The Washington times., 1894-07-29
THE DEPARTMENT MAN;
INFLUENCES OF ROUTINE.

The department man as well as woman has
wrought out his own escutcheon. HPve you
seen the department coat of arms? 1t is un-
mistakable From the view which seems to
prevail, the question OF the influence OF gov
eminent service would seem to apply to
women only. There are employed in the
various departments only about 5000 women.
The men number almost 5000
went TO the prominent officials, bureau
chiefs. and employees and asked:
rs departmental life deteriorating on q
mans cbaraeterI"
My talks were in some instances tests Of
themselves.
Invariably the reply was: IF a man seeks
TO be integral part of this commonwealth
let him enter business or professional life,
even in the humbiest capacity, and work out
his own independence"
/ asked gentleman whose life had been
| spent in observation and among men and
books the effect o. departmental life upon
| character
WELL said he ''my wcrk in the depart
ments is OF a special nature which / would
perform as well III Germany, or England as it is
not specially departmentaI work. so | cannot
cite my own personality as an example. Bat"
/ said he, ''thc government work is so easy, the
hours are so short, there is absolutely no re-
I sponsbllIty. no thought Of the morrow, and
the pay for tine work done is great in propor-
ton. That Is admitted in every Instance. IL
a man is intrenched behind the civil service
breastwOrks he is needless Of all political
convulsions. Those are the aIuring charms
that entice young men into moral seryitude."
L had heard that young men seek these
positions for the very purpose OF self-adv vance,
/ ment, so l inquired: Are there not young
/ men who seek these easy government Offices
! as Il means to an endl''
.'Yes. many employees OF the government
are graduated physicians and lawyers. They
enter the service Of the government in order
to take college course or a special degree,
i which they can do 10y study between hours,
/ but il few instances does any man resign his
/ position to begin the practice OF his profess
/ Sion.'
{ While was still musing over the apparent
/ favored conditions of life for such an ambi-
tious individual. this train OF reflection was
rudely broken by the determined words Of
this most estinable informant. IF man
aims TO be integral part Of this cOmmon-
wealth he must rub up against the world;
seek contact with different indiviGualities.
There is no intellectual development in the
departmental life"
Strange It seems. within a few hours
met a most courteous and afTable gentleman,
who in part reiuted the above statements. He
enjoys the distinction OF a title. He does not
practice his profession. but he is proud of his
right thereto. He has been employed In The
departments fourteen years.
do you. | asked, intend to remain in
government service as long as you can? Will
that not unit you for the independent work
OF Il practical businrss iife.''
He answered rcIe,tiveiy. 1.-The longer time
q man serves the less apt IS he 20 say i will
.'Nhe:. a man is thrown out of Office what
is his average capacity 10 begin the business
fight OF lie and VIM
II believe he is at a disadvantage. How
ever. l have invested my time III profession.
l have been econOuical, and am one of the
few that are prepared.
In your observation. has this been the
rule with the average employer
The reply was rs before. no."
Further inquiry confirmed such fears. Said
one man. 'ihere is rlamor about depart
meDt life ike the glamOr OF the footliGhts,
and IN the fash and glare the intellect IS
stu.tihed. Say TO the disappointed man or
woman Of your acquaintance, if haply Won,
perhaps Il napiess gain. -
Quoting the words or prominent employs,
whose acquaintance l sought: Il know il is
Friday because that's the day the man comes
roGnd TO wind up the clock. l perform my
duties mechanically. because nv work
qures that be merely automaton. I'm
conscious when noontime has flown, when
the 18th and 3Oth come round and l can draw
my salary. l perform. my work in q per-
exercise any judgment. In short. L am
blank fool Judging from an intellectual stand
point. The government puts the nickel In
the slot and the employe does the rest"
Contrary opinions are held upon the moral
influences Of departmental life upon young
men. | sought knowledge OF one who Is now
beyond the pale OF temptation. He has grown
up IL the office from bOyhood. His father
was there before him.
Does a mans character deteriorate by
virtue o. long years OF service In this depart
meut.n
in my opinion. it does replied he; the
temptations Presented TO a man in the Capital
City are uniike the snares of any other. The
business hours are shorter. and, with u sus-
picious smile. idle minds and frauds will
lind plenty mischief tc do
\ strong argument against that view is pre-
serted by the special case of recent dis
missal in one Of the departments. On the
ground OF improper conduct OF this gentle
man Of high birtn. after Office hours, he was
peremptorily dismissed. in spite Of his strong
Democracy. The influence OF an entire
Democratic delegation and Republican
delegation combined ayailed nothing.
SAID one OF the Cabinet officers: Il think
the conditions of service in the departments
have strong tendency TO make man most
exemplary" The fear Of dismissal for un-
sentlemanly conduct Will serve to influence
man morally"
The opinion is held by prominent officials
that long years Of service through different
administrations will make good historians
to what was done by ones predecessor.
Men become syeophants and subseryient to
the powers that be.
In interviewing public men on the depart
mental life o men and women. the subject
invariably turns to woman's suffrage. One
man said to me to-day, Are you woman
suifracist?"
A prominent Southern official said that this
woman suffrage question had considerable
influence i'll restricting the number OF women
that were being appointed through civil SER
vice methods.
Not one man l have met during this ad-
ministration believes in womans suffrage.
Il is conceded by all that women are by char
acter ability, and education enInently quail
lied 10 exercise the privilege much better
than some men. but in every instance the
conclusion is: 1T Is inexpedient that the bur-
den should be imposed upon women"
From the Calumet officials to the Civil
Service Commissioners. the opinion held is
that the highest ambition of women should
be wiiehood and motherhood.
I asked one: DO YOU think woman Is
unsexed, loses the feminine qualities that
make her lovable, by occupying positions in
business walks of Hfe!'
Not necessarily. but in most instances she