The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-04
WOMEN AND CIVIL SERVICE.
CiviI-Service Commissioners Proctor
Tells What Has Been Done.
Leslie's Weekly.

Leslie's Weekly.
1t is only in recent years that women
have been employed in considerable num-
bers in the public service. 1t is now gem
orally recognized that they can successfully
perform the duties OF many of the subOrdi-
nate places, and thev have often shown
eminent fitness and high oualitv i'm their
work. In 1870 an act OF Congress provided
that women might. in the discretion of the
head Of any department, be appointed 10
any OF the clerkships in the department
upon the same requisites and conditions
and with the same cOnpensatiOns. as pre-
scribed Tor men. This Magma Charta for
women in the civil service is recognized in
the ciVil-serVice laws and rules. which
makes no discrimination on account of sex.
From July is, 1855. to June 80. 1900. there
were appointed in the classified service in
the departments at Washington. through
competitive examination. 2,044 females. This
number included l.200 printers assistants in
the Bureau OF Engraving and Printing. at
a compensation of sl.25 per diem. which is
the lowest salary paid to women in the
classified service. About One-third of all
employees in the departments of Washing
ton are females; they are employed mostly
in ordinary clerical capacity. although
many technical positions are filed by them.
Three female employees receive $500 per
annum; about fifteen receive $500 per an
mum: 100 receive $l,4C1 per annlm: $50 re-
ceive $1,000; 600 receive $1,000 and the re-
mainder receive from $500 to $500 per an
mum.
A fair comparison of the progress made
by women in the government employ since
the enactment u the ClNlf-SeTAsCp law in
1883, rs 10 compensation received and nun-
Der employed is in the State Department
Office OF the secretary, which has probably
employed the fewest women Of any office
in the departments. In 1SS3 there were ten
women employed. and the highest salary
received was 81. 400, there being but one who
was paid that amount. In 1889. in the same
Office, there were seventeen women: The
highest salary was 1900; there were SCI
eral at S1.4U0. and others at 81. zoo Der an
mum. while the lowest salary was $500. OF
the total number of women taking the
competitive examinations during the past
ten years over a Der cent. have success
fully passed, while only 60 per cent. of
the males have passed these EXAMINATIONS
The percentage OF women in departmen+s
differs. In the pOstOfice service the posi-
ton of DostOtfice clerk is The only one omen
to both SEXES. Throughout this entire
branch Of the service 6.52 per cent. of the
appointments for the past ten years have
been women. Beside the foregoing. of the
69.cJe posJmasters in the United States
|. under the civil service. 6.25 are women.
Of the newer departments placed under
the civil-serviCe rule Is the internal rev
enue. in which 200 of the appointments
during the four years ending June 80. 1al.
have been women, and the custOm-hOuse
service. of which ? per cent. OF the an
pointments during the past five years have
been women. The highest percentare Of
apDOintTnents of women in any one wear
was in 1898, when 13 Der cent. OF the total
number OF appointments made We're women.
The next highest was in 1899. when Women
numbered about y per cent. OF the appoint
! mSltS.