The times., 1899-10-29


done more to encourage women to seek en-
pIoymeut in Government service than all
Of the other departments combined. Forty
years ago the number Of women employed
by the Government was so Insignificant and
their positions were so humble that they
were never taken into consideration. To-
day there are many thousands Of women
filling very responsible places in the
service. which 1t was formerly contended
could only be properly occupied by men
To overcome the strong prejudice that
prevailed against having women In Office,
and the thoroughly rooted belief that a
woman could not do clerical and executive
work nearly as well as a man, the women
OF the country had TO struggle hard, but
they fought their battles brayely, persist
entity. and intelhgently, until al last they
accomplished very nearly ali that they
could hope for.
During the Civil War the Government
found that il required the services in the
field CT many CT its brave clerks and Off
cial heads Of divisions. The Government
also saw the necessity Of providing, as far
as possible for the widows and orphans
caused by the war. The opening for this
fatherIy care came when the male clerks
went to the front, and the women were
given inferior places. Since then, by an
exhibition Of fidelity to their iaboTs. ability
to perform them and an aptitude for pro-
motion. the number Of women employees
has been constantly increased.
August W Natchen, superintendent Of
the free delivery mail system, has made
the employment of female clerks a subject
Of careful and unbiased study, and the re
suit Of his observations in the Fostof1ce
Department must be gratifying 10 the
women workers. Mr.. Matclen believes ab-
EoluteIy in woman's worth, capacity, and
general fitness 10 perform the duties as
signed her in Government positions.
When. after the outbreak Of the Civil
War, women were employed, they were as
signed TO the lowest grade Of clerical
work such as cutting coupons of bonds,
counting bills, and copying documents,
and their salaries ranged from $3.50 10 $500
z year Those who received this maxi
mum amount were very few.
Theory Against Women.
The records in the appointment clerks
Office OF the P0stofIice Department show
that when female clerks were first en-
ployed the Third Assistant Postmaster
General acted upon the theory that one
male clerk was equal to TWO female clerks,
and be therefore appointed two women at
$500 each 10 MI the vacancy caused by the
withdrawal Of a male clerk, who had re-
ceived l2OG a year. This practice con-
tinued for quite q long time, and General
Zeverley believed the theory a correct one
until his eyes were opened il the dead let
ter Office. Male clerks in tlis division had
been accustomed TO turn in lZ6 letters at
tended 10 ss a good days work The fe-
male clerks appointed TO do this work
easily raised the standard 10 250 letters
: q day and when General BEVERLEY recover
ed from mis- establishment he issued an or
der 10 the effect that unless male clerks
could keep Up 10 this standard they would
be deemed inefficient and he would remove
them.
The innovation OF women clerks in the
DEPARTMENTS met with much opposition
from the male clerks. So bitter did this
opposition become that Congress was fre-
quentIy appealed to and it was not until
after bitter fight that lasted for years
that the women emerged from the battle
victorious and that their right 10 receive
Government employment was firmly estab-
lished. From the time that the debated
question was finally settled 10 the present,
the number OF women and the efficiency OF
their work in the departments has con
stantIy increased. Congress, during the
y
clerks al $500 a year, but in 1870 this was
abrogated and male and female clerks
were placed on the same salary basis. One
OF the most fOrceful advocates or this act
Of Congress was Hon. o. ?. Morton, Of In
diana.
As an illustration Of the character OF
work now being performed by female
clerks. attention is called 10 the Free De-
livery Division OF the Postofice Depart
ment. Five years ago The highest position
in this department that woman might as
pire 10 I'll was that OF stenographer. Today
the work has been distributed among the
clerks, regardless Of sex. and the greater
portion Of IT requires judgment, execution,
ability, tact. and diplomacy. One woman
handles all matters pertaining 70 the pro-
motion and removal OF letter carriers, die
tates all the correspondence relative there
TO- makes rulings and passes upon impoT-
tsnt questions that continually arise. An
other has direct charge Of the distribution
Of the letter carrier force, prepares and
considers ell data relating 10 Ii. passes
upon applications for additional service
scrutnizes the schedules under which car
Tiers are employed. and conducts the CORE
epondence bearing upon these subjects The
books and accounts Of the division cover
Ing The annual expenditure OF about Sl3.-
GOO. goo, are kept by an accomplished young
woman whose fine executive ability and
special qualifications have more than once
placed her ia full charge as division super
intendent acting in the absence Of the su.
perintendent and his assistants
In other Departments
The same degree OF proficiency has beer
attained by women in the Treasury and
the Interior Departments. and in the othel
branches Of the Government service. II /,
ssid. however, that, Notwithstanding IN,
rapid advancement CT women employees and
the excellent character Of their work. dur.
ing the last two years. there has been al
evident intention on the part Of officials
10 Gil all vacancies by male appointments
and that even where the vacancy Is mad,
BY the retirement Of a woman. IL Is filled
By man. Politics is the only reasor
alleged for this procedure
y think that as the civil service get,
older the greater viii be the decrease o.
the appointments OF women TO positions il
the departments" said Frank A. Wander
lip. Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
70 a reporter Of The Times The remark
was the outcome o. a question put 10 Mr.
Nsuderiip as 10 whether there Is an un.
oerstanding or agreement, express or i'm.
piled, among the heads Of departments {,
Substitute men for women employees.
in replying TO this Interrogation. Mr.
NEncerlip said positively that so Ear as tb,
Treasury Department was concerned ther,
70 uO such understanding, and that The de-
9artment is not following the practice o.
substituting male for female employes
He qualified this denial considerably how.