departmental service of the Post-Office Department in the District of Columbia have been formulated by the Civil Service Commission after consultation with the Postmaster-General and are hereby promulgated:

REGULATION I.

1. All vacancies above those in the lowest class of any grado not filled by reinstatement, transfer, or reduction shall be filled by promotion: Provided, That if thero is no person eligible for promotion, or if the vacant position requires the exercise of technical or professional knowledge, it may be filled through certification from the Civil Service Commission.

2. Except as above provided, a vacancy in any class up to and including class 4 shall be filled by the promotion of an eligible in the next lower class of the same bureau. When such vacancy exists, the board of promotion shall certify to tho Postmaster-General the names of the highest three eligibles in the bureau, and from these names the Postmaster-General shall make his selection: Provided, That if there shall be in the bureau less than three eligibles in the class next below that in which the vacancy exists, the board of promotion shall certify in addition as many of the highest eligibles in the corresponding class of the other bureaus as may be necessary to make a full certification.

3. When a vacancy exists in class 5 the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names and efficiency records of all eligibles of class 4 in the Department, from which the Postmaster-General may make a selection: Provided, That if there is attached to the vacant position a salary paying more than $2,000 per annum, the names of all persons in class 5 who are eligible for promotion shall be first certified.

4. When a vacancy exists in class 6 the Postmaster-General may promoto any person from class 5 whom he may consider qualified.

REGULATION II.

1. No person shall be promoted to any grade from which he is barred by the age limitations prescribed by the civil-service rules.

2. No person whose record of efficiency is below 85 per cent of the possible maximum rating of his class or grade shall be eligible for promotion.

3. No person occupying a position below the grade of clerk-copyist shall be promoted to that grade until he shall have been employed two years in the departmental service and shall have passed, with an average percentage of 70 or over, the examination prescribed by the Commission.

REGULATION III.

1. An examination into the relative efficiency of employees, as shown by the efficiency record hereinafter provided for, and such further tests as the Commission may deem necessary, shall constitute an examination for promotion. No person except as hereinafter provided shall be eligible for promotion until he shall havo passed such an examination.

2. Examinations for promotion shall be conducted by the board of promotion at such times as may be fixed by the Commission.

REGULATION IV.

1. The chief clerk of each bureau, under the direction of the head thereof, shall keep a record of the efficiency of all employees under his supervision, and a similar record of employees not assigned to any bureau shall bo kept by the chief clerk of the Department.

2. The record of efficiency shall be kept on such forms as may be prescribed by the Commission after consultation with the Postmaster-General, and shall embrace

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the elements which are essential to a fair and accurate determination of the relative merits of employees.

3. A record of those eligible for promotion shall be kept by the board of promotion. The board shall have access to efficiency records and may at any time call for a transcript of the same.

4. The efficiency records of employees shall at all times be open to their inspection. If an employee questions his officiency rating, he may appeal in writing to the board of promotion. If the board does not sustain the chief clerk of the bureau, the question shall be referred to the head thereof and a full report of the case shall be filed by the board with the Commission.

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

In pursuance of the requirement of section 7 of the civil-service act, and in conformity with Rule XI of the civil-service rules, promulgated by the President on the 6th day of May, 1896, the following regulations governing promotions in the force of the Civil Service Commission are hereby promulgated:

REGULATION I.

All vacancies above those in the lowest class of any grade not filled by reinstatement, transfer, or reduction shall be filled by promotion: Provided, That if there is no person eligible for promotion, or if the vacant position requires the exercise of technical or professional knowledge, it may be filled through certification from the eligible registers.

REGULATION II.

1. No person shall be promoted to any grade from which he is barred by the age limitations prescribed by the civil-service rules.

2. No person whose record of efficiency is below 85 per cent of the possible maximum rating of his class or grade shall be eligible for promotion.

3. No person occupying a position below the grade of clerk copyist shall be promoted to that grade until he shall have been employed two years in the departmental service and shall have passed, with an average percentage of 70 or over, the examination prescribed by the Commission: Provided, That persons appointed to subordinate grades through certification from the clerk-copyist or equivalent registers may be promoted to the grade of clerk-copyist at any time after appointment.

REGULATION III.

1. An examination into the relative efficiency of employees, as shown by the efficiency record hereinafter provided for, and such further tests as the Commission may deem necessary, shall constitute an examination for promotion. No person except as hereinafter provided shall be eligible for promotion until he shall have passed such an examination.

2. Examinations for promotion shall be conducted by the board of promotion at such times as may be fixed by the Commission.

REGULATION IV.

1. The chief of each division shall keep a record of the efficiency of all employees under his supervision.

2. The record of efficiency shall be kept on such forms as may be prescribed by the Commission, and shall embrace the elements which are essential to a fair and accurate determination of the relative merits of employees.

3. A record of those eligible for promotion shall be kept by the board of promotion. The board shall have access to efficiency records, and may at any time call for a transcript of the same.

4. The efficiency records shall be open to the inspection of all employees. If an

employee questions his efficiency rating he may appeal in writing to the board of promotion. If the board does not sustain the chief of the division a full report of the case shall be filed by the board with the Commission for its decision. FEBRUARY 4, 1897.

RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.

In pursuance of the requirements of Section VII of the civil-service act, and in conformity with Civil Service Rule XI, promulgated by the President on the 6th day of May, 1896, the following regulations governing promotions in the Railway Mail Service have been formulated by the Civil Service Commission, after consultation with the Postmaster-General, and are hereby promulgated;

REGULATION I.

The General Superintendent, the Assistant General Superintendent, and the chief clerk of the Railway Mail Service shall constitute the board of promotion, subject to the provisions of section 3 of Civil Service Rule XI.

REGULATION II.

For the purpose of defining the order of promotion under these regulations, the officers and employees shall be classified as follows:

The classification up to and including class 4 shall be as provided in section 890 of the Postal Laws and Regulations of 1893.

Class 5a shall include clerks in charge of full railway post-offices, clerks assigned to duty as examiners, scheme clerks, record clerks, corresponding clerks, etc., receiving salaries of $1,300 or over, but less than $1,400 per annum.

Class 5b shall include clerks receiving salaries of $1,400 and assigned to duty as chief clerks, chief clerks at large, chief clerks in charge of lines, examiners, scheme clerks, and clerks detailed to duty in the office of the General Superintendent. Class 6 shall include all assistant superintendents.

Class 7 shall include the Assistant General Superintendent, superintendents of divisions, and the chief clerk in the office of the General Superintendent. Class 8 shall include the General Superintendent.

REGULATION III.

1. All vacancies above those in the lowest class not filled by reinstatement, transfer, or reduction shall be filled by promotion: Provided, That if there is no person eligible for promotion, or if the vacant position requires the exercise of technical or professional knowledge, it may be filled through certification from the Civil Service Commission.

2. A vacancy in any class, except the lowest, up to and including class 5a, shall be filled by the promotion of an eligible from the next lower class of the same railway post-office. When a vacancy exists the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names of the highest three eligibles, and from these names a selection shall be made: Provided, That if there shall be in the same railway postoffice less than three eligibles in the class next below that in which the vacancy exists and if the Postmaster-General shall require a full certification, the board of promotion shall certify, in addition, as many as necessary of the highest eligibles in the corresponding class of the connecting or adjacent railway post-office in the same division, whose clerks, by reason of the character of the mail handled therein, are, in the opinion of the board, best qualified.

3. A vacancy in any class except the lowest, up to and including class 5a in an office other than a railway post-office, shall be filled by the promotion of an eligible from the next lower class of the same office. When such vacancy exists the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names of the highest three

eligibles, and from these names a selection shall be made: Provided, That if there shall be in the same office less than three eligibles in the class next below that in which the vacancy exists, and if the Postmaster-General shall require a full certification, the board of promotion shall certify, in addition, as many as necessary of the highest eligibles in the corresponding class of the railway post-offices in the same division.

4. When a vacancy exists in class 5b, the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names of the highest three eligibles in class 5a in the division in which the vacancy exists, and from these names the Postmaster-General shall make his selection: Provided, That if there shall be in the division less than three eligibles in class 5a, the board of promotion shall, in order to make a full certification, certify in addition as many as necessary of the highest eligibles in the corresponding class in the other divisions.

5. When a vacancy exists in class 6, the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names of the highest three eligibles in class 5b in the division in which the vacancy exists, and from these names the Postmaster-General shall make his selection: Provided, That if there shall be in the division less than three eligibles in class 5b, the board of promotion shall, in order to make a full certification, certify in addition as many as necessary of the highest eligibles in the corresponding class in the other divisions: And provided further, That if the duties to be performed in the vacant position be not confined to any division, the board of promotion shall certify the three eligibles in the service who, in the opinion of the board, are best qualified for the duties to be performed and for the responsibilities of the office. Clerks detailed to the office of the General Superintendent shall be considered for promotion in the divisions from which they are detailed.

6. When a vacancy exists in class 7, the board of promotion shall certify to the Postmaster-General the names of the three eligibles in class 6 who are best qualified for the duties to be performed and for the responsibilities of the office, and from these names the Postmaster-General shall make his selection.

7. When a vacancy exists in class 8, the Postmaster-General shall promote any person from the next lower class whom he may consider qualified.

REGULATION IV.

1. No clerk below class 5a, who has not passed with an average percentage of ninety-five (95), within three years, an examination on the distribution of the States which he is required to work, shall be eligible for promotion; and, to determine his eligibility, his last examination on each State shall be alone considered.

2. No person shall be promoted by detail or transfer to a position which may be filled by the promotion of an employee who is eligible under these regulations.

REGULATION V.

1. The case examination and car record of a clerk shall constitute the examination for promotion to any position in a railway post-office. No reexamination shall be required for promotion to higher positions, cligibility for promotion being determined by the board of promotion, after considering such qualities as judgment, character, ability, and general qualifications of the persons competing. Records of efficiency and case examinations shall be made in such manner and on such forms as may be prescribed by the board of promotion, after consultation with the Postmaster-General, and shall embrace the elements which are essential to a fair and accurate determination of relative merit.

2. When, in the opinion of the board of promotion, the qualifications of eligibles are practically equal, they shall be certified in the order of their appointment to the class and line, or office, to which they are assigned.

FEBRUARY 6, 1897.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1. The employees of the Government Printing Office shall be grouped as follows: First group.-All skilled laborers.

Second group.-All persons employed in the mechanical trades, including proof readers and copyholders.

Third group.-All persons employed in a clerical capacity.

2. Where vacancies are not filled by transfer, reinstatement, or original appointment, promotions from class to class in the same grade within any group may be made on any test of fitness prescribed by the Public Printer and not disapproved by the Civil Service Commission.

3. Any person employed in one group who has previously been regularly employed in any other group and has been found qualified may be retransferred to his former group and grade without examination. No other person shall be transferred or promoted from one group to another group until he has passed the examination prescribed in section 4 or section 5 of these regulations.

4. Competitive examinations shall be held at such times as the Commission, on consultation with the Public Printer, may direct to determine the eligibility of employees of the first or second group for promotion to another group. Any employee of the first or second group who has served at least six months therein may file an application for promotion, indicating the grade or grades for which he wishes to be examined. The examination shall be the same as for original entrance to the grade to which promotion is sought. When a vacancy exists in any grade in the second or third group which the Public Printer wishes to fill by promotion from another group he shall make requisition on the Commission, and the names of the three eligibles standing highest on the promotion register for the grade specified shall be certified, one of whom shall be selected for promotion by the Public Printer.

5. When a vacancy exists in the third group, in the grade of clerk, the duties of which clerical position require also a knowledge of one of the mechanical trades, promotions may be made from the second group to the third group in the following

manner:

The Public Printer shall designate five or more employees having a knowledge of the required trade who, from the efficiency reports, are shown to be best qualified for the position to be filled. The persons so designated shall take the examination of the first grade with such practical questions pertaining to the duties of the position to be filled as may be determined upon by the Public Printer and the Civil Service Commission, and the three who obtain the highest general averages shall be certified to the Public Printer, who shall select one for promotion.

It is hereby provided that the assignment of a classified employee to act as private secretary to the Public Printer may be made without regard to the provisions and restrictions of these regulations. (Amended April 5, 1897.)

6. No promotion of employees shall be made during their probationary period. 7. The Public Printer shall designate and report to the Commission the group to which each position shall be assigned, and no change in such assignment shall be made without authority of the Commission.

8. All changes, transfers, promotions, and demotions, and the reasons for such promotions and demotions, shall be reported to the Commission.

9. In order to carry out the foregoing regulations the Public Printer shall nominate to the Commission not less than three persons to act as a board of promotion for the Government Printing Office.

Formulated by the Civil Service Commission.

Approved, January 15, 1897.

JOHN R. PROCTER, President.

TH. E. BENEDICT, Public Printer.