Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-08
1881 YEARS OLD,
IN TREASURY 49
Miss Emma R. Graves Still Ex-
pert Counter in Reg
ister's Office.
WAS AMONG FIRST WOMEN
EMPLOYED BY UNCLE SAM
Tells of Washington in Old Days
Under Treasurer Spinner. When
Invasion Was Feared.

F.ichtN-o Years old and rounding
out fifty wears as a government en-
ploye in tn. Treasury Depa rtmcnt IS
the record or Miss Emma r. Graves
Forty-nine wears Of this service which,
Was up April l. last was spent in the
redemption division Of the Treasury. and
despite the fact that Miss Graves plead
ed 10 BE- left III that division for one
anniversary in one division she was
transferred to the registers office She
still occupies the position of an expert
counter. counting notes which have been
turned into the government and which
are cut in half before being destroyed.
Miss Graves was among the first woman
employees of the government number
having been placed in service in 1864 by
Frank Z. Spinner then treasurer Of
the United States When she was called
upon in her workroom hS reporter
she was very much opposed 10 being
interviewed.
Cant YOU use what tell you without
using my name? ! don't like to be in
terviewed. she said.
After much persuasion Miss Graves
finally consented TO have her name used,
and. believing he had gained point. the
Up flew Miss Graves hands
Goodness, she snilingly exclaimed.
Il couldn't think of having my picture
printed Besides. haven't had one taken
for the last twenty years.
Saw Exciting Times Here.
Il came from Bloomville y. y. fifty
three years ago. on d visit to relatives.
said Miss Graves. 1T was right at the
beginning of the civil war. And ! tell
you | saw some exciting times right here
in the city of Washington. The people
were always watching for an invasion of
the city by the Confederate forces.
Il was persuaded to stay here by my
relatives and take a position in the
Treasury Department. Al that time tn
north wing had not been built. The
State. War and Navy departments were
located III a small brick building in the
northeast corner of the ground on which
the Treasury is now located.
I'm what is now the old caShroom in
the Treasury d large stock of arms was
kept. These were for the use of tn
clerks in the Treasury in case of an in
vaSion. However. the war was over when
! assumed my position in the Treasury
Department.
You know Secretary Chase of the
Treasury Department was Very much
opposed to woman employees in the gov
crnment service. Francis r.. Spinner
then treasurer of the United States. aft
or much persuasion on his part finally
secured the permission OF Secretary Chase
To give the women Il trial as government
clerks IL had practically become n ne
cessity for the government to employ
women. All of the men and boys had
gone To war. and the work had TO be
done. so the only course open seemed to
be to give the women a chance. Mr..
Spinner told Secretary Chase that if, aft
or trial, the women proved satisfactory,
he would employ more. Then. of course
there wasn't much gold and silver, and
they had TO have more of the fractional
currency, and they used to have to cut
tho money by hand Mr. Spinner also
pointed out that women were more skill
full with the scissors than the men, and
this WAS another argument why they
should be given a chance. The redemp-
ton division was established at that time
on account of the paper money.
Finally. after years trial. Treasurer
Spinner went to Secretary Chase and told
him how satisfactory The work of the
women had been and said that he hadn't
lost cent. and that was more than he
could say for the men,