Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-13
WOMEN IN THE
PUBLIC SERVICE.
BY Edna stalnaker.

competitors When women began to
make application for government posi-
TONS the officials decided to let an econo-
mic principle develop in its natural way.
1t was unnecessary to forbid them doing
what by nature they could not do; so
when women were first admitted TO the
government service they fell into their
proper places before the desks. The men
naturally objected and repeated the cant
about womans proper sphere being In the
home; but the authorities soon found
that the heads bending over the ledgers
and accounts were real heads, and not
mere eftigies for the display of millinery.
In the beginning, appointments TO
clerkships did not depend upon ability.
To have relatives in Office or to possess a
pretty face, was the chief requirement,
not legible handwriting or a knowledge
of arithmetic. That mysterious some
thing, born Of bureaucracy, reaching
its highest development in Washington,
and known as influence" was the only
door through which woman passed to
government office. Then civil service laws
were enacted, much to her benefit.
1t is not to be inferred from this that
the civil service laws were in any way
the product Of chivalry. Calamity had
no greater share in them than it has in
politics But that is a matter of small
Importance to women, since the laws do
succeed in placing them on an equally
reputable footing with men, and forever
Danish the idea of their holding positions
through favor. Stin, though it is almost
invariably the case that a larger proper
ton of women pass the examination, the
ratio of appointment is about fifteen men
to one woman
A woman looking toward a government
position imagines she sees in it an ideal
employment-one that furnishes her with
all the primary necessities, and the ra-
tional freedom which after these is the
greatest want of her nature. She has
heard of the short hours of labor, the
high salries.the regular pay days. the
vacations and sick leaves with pay, the
pleasant society Of the departments, and
the delightful life in Washington. She
sends for application papers, and receives
the first affront. The questions cover
about four square feet of paper, and are
of a character to make one bluch for the
curiosity of our government. Not only
is her age asked but she is required to
tell it several times and in several ways,
giving dates and proofs. that the civil
service commission may know she is not
evading the question She is asked if she
smokes, or il she is addicted to the use Of
any drug or intoxicant; where she was
born; what her occupation is, and has
been; if she has any chronic disease or
ailment; where she has been for the last
four years. and what she has been doing;
ed; if she is a native born or naturalized:
If she has ever made previous application
for d government position, or ever held
one; and if she has any relatives in the
government employ. She probably has a
shock when she finds that physical mea-
surements are also demanded, and it is
with distinct relief that she discovers
that this question applies only to men
who are applicants for positions in the
railway mail service lit is not sufficient
that she should answer all questions, and
with more dates and figures than the
census taker demands, but she must have
two vouchers, who stand sponsor for all
she says, and add on their own account
that she is Of good moral character and
reputation.
Then comes the examination. For the
ordinary clerkship, or for a position not
requiring technical or special knowledge,
this is not inordinately difficult, a high
school course of study usually being suf-
ficiemt to enable one to pass it.
The maximum salary paid by the gov
eminent to a. woman clerk is $3.50 per
annum, though probably not more than
five in the service receive this amount.
A slightly larger number receive 81 500
and $1,400, but the majority of female
employees earn less than 81 900. The
greatest number of clerks are appointed
at a salary Of s720 a year-a not munifi-
cent amount when one reflects that city
living is never cheap.
Now let us suppose our friend with the
roseate anticipation of a life in the pub
lie service receives her appointment and
is sworn in BY the chief Of her division.
She goes to office early, her hair well
curled, and her lunch tied up in a nap
kin. The work is new, and may be hard
but she likes it, and never dreams that
it may in time settle down into Lamb 5
dry drudgery" She does that first day
twice as much as she ever did before or
ever will again. On her way home in the
evening with her hair out of curl, her
lunch yet unopened in its red bordered
napkin, and her hands we'll sprayed with
the government good black ink, one Of
her colleagues tells her that she has ac-
complished too much and will get them
all into trouble if she continues to work
so hard. The warning Is unnecessary,
though. for in a weeks time She has
learned that the belt does not fly off he
engine of state if she takes time to eat
her lunch
When she has become accustomed to
the routine Of her work. She looks about
her for friends but the "endearing Gle
gance of female friendship does not
flourish in the departments. Social cir
Giles arc no less clearly defined hero than
outside and jealousy il not unknown
among the women employed
When she begins to look for promo
ton and every person who enters the
government service becomes in time
nothing but a center Of desire for pro-
motion--she develops another source of
unhappiness. She must bear many dis
appointments before she succeeds, for
that condition in which few die or marry
and none resign. still prevails; and when
she has attained her object, she has but
increased her chances for dismissal.
To all clerks leave Of two days and a
half in each month is allowed. besides
two days and a half of sick leave with
full pay The former may be taken an
at once, but Illness extending over more
than one day must be certified by a ply
sician.
1t may be readily seen that the life Of