The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-21
LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY,, APRIL
qualified for her duties by her linguistic

qualified for her duties by her linguistic
attainments and her remarkable knowl-
edge of geography. She is perfectly
familiar with every country, city and
town in the world, and it was stated by
the chief clerk of the post-otfice that he
had no doubt that she would be able to
distribute the mail in London as well as
in Washington.
The State, War, and Navy Depart
ments have fewer women in their en-
ploy than any of the others. A few
women are employed as translators, but
in this work, which, according to popu-
lar ideas, would be especially suited to
the requirements and taste of women,
few women succeed. Their knowledge
of languages is usually not exact and
thorough enough to qualify them for
service which requires thorough
grammatical and idiomatical knowl-
edge of foreign languages. The official
translator of each department is man,
and generally forei gner. In the same
connection it may be stated that it is a
singular fact that in the occupations
in which we would naturally expect
women to excel, such as translators,
botanists, etc., we find no conspicuous
cases of ability, while the universally
acknowledged and notable instances
of superiority are in those departments
where we would least expect to find
them at all, much less to find them TAX
ing high rank.
There are fiftv-tive women EMPLOYED
in the Quartermaster's office in the
War Department., and about the same
number assisting in the preparation of
the "Official Records of the War of the
Rebellion In the Navy Department
few women are engaged in the work
of the photographic Office, in map
drafting and tracing, and as tele-
graph operators, typewriters and clerks.
These are in most cases the widows or
daughters of deceased army or navy
officers, and many Of them bear names
honored in the historic annals of the
country.
The Agricultural Department. en-
ploys 112 women, including those en-
gagged in the seed-room They are
chiefly corresponding clerks, keeping
an account of seeds sent to each Sena-
tor, Representative and Delegate; also,
the records of all applications for seeds,
plants, shrubs, etc. Much OF the work
is manual, such as making seed bags,
labelling and putting up seeds. The
employees of this department were
classified under the civil service last
November.
The Government Printing Office,
which is the largest establishment of
this kind in the world, employs 1900
women as stitchers and folders of PAM
phlets, gold-leaf ornamenters, opera
tors of ruling, folding, and sewing
machines. press-feeders and compost
tors. All Of the work is manual, and
the employees are not subject to the
civil service regulations; but, as an off,
set to this, the salaries are much lower
and the number of hours longer. Much
of the work is done by the piece, the
average amount earned per day being
S1.S3 is. The compositors are paid
IS cents an hour, and usually average
about $40 month, which is the highest
salary paid to women in this depart
ment.
The Civil-Service law makes no dis
tinction with regard to sex, but in
original appointments the head of a
department designates the sex of the
persons appointed. Women are not
now chosen as frequently as before the
adoption of the Civil-Service rules.
Men are regarded as more available
for all sorts of work. Women are en-
titled to the same pay as men for the
same work.
Two women in the Treasury Depart.
ment receive $1,000 per annum each.
One is chief of section and the other q
law clerk of the Internal Revenue Blu.
reau. Of the remaining women EN-.
ployes in the Treasury5 get 81, 900 each
81 $1,40O each, 1913 1900 each, 81
81, 900 each. 500 5000 each, and the re.
naming 178 obtain all the way from
$3.50, this being the pay of the char
women, to $S40 each. This list is also
exclusive of the women employed in the
Engraving and Printing Bureau, where
the highest salary is 1000.
In the Interior Department ge
| 81, 900 each, 80 81, 400 each, 1856 81, 20l
each, 1914 $1,000 each, 154 5000 each
and the salaries of the remaining 9.
range from $3.50 to $500.
In the Post-ot1ice Department,
women are employed at $1,000 each,
at 81, 400, 80 at $1,000, II at 81 900, 6:
at 5000, 5 at $84O, and Z at 1920.
The pay obtained by these womel
workers is good when compared witt
that obtained in private vocations, ant
the hours of service are generally easy
! The workrooms, too, are large and wei
yentilated.-M Y. Tribune.