Evening star., 1902-03-20
MRS. FOSTERS PROTEST
UNLIKELY THAT THE STEPS RE-
a
QUEsTED WILL BE TAKEN.
Appointment, of.sWomen to clerkships
Objections of Some Bureau Chiefs
Functions of the Commission.

A rather general discussion has been ex-
cited in the governmental departments by
the announcement of the protest filed with
the civil service commission recently by
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster. In substance. that
protest claimed that women were discrimi-
mated against In the making Of new ap-
poihtInents to the departments of the civil
service and petitioned the civil service
commission to take such steps would
prevent further similar discrimination"
IT is deemed most unlikely that any steps
in the direction indicated will be taken by
the civil service commission. The impress
sion prevails there that the commission full
fills its duties in enforcing the present
civil service laws and that the laws pro-
vide merely that a list of elegibles shall be
provided the department chiefs from ex-
amnatons conducted by the commission.
If the department chiefs choose to accept
men whenever men cstil be obtained that Is
matter, 1t is argued. with which only
Congress can deal. OF course. there Is
some doubt as to the correctness of Mrs.
Fosters conclusions. and the great num-
Der of women now in all branches of the
governmental service is cited to prove that
female clerks not entirely unknown.
But for the most the officials Of the COM
mission content themselves with saying
that the protest is not one with which the
commission can deal
Objections of Bureau Chiefs.
Among the bureau chiefs and heads of
departments seen by The Star reporter this
morning the impression seems to be little
less than universal that the woman clerk
is very well cared for at present without
being given any further advantages. One
chief after another ran over the roll OF his
office to show that half the appointments
made during his term Of service had
brought women into his bureau and that
his roll now included many more women
clerks than he desired to have. This state
of affairs Is generally taken as text for
vigorous protests. Of which the bureau
chief delivers himself freely, but not for
publication.
One official feels that no group of four or
five women in his bureau could work with
out being supervised by a man. Another
argues that his women clerks are unable to
do anything except the most agreeable work
assigned to his division. third complains
that his women clerks cannot agree. while
the men never raise any disturbance ex-
cept to laugh beisterously at times. A
fourth objects to the women clerks in his
immediate office because they interrupt his
afternoon dictation by looking frequently
at the clock. OF half dozen onicials seen
this morning not one had accepted wo-
man clerk voluntarily after his first year
OF service. Il IN
A Case fH;Point.
A story was tan .'this morning in the
Post Office DepartWeat which indicates the
general attitude df department officials in
this regard. A widow of excellent family
connections had taken the civil service ex-
animation and passed. In time her name
was certified to thoi Host Office Department
for appointment as a clerk. The applicant
learned Of this fat Ard went to see the
urged that@she beo,ch6sen from the three
persons certifed1o Her political support
was. to quote the then Postmaster Cen
bassador to the e cSbGtt S 81 St. James" The
Postmaster GeneF&rl made the strongest
not one of his subordinates who had va
cant clerkships would receive her. II they
were to get new clerks. they said. they
wanted men or none at all. A position was
finally found for the unfortunate applicant
in division which was then being greatly
expanded. but this did not happen until the
chief of that division had obtained two ad-
ditiOnal male clerks.