The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-02-13
FACTS AND FIGURES.
women in the Departments.

TO he Editor or Tie EreHia9 Critic
Some more items about the Dead. Letter
onlce; some more figures wherein IT Is proved
that tho Government effects an annual saving
OF moro than $24, 900 by the employment OF fe-
male clerks instead or male clerks 10 that
oflce.
A Hmemorandum," prepared by L. ]. Dallas,
chief OF division of Dead-Letter ONCE, np-
peared In a lato Sunday issue OF the New
York Tribune, stating that the relative time
lost on account OF sickness by male and fe-
male clerks in that o1lce, during the year
ending December 81, 1884, was an average
loss OF ten and = days for each OF the twenty;
twenty.seven and !. days for each OF the fe-
male clerks,
Tho roll OF the chief clerk OF that oflce, a
few days after the Issuing OF the above mono
ranua, shows that there were employed as
clerks at the time in that bureau, % men and
20 women, being an addition OF one male
clerk to the force OF the previous year, receiy-
ing nearly the same aggregate salaries.
There are 313 secular or working days In
the year. These, minus the average loss OF
1O2, days by males on account OF sickness,
leaves an average OF 3O2lJ days for actual
labor, and, minus tho average loss OF 27s
days by women ON account OF sickness; leaves
The annual salaries paid the twenty-eight
male clerks, according TO tho payroll of the
disbarsing oiicer , OF ,d the & P9stoiilco Depart,
per diem or 81 IL each.
The annual salaries paid the seventy Eight
female clerks, as furnished a & by the same au,
average per diem OF 1891 each.
Had the services for which male clerks were
employed and paid SAIL per diem been per.
formed by women for the same number OF
days at the rate OF $:}31 per diem, 1t would
have cost the Government but S2S,0SS.50,
which would have been saving OF 30 3l1 80.
Had the services which are performed by
women at tho rate OF 1881 per diem been p0r-
formed by males at the rate OF SD per dtem,
It would cost the Government $075S5.06 TO do
the same work, which would have been q loss
10 the Government, In comparison with the
actual expense by the employment OF seventy
eight female clerks, OF S2l.165.66.
Notwithstanding the conceded fact that the
female employees have lost more time than the
men, yet II clearly appears, that under the
statutes Nee sec. 165, y. ). Revised Statutes),
men have been overpaid S0,3l1.5O, or women
have been underpaid In that bureau S2l,.
It has been stated that this memorandum
was made for the purpose OF improving the
standard OF the Dead Letter ONCE. Just how
II can accomplish this IL i5 not easy 70 under
stand, unless, for the year upon which we are
enters upon q new regime and makes punctual-
ity, attention 10 business, accuracy aud de-
duction OF all time lost except annual leave OF
thirty days decide promotions.
Give tho clerks an incentive 70 DO puuctual,
faithful and Industrious, Lot them know that
efficiency and merit Will, hereafter, have
recognition in That office. When the salary
is graded TO the desk and work, Instead OF DO
Ing given to the person, whether worthy or
net, who can command the strongest political
neglect OF duty will be removed. This would
effect a saving In more ways than one. Nom
hers OF Congress, Senators and oven tho Presi'
dent would no longer be importuned as they
have been and still are for influence for pro-
motions and positions which the Olyl-Servlce
rules do not reach. All the clerks would feel
and realize that thoir advancement and reten-
tion in ofllce depended on themselves.
Some eystem should be lnaugnrated by
which the head OF the bureau should make q
report 10 the Board Of ClvilServlce Commits
slOners at tho end OF every month as TO each
clerks standing In regard to accuracy, punotu-
atty, amount OF work done and time lOst. The
board, In It's turn, 10 make a quarterly report
direct 10 the employee OF their monthly status
| In these particulars. The board, Ia this
capacity, would servo as a check 10 both chlei
and clerk, and be sort OF board of appeals Ia
ense OF any apparent injustice or mlsappre
| hensiOn that might possibly arise.
Such procedure could work no harm aud
would certainly effect an Improvement IN tho
morale OF the Dead-Letter ONCE, as welt as 10
| other bureaus OF the different Departments Of
| the Governments.
Mis- l.. V. BRYANT,
| Dead Letter ONCE,