The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-11
CIVIL SERVICE FOR WOMEN.
What the Reform Law Has Done for
 the Fairer Sex.

John R. Pr0cter in LesIie's Weekly:
 It Is only in recent years that women have been employed in considerable numbers in the public service It is now generally recognized that they can successfully perform the duties of many of the subordinate places. and they have often shown eminent fitness and high quality in their work. In 1870 an Act of Congress provided that wo- men might in the discretion of the head of any department, be appointed to any of the clerkships in the depart ment upon the same requisites and conditions and with the saue oonpen- satfon as prescribed for men. This Magma Charta for women in. the civil service is recognized in the civil ser vice laws and rules. which make no discrimination on account of sex From July 16, 1883, to June 30, 1900, there were apponted in the classified service in the departments at Washington, through competitive examination, 2,o44 females. This number included 1900 printers assistants in the bureau of Engraving and Printing. at cempen- sation of $1.25 per diem, which is the lowest salary paid to women in the classified service About one-third of all employees in the departments at Washington are females; they are em- ployed mostly in ordinary clerical ca- pacity. although many technical posi- tions are filled by them. Three female employees receive $1S0Q per annum; about fifty receive $1,600 per annum: 100 receive $1. 400; 45e receive S1, 200; 300 receive $1,0o0 and the remainder re- ceive from $500 to $500 per annum.
 A fair comparison of the progress made by women in the government enn- ploy since the enactment of the civil service law in 1SS6 as to compensation received and number employed, is in the State Department, office of the Secretary. which has probably employ ed the fewest women of any office in the departments. In 1883 there were 10 women employed in the department, and the highest salary received was $1,400. there being but one who was paid that amount. In 1889, in the same office. there were IT womens the high est salary was $1,600; there were sev- eral at $1,40o and others at S1,200 per annum. while the lowest salary was $90e, Of the total number of women taking the competitive examinations during the past ten years over 77 per cent. have successfully passed. while only 62 per cent. of the males have passed these examinations.
 The percentage of women in depart ments differs. In the postoffice service the position of postoffice clerk is the only one open to both sexes. Through out this entire branch of the service 6.52 per cent of the appointments for the past ten years have been women. Besides the foregoing. of tha 60.o00 postmasters in the United States under the civil service 5,2S5 are women. Of the newer departments placed under the civil service rule is the internal revenue. in which 209 of the appoint ments during the four years ending June 30. 1900. have been women. and the custom house service, of which per cent. of the appointments during the past five years have been women. The highest percentage of appoint ments of women in any one year was in 1898. when 13 per cent. of the total number of. appointments made were women. The next highest was in 1893, when women numbered about F per cent. of the appointments.