Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-12
MRG -AROEEIY
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TNCLE SANS only woman diplo

r TNCLE SANS only woman diplo-
matist is both youthful and pret-
ty. Her name is Miss Margaret
Hanna, and she works in the depart
ment of state as assistant to the Sec
ond assistant secretary, Alvey A. Adee.
Mr.. Adee, as everybody knows, is the
Official who handles the diplomatic af-
fairs of the government--in a European
country he would be called the perma-
nent under secretary, his place being
Of the delicate negotiations which are
continually being carried on between
the United States and foreign powers,
involving an immense deal of cores
pondence, are managed by him. The
correspondence, as well as much else
that relates to our diplomacy and the
complicated machinery thereof, is un-
der the charge of Miss Hanna, who is
so familiar with all such affairs that
Gas has frequently been said of her)
she would be fully capable of acting
as secretary of state herself, and Of
managing the whole department, if
there were occasion.
Quite as remarkable in her way is
Miss Clara Graecen, the legal adviser
of the treasury department. Her prop
er title is that of law clerk, and she Is
attached to the Office of the comp
frOllar Tilxa Misc che ic Il
young girl, blonde, and in her early
twenties. About four years ago she
came to Washington and obtained
place as typewriter in the comptroller's
office. Much of her work consisted in
taking down at dictation and TRANSCRIPT
ing Opinions" relating to claims
against the treasury task for which
she was well adapted by reason of 4
remarkable eXpertness in shorthand.
But, as presently appeared, she pos
sessed also a special aptitude for law
work-so much of it, in fact, that on
some occasions the comptroller intrust-
ed her with the task of preparing opin-
ions. Meanwhile, instead of spending
her evening at theaters and dancing
parties, like other young women, she
went to night classes at law school
in Washington, the upshot being that
when the place of the law clerk of the
treasury fell vacant she was appointed
to fill 1t, as the most capable applicant,
though number of men lawyers Of
excellent standing were bidders for the
job.
The highest paid woman in the gov
ernment service Is Miss Estelle Reel,
who is superintendent of all of the In
dian schools. She is very handsome
and distinguished looking, and not
much over 80 years of age. Though she
has headquarters at the Indian bureau
In Washington, most Of her time is
spent in travelling about all over the
country, her task being to improve
the management of and the educational
methods adopted in the day schools,
boarding schools, kindergartens and
other establishments maintained by
federal authority for training the minds
and bodies of our youthful aborigines.
Miss Reels power in such affairs is
we'll nigh absolute, and she has insti-
tuted many important reforms in the
schools. Her pay is $4,000 a year, plus
travelling expenses, and she earns the
money.
Women cut an important figure in
the treasury department where thous-
ands of them are employed in the busi-
ness of counting money. Experience has
proved that as money counters they are
much quicker and more accurate than
men-not to mention the fact that their
percentage of honesty so to speak, is
much higher. The only woman who
ever robbed the treasury was the in
venter of the famous method by which
ten bills were made from nine. Being.
employed in the redemption division,
she could piece the notes together at
her leisure. Thus, pretty soon, she be-
gan to wear diamonds and silks and
TO come to the office every day in a
carriage. Nevertheless the fraud might
never have been discovered but for
the accidental sickness and subsequent
absence of the lady one day. A col
league took her place temporarily and
found out what was going on.
This colleague was Mrs. VILLA A.
Leonard, who has long been known as
the champion money counter of the
treasury. Not only can she count II
faster. but she aceomplishes the task