The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-08

Secretary Cariisle's New Move to Re-
ward Political Favorites.
Philadelnhia Bulletin.

If there were no politics connected with
II the experience of the United States
Treasury Department with female clerks
would be valuable evidence on the question
OF wOmen's ability to do the same work
as men. Tn department has been employ
ing a great many women as clerks ever
since Treasurer Spinner introduced them,
more than thirty years ago, and there
have been many reports Of their general
numerous special instances of their skill
in handling mutilated notes, in detecting
counterfeits. in reading blind" manuscript
and In other work requiring quickness OF
eye or delicacy OF touch.
Now, however, the official sentiment has
turned against women, and they are being
replaced by men with such rapidity as TO
cause remark. 1t is now said that they
are not strong enough to do mems work,
and that in some divisions the higher
priced women-who, suspiciously enough,
seem to be the ones most discriminated
againSt-have to call upon men to lift the
heavy ledgers for them As to this, IL
may be said that lifting heavy burdens is
porters' work. and hi~gh-salaried clerks are
not usually required 70 act as porters;
their time is too valuable for that. Be
have heavy ledgers to lift? Why. then, are
they not replaced in at least equal ratio
with their better-paid sisters? This part
OF the evidence Is clearly OF no value as to
the general question OF women's fitness.
II only shows luminosity to them, which
Is quite the thing to be expected from a
Democratic administration.
1t is further alleged, however. that women
are more susceptible to illness than men.
and more likely to be absent from their
work on that account. This is an impor-
tant. point, for it goes to the root of the
whole question, being based on women's
physical ability to stand the strain of hard
work and close attention to business. Here
t0fore the general drift of evidence has
been TO the effect that as women are not
usually addicted to laGe hours, as they do
not go on or "whoop Ii up with
the boys" and as they do not maltreat
their systems with either cigarettes or in
toxicants, their average attendance Is bet
ter than that of the men: but the Treasury
Department bears official evidence to the
contrary. and due consideration must be
given to IL.
Still. it may be noted, as bearing on the
question. that the treasury clerks work
eight hours a day, and their work is light
as compared with the women who work
from ten to fourteen hours a day in shops
and stores, to say nothing of those in do
nestle life, whose work is never done, 81
well that their employers, who may Ger.
tainly be supposed to have as keen a re-
gard for their own interests as the treasury
officials have for those of the government
never think of discharging them and hiring
men in their places. 1t is to be feared
then, that in this respect also the ques-
ton OF women's fitness for clerical work
in the government Offices is complicated
with their acknowledged incapacity for po-
litical service, and that, If all the truth
were known, II is a vital regard for votes
rather thap for either mental or physica
qualifications, that actuates Secretary Car
Isle and his subordinates in dischargins
their higher-paid women clerks and puttinf
men in their places. AS a study of politics
this action has its value, but as throwing
light on the sociological or commercial as
pect OF the woman question it is not to b.
regarded as conclusive