The free press., 1893-05-18
CLERKS FOR UNCLE SAM
TWENTY THREE THOUSAND OF
THEM IN WASHINGTON.
The Most Desirable ClerSships-First
Feminine EmpIoye of the Govern
mest-Dread of Being Watched

" WRITER in the New York
N Advertiser says that there are
~ $4,000 Government employees
in Washington. Clerkships in
the Department of State are considered
the most desirable. TO begin with, the
incumbents are never discharged with
out being provided with consulshlp or
some other place. Their employment
carries certain amount OF social posi-
ton with it. The most conspicuous of
the young swells in Washington are en-
ployes of the "Foreign Office" as they
like to call it. Beaux being greatly IN
demand here, they have more invitations
than they can ACCEPT. With small sala-
ries and no prospects, they would be re-
garde1 as "detriments' in other cities,
but here they are at the top OF the
swim. Good manners and the fact Of
wearing pantaloons constitute satlsfac-
tory claims to recognition in local
society. They get their dinners at other
peoples houses, see all the plays that are
going without paying cent, and enjoy
excellent opportunities for marrying the
rich girls who fairly swarm at the Capt.
tai. They are not even expected to
send bouquet in acknowledgment OF
of the entertainment they receive.
The work of a clerk in the Depart
ment of State implies no little RESPONSE
bility. A wrong word in his transcript
of diplomatic paper might place this
Government in a false position. The
business he transacts is mostly OF secret
nature. He may know long IN advance
whom the President has chosen for a
Cabinet office, or what war ships are
about to be sent to threaten the cities OF
a foreign Nation. If he tells anybody,
and his information gets out, his iudis-
cretion may upset a policy and disar-
ranged a complete series of moves which
Uncle Sam is trying to carry out. Hap
PLY, betrayals of secrets by Government
clerks have been very rare.
Though one-half of the applicants for
places in the Department are women,
only one person of the gentler sex Is ap-
pointed for every seven men. There is
prejudice against female clerks on sew
eral accounts. Nevertheless some OIL
cials have discovered that they can often
get woman for 5000 year who is more
capable than Il $1,000 man. Before the
war the employment of women as clerks
by the Government was almost unknown,
though they sometimes got copying to
do at home. Tne first woman regularly
employed was put on the rolls OF the
Navy Department thrty-fi five years ago.
She was young widow. 1t was grave
question what should be done with her,
and it was thought best to isolate her, as
if she were contagious. An attic room
was given her, and she received and re-
turned her copying by amessenger. To-
day there are 1903 women in the Treas
ury alone. They aud others in other
Departments are efficient as accountants,
correspondents, linguists, draughtsmen,
tyesetters, etc.
III 1851 the coined money belonging
to the Government gave out and Con-
gress authorized the issue OF legal tender
notes payable in gold. The3c were the
original "greenbac6s. They came in
sheets from the bauknote companies,
with blank spaces for the signatures of
the Treasurer aud Register. 1t was nee.
essary to cut them apart with scissor: and
trim the edges, no machine having as
vet been invented Tor that purpose Gen
eral Spinner suggested that women
should be employed temporarily to cut
and count the notes. A number of them
were hired, aud after they had cut $780,
900, 900 worth of paper Congress author
lied another issue, at the same time max.
ing the employment OF the women per-
manent. Some of these women are still
at work in the Treasury, where their
sex is intrusted up to the present time
with the couuting of the money. From
this starting point women gradually
made their way into the other Depart
ments.
A great many young men secure places
in the Department merely for the pur~
pose of supporting themselves while shey
are studying III the great schools of law
and medicine here. Matters are so ar
ranged at these institutions that clerk
who stops work at p. IN. can get din
ner and be on hand for the evening lee
lures, which begin at &. After being
graduated, the young physician may
practice and yet stay in office, becoming
what is known as "sundown doctor"
The medical schools of the Georgetown
College and Columbia University are OF
the highest rank. In the Army Medical
Museum the finest medical library in the
world is accessible. Justices of the
United States Supreme Court and great
medical officers of the Goyernme At are
members of the faculties of these and
other learned establishments in Washing
ton.
If clerk is absent on account OF ILL.,
ness over sixty days IN any year, he or
she must pay substitute. The Civil
Service Commission provides all the
substitutes that are wanted. 1t Is pro-
vided that the clerks shall give TO the
substitute q certain proportion of the
pay, usually amountngto about fifty six
per cent. BY thus hiring substitute
clerk might retain his place in the SER
Of hn