Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1920-01-15
Womeas Opportunity In Civil Service
Field.

Ilclu ullUCI ViiC
nited States Civil Service Com
will be open to both a
men and women" has drawn spe- /
cial attention to Government op. |
for employment. S
Ever since the beginning ofthe ]
world war women have greatly I
outnumbered men in the depart
ments at Washington, the esti- {
mates showing that they h ave
held from 60 to Is per cent ofthe
clerical positions. The record of
the last eight years proves that
never in the history of the ma
ton bave women been accorded
such variety of work or such
numbers of appointments under
the federal government. While it
is impossible to be Office holders.
Now and then they exact in any
statement regarding the office
army" of women who served du-
ring the war, it's strength was
approximately $1,000.
When the Civil Service Com
mission was established in 1883,
the act creating it provided that
women may, in the discretion
of the head of any department be
appointed to clerkships therein
authorized by law, upon tn e
same requisites and conditions
and with the same compensation
as prescribed for men, This
clause opened doors each year
to more and more Government
offices until women have won a
majority Of the positions. The
! new ruling has been made in
compliance with a demand based
on the belief that with all barri-
} ers to examinations removed wo-
men will be able to climb to the
: top and to occupy positions that
: precedent and special trainingor
j experience have always assigned
e to men.
s The duty of the Civil Service
r Commission is to certify to ap
r pointments andnotto make them
l. For this reason it has hitherto
r complied with the special re
II quests from the varions depart
!, ments wherever vacancies oc
y Cured by advertising an exami
Is nation for men if it was signitie'
t. that male
II employees were desired. In tn
~ same way many examination
t. have been limited to women. |
u is customary for heads of d.
IL partments, or divisions of d'
ne portments, to call for male regi
ters or female registers, accor'
ft- ing to preference. This remove
m- from the Commission all re ;po
r. sibility and prevents possible di
Id elimination. In conforming
oi the old usage it was believed tn
IN whenever a department reques
'ro ed male employees it was unfa
TO encourage women to compe
in an examination that offered
hope of actual employment.
-, Notwithstanding this long fl
ow lowed plan the Commission &c
,oo ded to waive previous rules
;t;. procedure and to open all exal
500 a. nations to both men and wOm'
Thus a woman may qualify
;, boilermak + and a man may po'
~. . his ability TO serve in the Cl
e dren's Bureau.
In view of the great number
eeh clerks required in taking
iils' census the Com mission will
OIL called upon to certify thousal
of men AID women who pr
erlv their ability to count and to c
: Is sify the inhabitants of the U
' - ed States. In this nationw
competition there will be no
lver- crimination except that of ="
next eran preference" which gi
preference to honorable disc
ged soldiers, sailors and mar
very and to their wives and to wild
Wade Of service men.
same -----
Our happiness does not