The evening times., 1899-08-19
WOMEN LACK TEE ABILITY
Limitations of the Fair Sex in In
dian Bureau Work.
Commissioner Jones' New Policy
Bars Them Out as Superintendents
Given for the ChanEe-Feminine
Teachers, However, Are Superior.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Jones
has adopted a policy in regard to the per-
sonnei OF his bureau that is not very en-
couraging to the new woman" who as
pires to take the place of a man in nearly
all branches OF the Government service.
Since the advent of the civil service law
woman's sphere in the departments has
been spread to such an extent that Off
ciais are beginning to draw the line.
When the present Commissioner of In
dian Affairs took the reIns of office fve
more women were holding the responsible
position OF Superintendent of Indian
Schools than are holding it now. The rea-
sons given by the Commissioner for ap-
pointing no more women to these positions
are interesting. While Commissioner
Jones has estopped women, SO far as he
is known that other officials have strong
prejudices against the wholesale occupan-
cy Of office by women, which has resulted
Of late, when requisitions were made on
the Civil Service Commission for new
clerks, in calling for the male applicants
Commissioner Jones refers to the past
record OF the Indian Office in employing
women as superintendents as evidence that
his position is sound. There are now but
eight women superinteudents in the In
dian school service. This number is con-
siderably less than the number engaged in
that capacity when the present Commits
sioner took Office
The Commissioner does not believe, how
ever, In removing the women from office
and in every case where woman superin-
tendent has been succeeded by a man the
former has merely been reduced in position
The Commissioner advances several reasons
for his position on this. question The
superintendent is on duty practically twen-
ty-four hours every day, presiding at the
school under his or her care. The superin-
tendent is the executive head of the school
work, and has charge of the employees, in
Guiding teachers, matronS, seamstresses,
cooks. laundresses, farmers, etc. The man
agement of the force is an arduous task,
especially in the larger schools.
For the issuance of the clothing and pro-
visions the superintendent is also respon-
sible, and must be familiar with accounts
and business methods. The principal OBJ
lection to women superintendents lies in
the fact that at all Indian schools indus
trial training is the principal feature, and.
it is said, il has been demonstrated that
women are untitled for work OF this charac-
ter. Herds OF cattle, farms. gardens, ETC.,
at nearly all the schools are to be looked af-
ter by the superintendent, who also has
charge OF the disbursements, is expected TO
prepare estimates for new buildings, re-
pairs. and other improvements. Where
man is superintendent he has general over
sight over the entire plant, and operates
the literary department through prin-
cipal teacher, the domestic department
through a matron, and the Industrial
branches through farmer or industrial
teacher, as the case may be-
Unless a person is competent to man
age such an institution said Commission
er Jones, ''he rarely gets efficient work Out
of the subordinates. 1t has been the ex-
perience of this Office that men are better
adapted for this work than women. AS
teachers of young people women are emf
nently successful. They are essentially
teachers, and in this line Of work in a
majority of cases are vastly superior to
the men. In the general lines of indian
education their work has been invaluable,
and their delicacy Of manner and refine
ment has an excellent influence in the
moral training of the Indian youth
In this connection. it is interesting to
note that, according to the latest statistics
of the Interior Department, the number OF
Indian schools is as follows: Agency day
schools, 103 independent day schools. 10;
reservation boarding schools 81; non-res-
eryation boarding schools, 26.