Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-10
CHARLES S. SHAUGNESSY

FTNHERE are many and unusual opportuni.
l. ties for women in the municinal service
according TO CHARLES $. Shaugncssy. chief
examiner of tho Civil Service Commission.
"Traning for civil service said Mr.
Shaugncssy. ''is an extension Of our cduca'
tional system, in that it is preparation
for citizenship of the best sort a more on
lishtcncd citizenship and a more responsive
one in all public matters is essential TO make
democracy n permanent success. Inc most
direct way to accomplish this is TO dovetail
the work of our schools with the prcpara-
tion for civil service. IT compulsory mill
tary service is necessary in time OF war,
compulsory civil service is just as essential
in time OF peace.
"All good citizens should be interested
vitnIly in the administration of the merit
system. When it is considered that at the
present time not more than 10 per cent or
ihc entrants to the city service are OF high
school grade. the need for the extension OF
n knowledge Of the principles OF civil service
into our educational system becomes ap-
parent.
In Philadelphia and New. York
"A survey was made in New York in
1920 to determine how generally women
were employed in executive positions In in
dustry There were 80 shops visited. rep
IcSpntlng Sixteen ulStlHcI lHuVstT"r. vi
these l4G were employing women above the
rank Of forewomen. and most of these places
had been gained through promotion from the
ranks, thus demonstrating their capacity for
responsible work and giving definite proof
thn, they would be equally effective In public
service
Some time ago we looked into the matter
Of cmploymcnt of women in the City Of
philadclphin aud were struck with the small
number whom We found scattered through
the departments in various capacities. We
refer now only to those eleven departments
which are under the jurisdiction of the Civil
Service Commission. wherein the employees
are recruited after qualifying in IN cxamina-
,ion which is usually competitive.
.'Of the $4,000 persons now employed,
only about 800, or i per cent. are women,
and il is amazing that this figure should
have remained practically stationary for the
Inst ten years. Although in the civil service
we do not think in political terms, there
seems to be no reason for the slnnll number
except that women did not have tho fran.
chise and did not seek participation in pub
lie affairs. 1t seems probable, also. that
they wcrc not encouraged to compete in the
civil service examinations.
Status Has Now Changed
.'Rut now that their political status is
changed and assured, there is both need and
reason for their assuming n larger share in
municipal activities. Although the service
generally is open to women. there are soy
cral broad lines Of activity that are c>pc-
cally adapted To womPn's capabilities.
There are. for example. the clerical posi-.
tions. covering clerks. stenographers, tclc-
phonc operators. auditors and accountants.
The salaries ranging from 5000 10 Sl:IlO an
nualy While there may be special require.
monts for some of them, the commercial hich
school course is usually sufficient, and under
any circumstances it furnishes an adequate
background There are also some kinds Of
invest igat ional work where women are rsuc
cially proficient, rs they also are in the
position Of housing and sanitation insprc.
tors. The peculiar character of housing in
! sprrt sanitation, llgh, mir
! and heat. factors which men generally orn
| not adapted 10 discover or to rcctlf, -
is closely related 10 housekeeping. and In
many other cities it is very extensively rcr
| formed by women.
"rhc Department Of Public IIrnlih has
the greatest number Of women cmpoyc. M
any of the city departments, IN being en- .
| uloyed there. This includes n variety nr
| rositions most Of which dcmnnl some sur
| clal training, but the trH!hin.' course is ,rry
! short except In the nursing service. ANA q
| high school graduate can usually eauip her'
| self very promptly for them. Tie principa,
y tSsitions are child hygiene nurse, social