Evening star., 1914-04-23
FIFTY YEARS OF DUTY
N ONE DEPARTMENT
Miss Emma B. Graves Completes
Hall Century in the United
States Treasury.
Among First Woman Clerks Appoint
ed by Gen. Spinner-Friends
Present Anniversary Reminder.

In these times Of war it is well for US
rot to forget that life goes on as usual.
with its little triumphs and petty defeats.
Despite the thrilling news from the front,
despite the newsboy's Extra" We are
all living about the same as usual, and
here and there unusual things are hap
pening that will never be recorded in
any annals, perhaps, but which are pleas
ing nevertheless.
Which is all Introductory of Miss Emma
r. Graves eighty-one years old. who
celebrates today the f1ftieth anniversary
of her continuous employment In the
government service-fifty years spent IN
one department-the Treasury-and all
in one branch-the redemption division.
Miss Graves was appointed to the gov
eminent service April 12. 1884. but did
not assume her duties until April %. 1854.
Receives Anniversary Gift.
In celebration of the anniversary her
many friends in the office of the treasurer
of the United States. in which office Miss
Graves serves. met one day recently and
presented her with silver-topped UNI
brella engraved: Emma r. Graves. Z. s.
Treasury, 1S64-1914.'
his presentation speech said:
TT has come to the notice of your as
sociates that you have completed fifty
years of service in the redemption divi-
sion. A half century of faithful. meri-
torious and honorable service is a record
TO be proud Of Moreover. as this period
covers the whole span of the existence Of
the division itself, your achievement be-
comes a somewhat remarkable event.
Your associates feel that you have not
only distinguished yourself, but have
brought distinction to them. They have
not been willing to let the occasion pass
without some little act of commemora-
ton"
Native of New York.
Miss Graves, who lives with her sister,
Miss Amelia Graves, at 1901 X street
northwest was born in Boonville. N. Y,
in 1892 and still claims legal residence in
the state Until four years ago she Wis
tied New York every year, but has lately
given up her trips, since the old folks at
Tome are all gone. Miss Graves came to
Washington at the beginning of the civil
war At this time there were no women
working in any departments Of the gov
ernment-woman stenographers had not
vet come into being; su6ragettes had not
been heard of-and the road of woman
who would seek employment in the lists
open to men was indeed rocky one.
At that time there arose in Congress a
rear champion Of woman's rights. Gen.
Francis E. Spinner. who vigorously ad-
vocated the equal employment of women
with men in the various branches of the
government service. Whenever an op-
portunity arose in Congress to further
the cause Gen. Skinner lent his voice to
its suppore and when, in 1851. he was ap-
pointed treasurer of the United States,
he was able to act as well as talk. Among
the first women to be given positions by
Gen. Spinner was Miss Graves.
Salmon p Chase the Secretary of the
Treasury. was very much opposed to
women in ONCE. and fought the appoint
ment of them, especially in the Treasury
Department. However, the cause of