The Colfax chronicle., 1904-07-16
PREFER WOMEN CASHIERS.
Employers Lose Faith in Men Because
They Play Horse Races and
Other Games.

times as many women as men actlng as
cashiers is the growing disposition on
the part of young men to bet on the races
and to dabble in the bucket shops, says
the Chicago Tribune.
This is what several employers de-
clare, and one OF them continues:
within ten years have seen an almost
incredible growth of interest in the race
track. The time was when there was
talk of poker, and roulette, and policy
among men in Chicago. Now everything
is horse racing. You hear the subject
brought up on all sides where there is
chance group of shallow young men,
They talk. horse, of sires and dams. OF
jockeys and heavy tracks, of odds, and
all that until it makes me sick of the
whole business.
Having woman cashier, however,
and employing several other women in
almost equally responsible places, have
a sense Of security that never had when
these positions were filed by men. At
the same time not one of these women
is under bond in surety companies. If
my judgment of them has gone wrong
and my cashier absconds, it will be my
loss, of course, but at the same time
think it will be breaking of the record
for women's honesty in such positions
in Chicago. / never have heard of one
woman cashier who has played false with
her charge"
Banking houses are the one exception
to the growing rule. Scarcely any other
line flarge or small business is notma
ing concessions to the desirability of
woman at the cashiers window or desk.
Not only are the women cashiers in po-
sitions, but in the advertisements of
cashiers wanted the preference for wom-
en- is as marked.
Physically and temperamentally, wom-
an is the better equipped for the role OF
cash accountant in the ordinary business
lines. Where the pressure of business
calls for the handling of large sums of
money, especially in bills and in subsi-
diary silver, the woman has marked ad-
vantage. Her fingers are more supple
than are mans, and they are still more
susceptible to the feel" so necessary in
the handling of money.
1t is this feel exercised in the hand
ling of both bills and silver that makes,
the woman superior to the man in gen.
eral way. Whether at the local cash win
dow or at the general accounting win
dow of an establishment this physical
touch is the one main detector of coun-
terfeits. The raised" good bill can be
detected by an expert of either sex at a
glance. For instance, a dollar bill may
have good feel, but it may be marked
up to $40 or more. The cashier will rec-
ognize without thought that there is
something wrong, with the design on the
bill, and. if not that, it is impossible for
the one altering the bill to deceive the
expert eye in the alteration itself.
A practical test of the cashier Of either
sex will demonstrate that the woman
cashier. even with her quicker touch,
will be more careful than will the man.
This is especially true where new bills
are concerned. Ordinarily new 500 or
$50 or s10o bill is passed through the
window to a man he will pull it through
his fingers once in acceptarcs of its genu-
ineness 1t is his disposition to hide any
possible uncertainty that he may have
of its genuineness. He does not like to
be in the position, before customer, Of
examining too sharply, or seeming to
do so.
A woman is radically different in tenn
permanent in this respect. She is wholly
self-possessed, and it has been her PRIV
ilige as a woman to exact concessions
from men and to impose them upon
women. If she has ghost of a thought
that bill may be doubtful, she will hold
it to the light and pull it through her
fingers without the least compunction.
The fact that she is responsible for the
admission Of counterfeits calls her to the
responsibility and out Of her independ-
ence she allows the person on the other
side of the grating to wait
But one of the best Recommendation
of the woman as cashier lies in the
SEX" said an old employer. '1may have
a decent sort of man here as cashier,
but haven't much of an idea where he
is after hours.f With decent young
woman in the position, am pretty GER
tain of her in every respect. 1t comes
more natural to the business man to
make himself sure of the character of the
woman than 1t does for him to dig into
the character of the man. A woman's
face is more easily read"
The woman cashier. as regarded by the
surety companies, does not cut much fig
ure either way. She seldom appears to
ask for bonds. When she does most of
the companies will furnish them. just
one surety company in Chicago will not
issue security policy for woman. The
reason is wholly ethical. The manage
ment agrees with the employer for the
most part that the woman is the less
likely to abscond with money. At the
same time. it puts emphasis upon the
fact that, If bonded woman cashier
should fitch from the till, the company
would not be borne out in public opinion
in prosecuting her as it would prosecute
a man, Admitting that she is little like
ly to misappropriate funds. the COM
pany does not care to take the chance
Of coming into disrepute in the emer-
gency.
Letting Him Down.