New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-08
WOMEN IN POSTAL SERVICE.
What Germany Demands of Would-be Ap-
plicants for Positions

The position Of women in the German postal
telegraph and telephone service is the subject OF
an exceedingly interesting report from J. f. Mona
CHAN. the United States Consul az Chemnitz, Ger
many. Mr.. Monaghan is regarded by many per
sons as one OF the best Informed consuls in the
service. He says in part:
Geographic service Of France and England as early
feminine service until 1914 me main clrclulstance
that led 10 the employment Of women at that time
vas soalrclg os akalleDle ie, "a it e
vices were combined under one head. a general dis
the service followed. largely. IL is reported. be-
cause Postmaster General Stephan. who welded a
bic IN his opposition to the employment Of women
IN the postal and Geographic service.
Stephsn's successor Postmaster General Pod
hielsk. was as favorsbly disposed TO the employ
uent OF women Stephan had been opposed to
e. The fact that foreign countries. especially the
United States had employed women successfully
weighed with him and through his influence
again introduced into the postal sys-
TEN. The result WAS as satisfactory he had
anticipated. and since then the number OF women
IN the German telephone. postal and telegraph
systems has been rapidly increasing
AT the present time" says Mr.. Monaghan.
-four thousand women are employed IN the tele-
phone service Of the German Empire In Berlin
alone thousand women are engaged Only phys
icaIy strong Firls are admitted TO the service
spectacle families. They must be between eighteen
and thirty years OF age, and either unmarried
girls widows without children.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Every applicant must possess an education
equivalent 70 graduation from an elementary
school IN making the application for position IL
is necessary 10 produce a birth certificate school
certificate. certificate OF conduct. in which are
registered AL praise or Dissatisfaction expressed
BY previous employers OF the person in question
and brief biography. The latter must have been
written and constructed solely by the applicant
The written consent OF the father or guardian Is
also necessary. Some time after the application
accompanied by all the required papers. has been
filed notice is sent 70 the applicant to appear for
ar examination. which embraces questions OF arth-
nletc, German and geography. After successfully
passing the examination the applicant is sent to an
Official medical examiner who must certify 10
her physical ana nervous sounduess and espe-
olaly The condition Of her lungs and nerves"
Having successfully acquitted herself IN all these
tests the German girl might fairly be entitled to
consider her position IN the telephone system Sc
cure. Not so She must now begin a period OF
according 20 the consul covers from three TO four
salary Having satisfactorily completed her period
o. practical study The applicant IS ready 70 enter
feady stated The number OF applicants is always
,-esr - - 1ise q hu1-oei q months, or even a
- ~ W. nay pass before vacancy occurs
A position being open, The applicant cannot enter
y. Il
~, spoiled her record OF failed TO preserve
STAINLESS character. She must also 81 The TINA Of
IL emf Oyinent- be living with her pareuts q
eose oSher respectable place free from al question
ne ue4y nouns OF employ ment vary from 10
- - - iielllies sunday work is required The en-
poye must, immediately after being engaged be
- SoitrlDltlons TO the sick fund and in case
socutlus 10 sickness or injury she couffrs,ae 10
StSN taiee-lourths OF her regular salary 49, -
80 a - MEDICAL treatment Her nav 70 berin
Sacto-,, S.' 's a day After two years OF satis-
49, seiylce THIS is raised to % s cents a go
49, We additional years-thaf ~ arfsr 5ari,sss
= =, ~. stats IN the servlce-her nav Is rafseS
,-4--,f. II after service se5era1 ,,,oro
- go mas shown herself cana lie A. -,
,-s- 49, ss"t hhe may be appointed as slluer-
after ten years o. faithful se-s-iSo = -
~ieHkt Is aocec IN The form Of arr,ogr.v,c-t -
10 claim 10 a pension. After beirss 49, -
- salary amounts 20 s2s 50. This ~aisrx IS -,
81 ss,, ever three years by the srnount 80
q - until u amounts 10 s855 This A. 81 ~. ..
salary that q woman can draw II ~ c -e-lost
.e.epfonc service II is sufficient 10 ifs-a = 80.
loftanie existence 10 the enplove fhoTgb - -
nnleflea az the amount may seen sorlevrba+ sr,.fi
$3.50 ler a. exceedingly plain living Ii must Re
eItafy who belong 10 thts class u ware es -.
al ave With considerably less expense srS 1ri.5
.a-ee greater comfort than would 10 noSsIble -
ne United States POSSioie IN
~ England the salaries OF positions q, this l,,s
MAch better paid. Girls are admitted - -
ves-s - ,nIt.en years OF age. During the FIRST
Vic they are girl clerks" thew raoet,s
-. 80 9 70 Szl4 70 When they receive q 1e|,,ao
As9llion as women clerks" their galsr- - -
~ q from Sl6i 81 10 S2s5 CO. After twelve 49,.
A. 7. @llce they receive the corSil era ~ 80
snro .9ln 81 ~ 10 s5a The best women are s1,e
sstnrt. q 20 POSITIONS as chief supervisors o. as
" -iis' Cess ofhces. with salary OF y5R0