for by law, shall be separate and distinct in its classification under civil-service rules from the classified service of the Treasury Department proper; but this shall not be construed as taking said force from the control of and subject to other rules and regulations made and provided by the Secretary of the Treasury for said Bureau.

REGULATION II.

Printers' assistants may be promoted at any time after absolute appointment, but not before, to the grade of operative, preference being given to those longest in the service who have been found faithful and efficient and are qualified for such promotion. The same principle shall govern in the advancement of operatives, skilled helpers, and all other employees within the classified service from one grade of compensation to another.

REGULATION III.

Operatives and other employees within the classified service may be transferred and appointed as counters and examiners of paper, money counters, feeders, and separators, but to no other position in the Treasury Department.

REGULATION IV.

Promotions from the grade of operatives, skilled helper, and all other employees within the classified service to the grade of minor clerk, with compensation at a rate less than $900 per annum, in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, may be made upon any test of fitness determined upon by the Secretary of the Treasury, not disapproved by the Civil Service Commission.

REGULATION V.

A transfer or promotion shall not be made from any grade in the nonapportioned force of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, or from the grades of feeder or separator in the office of the Treasurer of the United States, counter and examiner of paper, or money counter, who have been or may be hereafter transferred from the nonapportionment force of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, to any position subject to such appointment: Provided, That transfer or promotion may be made from the following-named positions, which are considered to be within the regular classified service of the Treasury Department, and subject to the apportionment: Director of the Bureau, Assistant Director of the Bureau, accountant, stenographer, one clerk of class 4, three clerks of class 3, two clerks of class 2, nine clerks of class 1, four clerks at $1,000, three clerks at $939, and two assistant messengers.

For the purposes of admission or promotion to positions in the mints and assay offices of the United States, the following regulations and schedules shall be adopted and enforced on and after the 23d instant:

SCIENTIFIC PLACES-SCHEDULE A.

Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within Schedule A, which can not be filled suitably by transfer or promotion, or from existing registers of eligibles, the Commission will hold a special examination therefor.

Schedule A.-Assistant melter and refiner, foreman in melting and refining department, refiner, assistant assayer, first assistant assayer, second assistant assayer, third assistant assayer, weighers in assayer's department, assistant weighers in assayer's department, engravers, die makers, chemist, foreman of laboratory, foreman of deposit melting, assistant foreman in melting and refining department.

EXECUTIVE, CASHIERS, BOOKKEEPERS, ETC.-SCHEDULE B.

Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within Schedule B, which can not be filled suitably by transfer or promotion, or from existing registers of eligibles, the Commission will hold a special competitive examination therefor.

Schedule B.-Cashier, chief clerk, assistant coiner, bookkeeper, weigh clerk, assistant weigh clerk, registrar of deposits, abstract clerk, warrant clerk, assayer's computation clerk, cashier's clerk, statistical clerk.

CLERICAL PLACES-SCHEDULE C.

Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within Schedule C, it may be filled by transfer or promotion of the mint employees on any tests of fitness determined upon by the superintendent not disapproved by the Director of the Mint and the Civil Service Commission; but if the position can not be filled suitably by transfer or promotion it may be filled from existing clerk-copyist registers of eligibles; but if no suitable register exists, the Commission will hold at once a special examination therefor.

Schedule C.-Assistant bookkeeper, clerk, shipping clerk, registrar clerk, medal clerk, pay clerk, time clerk, bank messenger, inspector, assistant, curator, assistant inspector, assistant curators, minor coin counters, assistant custodian, foreman of machine shop, storekeeper, counters, medalist, assistant medalist, foreman of deposit melter's room, pressman, chief doorkeeper, copyist, electrician, chief engineer, forewoman of adjusters, assistant forewoman of adjusters, adjuster of scales, foreman of machinists, registrar of accounts, foreman of carpenters, foreman of rolling room, assistant foreman, foreman of coining room, assistant foreman, assistant weigher, foreman of cleaners, foreman in assayer's department, foreman in acid room.

SKILLED TRADES-SCHEDULE D.

Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within Schedule D, it will be filled from registers of eligibles prepared after a simple examination not more difficult than the skilled-laborer examinations of the Civil Service Commission, and practical questions or tests to be determined upon by the superintendent. Certification may be made from these registers in the order of relative fitness, as determined by the marking, in the manner provided by the civil-service rules.

Schedule D.-Machinists, gas fitter, blacksmith, painter, millwright, carpenters, assistant engineers, fireman, captain of watch, annealer, prover, cleaner, roller, cutter, adjusters and reviewers, adjusters, melter, assistant melter, employees in sweep cellar, fine gold melter, gold melter, silver reducer, gold boiler, deposit melter, helper in assayer's department, skilled workman in assayer's department, laboratory helper, bullion samplers, plumber, assistant in acid room, engineers, conductors.

MISCELLANEOUS PLACES-SCHEDULE E.

Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a position within Schedule E, it will be filled from a register of eligibles prepared after an examination not more difficult than the skilled-laborer examination.

Certification will be made from these registers in the order of relative fitness, as determined by the marking, in the manner provided by the civil-service rules. Schedule E.-Oiler, gate keeper, watchman, sewing woman, foreman of laborers, H. Doc. 321-10

classified laborers, classified workmen, helpers in coiner's department, messengers, helpers in melting and refining department, janitor.

PLACES BELOW THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE-SCHEDULE F.

All positions below the classified service, or the positions filled by persons merely employed as laborers or workmen, will be within Schedule F.

The subject "Experience" will be considered as a part of the examinations for the mints and assay offices where experience is of practical value in determining the relative qualifications of applicants, and this subject will be graded as follows: One year, 70 per cent; two years, 80 per cent; three years, 90 per cent; four years, 100 per cent.

Experience will be given a relative weight of 25 per cent of the entire examination. In addition to the requirements of the application blank further tests will be made in regard to the character and integrity of applicants by proper inquiries of former employers and by such other means as may be found practicable.

No officer in the mints and assay offices of the United States shall dismiss, or cause to be dismissed, or make any attempt to procure the dismissal of, or in any manner change the official rank or compensation of any other person therein, in any of the Schedules A, B, C, D, E, and F of these regulations, because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations.

The provisions of the civil-service act relative to political assessments will be strictly observed. R. E. PRESTON, Director of the Mint.

Approved:

By order of the Civil Service Commission.

JOHN R. PROCTER, President.

WAR DEPARTMENT.

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT AT LARGE.

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,

Washington, D. C., December 17, 1896.

SIR: After a number of interviews with Colonel Mackenzie and Captain Goethals, of the Engineer Department at large, the gentlemen who were designated to assist the Commission in the formulation of a plan for adapting the civil-service rules to that Department, the following plan has been prepared and has the approval of the Commission:

For filling vacancies in the positions of assistant engineer and superintendent special examinations should be held.

For other technical engineering positions in this service an examination, to be known as the junior engineer examination, has been announced for January 12, and such successive days as may be necessary. This examination will be divided into two grades, to be known as the inspector's grade and the surveyor's grade. The subjects common to both grades are orthography, arithmetic, letter writing, penmanship, use of drawing instruments, use of engineer's instruments, including the transit, level, and sextant. The special subjects for the inspector's grade are the theory and practice of construction in wood, metal, and masonry on land and in water, and the principles of location and construction of roads and walks. The special subjects for the surveyor's grade are map making and the theory and practice of topographical and hydrographical surveying. A circular announcement is inclosed giving information in reference to these examinations. Appointments should be made from these examinations to the positions of computer, hydrographer, inspector, levelman, overseer, recorder, sextant observer, surveyor, topographer, transit mau, and similar positions.

Vacancies in the positions of boarding master, clerk, coal weigher, copyist, receiver of materials, recorder of vessels, recorders receiving over $180 per annum not

obtained from the junior engineer examination, stenographer, steward, storekeeper, timekeeper, typewriter, and any similar position should be filled by certifications from the clerk-copyist or typewriting and stenography registers.

The positions of barge tender, custodian, dam tender, fort keeper, messengerjanitor, torpedo-station keeper, trackman, valve tender, watchman, and any similar position should be filled from existing watchman registers.

Vacancies in the positions of draftsman, pressman, printer, and any similar position should be filled from existing registers for such positions.

The following positions should be filled either from the junior engineer examination already mentioned or from special examinations as may be required to demonstrato special qualifications: All inspectors, overseers, boatmen, steersmen, master laborers, master quarrymen, master mechanics, master masons, master carpenters, master stonecutters, master bricklayers receiving over $900 per annum, and all leadsmen receiving over $600 per annum, and similar positions.

The positions of deputy inspector and master, deputy inspector and pilot, deputy inspector and mate, master, pilot, mate, engineer of steam vessels, and all other employees licensed after examination by the Supervising Inspector of Steam Vessels should be filled from register of applicants holding such licenses, and arranged according to relative standing based upon age, character as a workman, intelligence and experience, and physical ability.

The following positions are to be filled from registers arranged according to relative standing based upon age, character as a workman, intelligence and experience, and physical ability: Inspectors receiving less than $900 per annum who are not secured from the junior engineer or other special examination, baker, blacksmith, blaster, boatman and steersman receiving $900 per annuin or less, boiler maker, bricklayer, calker, carpenter, cement finisher, cement tester, cement worker, chainman, concrete finisher, cook, cranesman, dredge runner, to include engineer for dredging, elevator conductor, gardener, gauge reader, leadsman receiving $600 per annum or less, lockmaster receiving $720 or less, lock and bridge tender, machinist, mason, master weaver of mats, motorman, to include all steam engineers not licensed engineers; overseer receiving $900 per annum or less, painter, pile driver receiving $720 per annum or less, pipe fitter, plumber, powderman, recorder receiving $480 per annum or less, rigger, rodman, sheet-iron worker, ship carpenter, stadia-man, stonecutter, striker, telegraph and telephone lineman, and any similar position.

Helpers to blacksmiths, calkers, carpenters, and machinists should be treated as apprentices, and obtained from registers similar to those for obtaining journeymen. The position of diver should be filled by special examination wherever other than the emergency service of a diver is required.

It is expected that the above plan, the details of which have been enumerated, will satisfactorily meet all the requirements of the Engineer Department at large. Please advise the Commission at your earliest convenience of any modifications you would suggest in the plan proposed, or of its approval.

Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF WAR.

JOHN R. PROCTER, President.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 29, 1896.

GENTLEMEN: Referring to your letter of December 17, embodying a plan which has been prepared by your Commission for the filling of vacancies in the Engineer Department at large, and requesting this Department to advise your Commission of any modifications in the plan proposed, or of its approval, I have the honor to advise you that the plan proposed meets the approval of this Department.

Very respectfully,

The UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

DANIEL S. LAMONT,
Secretary of War.

[Circular No. 1004.]

EXAMINATIONS FOR MECHANICS AND SIMILAR EMPLOYEES.

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,

Washington, D. C., December 30, 1896.

The United States Civil Service Commission will examine applicants for positions as mechanics, etc., for the several districts of the Engineer Department at large in the near future. These positions will be divided into two groups. Applications for employment in the first group will be received only from those who have been licensed by the Office of Steamboat Inspection.

The positions in these groups are as follows:

First group.-Deputy inspector and master, deputy inspector and pilot, deputy inspector and mate, master, pilot, mate, engineer of steam vessels, and similar positions where licenses are required by the Office of Steamboat Inspection.

Second group.-Inspectors receiving less than $900 per annum who are not secured from examination, baker, blacksmith, blaster, boatman, and steersman receiving $900 per annum or less, boiler maker, bricklayer, calker, carpenter, cement finisher, cement tester, cement worker, chainman, concrete finisher, cook, cranesman, dredgerunner, to include engineer for dredging, elevator conductor, gardener, gauge reader, leadsman receiving $600 per annum or less, lockmaster receiving $720 per annum or less, lock and bridge tender, machinist, mason, master weaver of mats, motorman, to include all steam engineers not licensed engineers, overseer receiving $900 or less, painter, pile driver receiving $720 or less, pipe fitter, plumber, powderman, recorder receiving $480 or less, rigger, rodman, sheet-iron worker, ship carpenter, stadia-man, stonecutter, striker, telegraph and telephone lineman, helpers to blacksmiths, helpers to calkers, helpers to carpenters, helpers to machinists, and any similar positions.

The examinations for filling these positions will include the following subjects: Age, character as a workman, intelligence and experience, and physical qualifications. All applicants between the ages of 25 and 45 will receive 100 per cent for the subject of age. All applicants less than 25 or more than 45 years of age will receive a mark proportionately less than 100 per cent.

Applicants will be required to furnish evidence of their character as workmen which will indicate the quality of work they are capable of performing and their ability as rapid or slow workmen, and also their record as to industry in the practice of their trade or occupation. Each element will be marked on a basis of 100, and proportionate deductions will be made for deficiencies in either skill, rapidity, or industry.

It is considered that an applicant for any trade who has reached the status of a journeyman has thereby acquired a passable standing and is credited with 70 per cent for experience, the mark required under the civil-service rules for passing an examination. This mark is increased in accordance with the experience of the applicant at his trade until 100 is reached as the result of seven or more years of actual experience as a journeyman.

An applicant who has no physical defects or disqualifications for the practice of the trade at which he desires employment will receive a mark of 100 for physical qualifications. Such deductions will be made from this mark as his physical defects may justify.

Additional tests, either educational or otherwise, may be imposed upon applicants whenever that course is considered necessary for the best interests of the service. The salaries that will be paid in these positions are such as should attract the most competent workmen in the various trades or occupations.

Those desiring employment in the various positions mentioned should write at once to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., for such blanks and information as may be necessary. Only those applications received prior to