PRESIDENTIAL POSTMASTERS On July 1, 1928, there were 49,944 post offices, 34,253 of which were fourth class appointed by the Postmaster General and subject to the civil-service rules. The remaining 15,691 were outside the civil-service rules, being subject to appointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate; 1,154 were of the first class, paying a salary of $3,200 per annum or more; 3,472 were of the second class, paying a salary of from $2,400 to $3,100; and 11,065 were of the third class, paying a salary from $1,100 to $2,300. Between the date of the issuance of the President's order of May 10, 1921, and July 1, 1928, 19,470 examinations were requested under the order, 1,044 of which were for the first class, 3,791 for the second class, and 14,635 for the third class. The commission has reported to the Post Office Department the results of 1,025 examinations for postmasters at first-class offices, 3,739 examinations for second-class offices, and 14,454 examinations for third-class offices. During the same period the Post Office Department reported 16,643 nominations for appointment as the result of examinations, 947 being for first-class offices, 3,391 for second-class offices, and 12,305 for third-class offices. Of the total number nominated, 2,983 were ex-service men. Postmasters appointed by promotion during the period mentioned numbered 78 for the first class, 122 for the second class, and 3,211 for the third class. Most of the promotions in the third class were the result of the retention of postmasters who were serving when the offices were advanced from the fourth class. Postmasters reappointed during the period mentioned number 766 for the first class, 2,271 for the second class, and 7,281 for the third class. Of the 15,691 presidential postmasters, 6,331 had previous employment in the Postal Service. The following statement shows the number and causes of vacancies in the presidential class reported for the year ended June 30, 1928; also the number of post offices for which eligibles were supplied through examinations, and the number of promotions: Number of vacancies of postmasters reported at first-class offices: 49 Number of post offices for which eligibles were supplied. Number of promotions authorized___ Number of vacancies of postmasters reported at second-class offices: Number of post offices for which eligibles were supplied. Number of promotions authorized___ Number of vacancies of postmasters reported at third-class offices: 212 7 Resignations__. Removals__. Deaths Expiration of commissions_. Advanced to the presidential class--- Total__. Number of post offices for which eligibles were supplied.____. Number of post offices receiving authority for promotion of postmasters to the third class_--_ FOURTH-CLASS POSTMASTERS 184 110 90 191 57 632 693 3 During the year ended June 30, 1928, the department reported 1,417 vacancies of postmasters of the fourth class at offices paying as much as $500 per annum, 1,036 of which were caused by resignation, 202 by removal, 161 by death, 11 by declination of persons to accept appointment, and 7 by relegation of the office from the third to the fourth class. There were 933 persons reported as appointed-417 women and 516 men, of whom 135 were ex-service men. Appointments of postmasters at offices having an annual compensation of less than $500 are made upon the reports of post-office inspectors detailed to obtain information as to their suitability. A copy of the inspector's report in each case is forwarded by the Post Office Department for review and approval by the commission. During the year 3,010 such appointments were reported. 1,851 being males and 1,159 females. Of these appointments 358 were at newly established offices, 2,109 were to fill vacancies caused by resignation, 248 by removal, 271 by death, and 24 by declination of appointments by persons selected. The following table shows the number of vacancies of postmasters reported during the year in fourth-class offices including those paying a minimum salary of $500 per annum and those paying less, the number of certifications issued, the number of appointments, and the number of separations: Vacancies reported at offices paying a minimum of $500 per annum: 314 Cases authorized to be referred to post-office inspectors, 2 examinations being announced without satisfactory results__. Separations and appointments reported as at offices paying less than $500 On June 30, 1928, the number of rural routes in operation was 44,288, service being rendered by 44,168 carriers. During the year ended June 30, 1928, there were 1,163 appointments, of which 905 were made through examination, 32 by reinstatement, and 226 by transfer from other branches of the service. Women received 15 of the appointments made though examination. Of the total number of appointees 436 were granted military preference. During the year the declinations of appointment numbered 37, resignations 331, deaths 267, removals for cause 179, separations without prejudice 27, separations by transfer 121, separations during probation 3, and discontinuances under the provisions of the retirement act 406, making a total of 1,371 separations. The department also reported the establishment of 142 new routes. Of the number of routes upon which vacancies occurred, 584 were discontinued. The following table shows the appointments of rural carriers during the year ended June 30, 1928: This item includes offices paying more than $500 per annum which were authorized to be referred to post-office inspectors as noted above. EXECUTIVE ORDERS GENERAL ORDERS AMENDING THE CIVIL-SERVICE RULES AMENDMENT OF RULE II, PARAGRAPH 6, RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION October 26, 1927. Civil-service Rule II, paragraph 6, is hereby amended to read as follows, by the addition at the end thereof of the words underscored: 6. Except as provided in section 7 of this rule, a person holding a position when it becomes classified and subject to competitive examination shall have all the rights which he would acquire if appointed thereto upon examination under these rules, but he shall not be transferred without first passing the examination provided by the commission; and no person shall acquire any rights hereunder unless the Civil Service Commission is satisfied that he was not appointed for the purpose of acquiring such rights. AMENDMENT OF RULE VII, SECTION 2, REVOCATION OF SECTION 6 OF RULE XI, AND PLACING POSITION OF OPERATOR IN THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE IN THE APPORTIONED SERVICE August 14, 1928. Civil-service Rule VII, section 2, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth paragraph, which reads as follows: In the General Accounting Office: Operative for the audit of accounts and vouchers of the Postal Service by means of labor-saving devices. Section 6 of Rule XI, restricting transfers and promotions of operatives in the General Accounting Office, is hereby revoked. These amendments have the effect of placing in the apportioned service the position of operator in the General Accounting Office. ORDERS AMENDING SCHEDULE A REVOKING EXECUTIVE ORDER OF JANUARY 24, 1918, RELATIVE TO EXEMPTION FROM EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN ARMY HOSPITALS November 5, 1927. The Executive order of January 24, 1918, excepting from the operation of the civil-service rules civilians employed for the proper care of sick officers and soldiers in Army hospitals is hereby revoked. Schedule A, Section IV, of the civil-service rules is amended by the addition of the following paragraph: 16. Artificial-limb makers; attendants, nurses' quarters; bath attendants; brace makers; cooks; cooks, nurses' quarters; housekeepers; kitchen helpers; masseurs; male and female nurses, not including the Army Nurse Corps (female); student nurses; junior dietitians; junior reconstruction aides; dietitians; reconstruction aides; ward attendants; and other employees at Army hospitals directly engaged in caring for the sick. Hospital employees in the Philippine and Hawaiian Departments, and in Porto Rico. Hospital employees and sanitary laborers, including masons, mechanics, and mosquito catchers on the Canal Zone. Appointments to the following and other similar positions at Army hospitals will hereafter be made in accordance with the civil service act and rules: Bookkeepers; carpenters; carpenters' helpers; clerks; curative workshop instructors; dental hygienists; dental mechanics; electricians; gardeners; laborers; librarians; mechanics; packers; painters; seamstresses; watch men. Unclassified laborers will be appointed under the labor regulations in case they have been extended to cities where the hospitals are located. EXCEPTING FROM EXAMINATION MESSENGER BOYS EMPLOYED BY THE WASHINGTONALASKA MILITARY CABLE AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM March 3, 1928. Schedule A, Subdivision IV, War Department, positions excepted from exami nation under the civil-service rules, is hereby amended by the addition of the following paragraph, to be numbered 17: 17. Messenger boys employed by the Washington-Alaska military cable and telegraph system. EXCEPTING FROM EXAMINATION CONSULTING GEOLOGISTS, DEPARTMENT OF THE June 18, 1928. Schedule A, Subdivision VIII, Department of the Interior, paragraph 12, which excepts from examination under the civil-service rules consulting engineers and economists on reclamation work in agriculture, is hereby amended to include consulting geologists. As amended the paragraph will read as follows: 12. Consulting engineers, geologists, and economists on reclamation work in agriculture. PERMITTING APPOINTMENTS TO CLERICAL POSITIONS ON THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA PAYING NOT MORE THAN $100 IN GOLD PER MONTH TO BE MADE WITHOUT EXAMINATION July 6, 1928. Schedule A, Subdivision I, paragraph 15, permitting appointments to clerical positions on the Isthmus of Panama paying not more than $80 in gold per month to be made without examination under the civil-service rules, is hereby amended to read as follows: 15. All officers and employees in the Federal service upon the Isthmus of Panama, except those who are to perform the duties of clerk, bookkeeper, stenographer, typewriter, surgeon, physician, trained nurse, or draftsman. Appointments to clerical positions on the Isthmus of Panama paying not more than $100 in gold per month may be made without examination under the civil-service rules. CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE INDIAN FIELD SERVICE PLACED WITHIN THE COMPETITIVE August 14, 1928. CLASS Schedule A of the civil-service rules, Subdivision VIII, Interior Department, paragraph 5, excepting certain positions in the Indian Service from examination, is amended to read: 5. Indians employed in the Indian field service as disciplinarian and in minor positions such as judge, chief of police, police private, interpreter, assistant, and weaver. Paragraphs 18 and 19, Subdivision VIII, of Schedule A, are revoked. Those Indians now in the service under the provisions of the paragraphs which are hereby amended or revoked whose positions are not covered by paragraph 5, Subdivision VIII, Schedule A, as amended, may, upon certification by the department that they are efficient, be treated as classified. Indians separated without delinquency or misconduct from competitive positions may be reinstated in the Indian field service without time limit when the commission and the department are in agreement that such reinstatement would be in the interest of the service. Indians in the Indian field service who have qualified through second-grade clerical examinations and have demonstrated their ability to perform first-grade duties satisfactorily may, upon certification of the department that they are efficient, be given an unrestricted first-grade clerical status. Such Indians formerly employed may, upon certification by the department that they have demonstrated ability to satisfactorily perform first-grade clerical duties, be reinstated to first-grade clerical positions. Hereafter no Indian shall be appointed to a classified position unless reached for certification upon competitive examination, except as herein provided, but |