The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-17

When the edict which goes into ef-
feet the first day of next month
changes the status of approximately
1900 yeomen CD here in the Navy
Department to that of civil service
employees of the Government, the
ruling will be met with a silent storm
OF protest from the women who re-
turn to their pre-war condition.
The protests will not be heard, how
ever, for as enlisted personnel Of the
navy, the word protest" was stricken
from their vocabulary with the oath
OF enlistment But the feeling of pro-
test is there, nevertheless, and on
every hand can be heard the objcc-
tions which arise from the women
Tho donned the uniform to serve
their country during the war.
BY the first Of next month there
will be no yeomen Cd in the navy.
And now, in order TO complete the
task before the first OF the month.
the department is mastering women
out of the service and giving them
the chance to remain in approx
mateIy their same positions as civil
service employees.
1t is estimated nearly IS per cent
will remain in the Navy Department
as civil service employees. But the
number will not be known until the
last day of July. and already IL IS
stated that between 500 and 500 yeo-
men I'D mustered out have refused
TO be retained as civil service en-
ployes and have left Washington.
Several Points of Protest.
ri
which the women take issue. In the
first place. the majority Of them, for
patriotic reasons, enlisted in the navy
at the beginning OF the war for a
period which they state lasted until
the Job was finished" And now, AL
though there is a quantity Of work to
do-work which they claim cannot be
completed in a year-they are de-
prived of the advantages which come
Of being members of military or
ganization, and are left to finish the
task as civilian employees Of the navy.
The fact that they enlisted for the
period OF the war to do work OF a
military nature during the war, and
then find themselves forced to con-
tinue the same work as civilian
clerks, seems to be one OF the strong
est objections on the part Of the
women.
Another, but less heard from pro-
test, arises over the efficiency ratings
given them while at work as yeome n
(F). in the department, which will be
used to classify them in their new
positions as civil service clerks. There
are several systems OF rating the
workers, individually, in vogue in the
different bureaus, each system in
augurated and used by the chief
clerk who presides at the head OF
the bureau. Some OF these ratings
will simply consist in classifying the
yeomen I'D according to their skill
as typists, stenographers, clerks
messengers, or women of proved ex
ecutive ability. Others will consist
in marking the individual as to her
efficiency Intypewriting, stenographic
or clerical work--which marking
will be done by an efficiency expert
and upon which will depend the pay
To be received as q civil service en-
ploye.
Graded As ''LaRdsmen.-
The yeomen I'D while in the navy
were graded as "landsmen," the low
est grade given, yeomen (Fl third
, class, second class, first class and
chief yeomen. the latter being the
highest grade which they could at
tain.
Some Of the women enlisted a.
"iandsm~n.' and afte" TO month