for
ward by civil service examinations shall be-
come known. Many of the best examinations
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 hundreds who, under the old system,
were thrust in without examination, and too
often without merit by the influence" Of SYM
pathetic congressman or of others high in au-
thority. There is no general prejudice against
good female clerks, and as far as known the
heads of the executive departments are dis
posed to dc full justice to women, and to give
the needs of service will permit. The new
civil service system must inevitably favor the
future employ ment of women; first, by bring
ing to the notice of the appointing officer the
high qualifications shown by female appli-
cants in examinations, and, second, by intro
ducing to the officers a bass of women whose
capacity, industry and good conduct will
prove to any doubling chief of a bureau or
division the sterling value Of true Woman's