The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-10-18
In HIGH POSITION.
WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT sERv-
ICE At WASHINGTON.
English Newspaper Somewhat Aston
lshed BY the Confidence Placed in
the Fair Sex by Authorities at
the National Capital.

Most people are aware that women
are a great power in the United States.
particularly from a social standpoint
says the Pail Mall Gazette of London.
But it is by no means so generally
known that at the headquarters Of the
American government in Washington
there are a number Of highly paid
women who are standing contradic-
tion OF the old gibe that women can
never keep a secret.
At any rate, the services Of these
women are so highly appreciated that
it is unlikely their brethren viii ever
GUST them from these nightly paid Of
fees. To us a youthful and pretty
woman diplomat, recognized as such
by the government, Is unthinkable.
Yet such a person Is Miss Margaret
Hanna, who is permanent assistant to
the permanent secretary OF state. This
latter official carries on all the delicate
negotiations between the United
States and foreign powers and so con-
ducts an immense correspondence.
All this most secret and sacred cor
respondence is under the charge OF
Miss Hanna, who is so well versed In
Uncle Sans relations with the outside
world that she could undoubtedly act
as assistant secretary of state herself
II the occasion arose.
A still more remarkable position Is
that held by Miss Clara Graecen, legal
adviser TO the treasury department.
Here again we find young blonde not
yet 25. who a few years ago came to
Washington as an ordinary typewriter
in the comptroller's Office. At that
time her work was taking down dicta-
tion relating to legal Opinions" about
claims against the treasury. Miss
Graecen gradually developed taste
for law so that on one occasion the
comptroller asked her to prepare an
opinion" of her own on a minor case.
Thereafter the clever and ambitious
girl studied law with feverish energy
at a night school in the diplomatic
capital, and so brilliant were her tai
ents that when the position of law
clerk OF the treasury fell vacant she
applied for II and got it. even against
a number Of capable lawyers.
You might think that these Ameri-
can blue stockings we're frumpish and
dowdy in appearance. Vastly other
wise would be your opinion in the
presence of Miss Estelle Reel, super
intendent of all the Indian schools
throughout America. Miss Reel is
strikingly handsome woman Of dlstin-
guished mien and not much over 80.
Her headquarters Is at the Indian bu-
reau in Washington, but for the most
part she spends her time in travelling
throughout the states inspecting the
educational methods adopted in day
and boarding schools, kin1ergartens
and other institutions kept up by the
federal government for the little
aboriglnes. In her own department
Miss Reels power is absolute and her
pay is 5000 year besides her travel
ing expenses.
Thousands OF women are employed
in the treasury department, for 1t is
found that they are quicker and more
accurate than men in counting money.
Nor must one omit to say they are
found far more honest. Out from
among the ruck of these women stands
Mrs. Villa Leonard. probably the fast
est teller" of money alive as well as
the most astonishingly accurate. Mrs.
Leonard is besides wondrous expe'l
in detecting counterfeit notes. One
must bear in mind that practically the
whole currency of America except
small change is paper money.
Another woman expert of the treas
ury at Washington is Mrs. s. F. Fitz-
gerald, who for nearly a quarter of a
century has been mending mutilated
bank bills and also identifying money
that has been partially destroyed. So
expert is she that often when nothing
remains of the money but scrap Of
paper smaller than a sixpence and
that containing no name Of bank. de-
nomination or number. Mrs. Fitzgerald
will fasten upon scrap of engraved
design and then pour forth a volume
of information about the destroyed
note which would surely give points to
Sherlock Holmes.