Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-03

(Fue Commissioner Ot NcW YORK
CitB.)
you ask why | have appointed
women to the Fire Prevention Blu
Ieau?
s,getors in this bureau, first because
very large part of the work of this
T,re8Il is work for which woman are
Tsi.tfcularly qualified, and second, be-
pansc there was available civil serv-
t,rs eligible list containing the names
nf large number of very capable
women. who had passed very diff
rcuIt and technical examination
which demonstrated their ability to
uerform this work.
have none of the prejudices which
sy,st in the minds of many against
he employment of women in public
POSITIONS | believe where they have
Zen employed women have demon
strated a particularly high ORDER of
ahllIy and fitness for public service.
This is particularly true in public
work which has to do with social
welfare for the protection of health
and life.
During the four years ! served as
secretary to the late Mayor Gaynor
had excellent opportunities TO OBJ
serve the effectiveness Of women IN
public matters, both in office and out
faund that in the city departments
there were a great many extremely
capable. Jealous and public spirited
women who took unusual interest in
their work, and who took no note of
the hours of their service, but rather
measured their work by the urgency
of the task to be done.
In the committees of women who
often called at the Mayors office, and
who often appeared before the official
committees, there were many who
showed exceptional intelligence and
resources and a close knowledge of
puhiic matters Some of them had
given more careful study to the
questions before them than even the
public officials had had time to give,
and it often happened that the sug
gestions made by women were eX-
tremely helpful.
On the whole, | am a thorough be-
lever in the activity of women in
public affairs, because | am abso-
lutely sure that our Government ben
efits by their interest and activity.
They bring fresh and unfettered
points of view into the discussion OF
=.
higher moral standard than the men
follow. | do not think the quality
of our public service will suffer from
an Improvement in its moral tone
Lack Only Experience.
Of course women. as a whole lack
the experience and knowledge of
practical affairs which men possess,
but that is something which can
he acquired. | do not need to say
that there is inefIiciency among men
in public position. Everybody knows
that to be a fact. In fact. no one
viii deny that the percentage of eff
fieiency among women employed in
public service is as high or higher
than it is among men employed in
such service.
The women take their work much
more seriously, as a rule, study their
task much more conseientiously and
take care to equip themselves more
thoroughly than the average run of
men do. 1t is because Of this more
careful study and preparation for
their particular tasks, public officials
md reasonably high order of ca
pacity and efficiency among women.
IT is because of these reasons that, for
the salaries paid, it is not infrequent
mat higher order of ability is
found among women than among
men.
In the Fire Prevention Bureau there
IS q great deal of inspection work in
factories moving picture places,
dance halls, stores and places of pub
lie assembly generally. When | APP
pointed the women inspectors to this
bureau | felt that women could do
these classes of work with a great
deal Of diligence and conscientious
ness, and the results up to date have
shown that | was correct.
This is the class of work which re-