Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-03
IOMEN FITTED
n WORK FOR
PUBLIC GOOD
DIV ROBERT ADAMSON.
,iIr Commissioner Of NeU York
City.)

City.)
:, asl; why l have appointed
,msn to the Fire Prevention Bu-
u,rnointed women to serve as in
.tars in this bureau, first, because
rerv large part of the work of this
- Is work for which woman are
u-ticrIarly qualified, and second, be-
nso there was available civil serv-
oiigihIe list containing the names
Il large number of very capable
NOV who had passed a very diff
&o,,it and technical examination
Ehich demonstrated their ability to
5erform this work. -,
4 7 nave none of the prejudices which
Lief in the minds of many against
r. anDlovment of women in public
&r.;tinfis believe where they have
SOsn employed women have demon
#roted a particularly high order of
Sbiiitv and fitness for public service.
$his is particularly true IN pupilc
Aork which has to do with social
kelfare for the protection OF health
. nd life. ,.,...
During the four years l served as
Sscretary to the late Mayor Gaynor,
had excellent opportunities to OBJ
ssrve the effectiveness of women in
A,,bfo matters both in office and out.
found that in the city departments
mere we're a great many extremely
Enable Jealous and public spirited
<omen who took unusual interest in
hejr work. and who took no note of
he hours Of their service, but rather
Measured their work by the urgency
Il the task to be done.
q In the committees of women who
Nften called at the Mayors office, and
Iho often appeared before the official
&hmmittees, there were many who
bowed exceptional intelligence and
.esources and a close knowledge of
&ubjic matters. Some of them had
4iyen more careful study to the
41estions before them than even the
#ublic officials had had time to give,
hid 1t often happened that the sug-
&estions made by women were ex-
temely helpful.
4 On the whole, I am a thorough be-
lever in the activity of women in
Subtle affairs, because l am abso-
H,tey sure that our Government ben
4fts by their interest and activity.
They bring fresh and unfettered
points OF view into the discussion of
Bublc affairs, and sometimes also a
higher moral standard than the men
below I do not think the quality
b our public service will suffer from
IN improvement in its moral tone.
Lacb Only EVreri~He~,
4 OF course women, as whole, lack
be experience and knowledge Of
Practical affairs which man possess,
but that Is something which can
De acquired. ! do not need to say
HAT there is ineff1ciency among men
b public position. Everybody knows
That to be a fact. In fact, no one
Fill deny that the percentage OF ef-
Hciency among women employed in
public service is as high or higher
han it is among men employed in
such service.
The women take their work much
more seriously, as a rule, study their
TASK much more conscientiously and
lake care to equip themselves more
thoroughly than the average run of
men do. 1t is because of this more
|N'NANl SNuNS anu P4 CBclA 1NAOlA III
their particular tasks, public officials
hnd a reasonably high order of ca
bacity and efficiency among women.
II is because of these reasons that, for
Rhe salaries paid, it is not infrequent
that a higher order of ability Is
found among women than among
nen.
In the Fire Prevention Bureau there
Is great deal of inspection work in
Factories, moving picture places,
fance halls, stores and places of pub
Pc assembly generally. When l APP
pointed the women inspectors to this
bureau felt that women could do
Ehese classes of work with a great
peal Of diligence and CONSCIENTIOUS
less and the results up to date have
fhown that l was correct.
This is the class of work which re-