Executive orders-Continued. Relating to the Prohibition Service... Relating to the position of press helper, Bureau of Engraving and Printing... Relating to the labor regulations.. Governing hours of labor__-- Relating to examination for presidential post offices Individual exceptions from the rules___ Appointments under section 10, Rule II. TABLES OF STATISTICS Page 79 79 79 80 80 81 87 TABLE 1. Showing, by kinds of examination and sex, number of persons 2. Showing total number of appointments during the year ended 3. Apportionment of appointments from July 16, 1883, to June 4. Showing, for all branches of the classified service, the number 92 112 134 135 FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C., November 4, 1929. SIR: The merit system of appointment, established by the civil service act and rules, is increasingly effective in regulating and improving the civil service. The highest scientific, technical, and professional positions are being successfully filled through the examinations and we urge the extension of the system to the selection and tenure of all nonpolitical employees. The standard of employees is being systematically raised. In the early days of the classified service only a mental test was required. In time this was supplemented by a physical examination and where appropriate, a marking on experience. Now, for many places of trust, a searching character investigation is made. EXAMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS The number of persons examined by the commission during each of the last three fiscal years for original appointment, promotion, transfer, or reinstatement for positions classified under the civil service rules, and positions not so classified, and also the number • appointed each year as the result of such examinations, are shown in the following table: The last fiscal year marked a further increase in appointments. The departmental increase was due, not to additional activities in any single department, but to a general need for a larger force. While employment was likewise increased throughout the field serv ice, the most noticeable changes were in the Treasury Department, due to the growing demands of the Prohibition Unit. and in the Post Office Service. APPOINTMENTS IN THE BUREAU OF PROHIBITION The act of March 3, 1927, making competitive all positions in the Bureau of Prohibition, with the exception of that of the commissioner, in effect vacated all the positions and required their occupants to compete with all other persons on the outside for continuance in the service. The country is divided into 27 prohibition districts and 11 specialagent divisions, and certifications for appointments are made by these districts. EXAMINATIONS FOR THE BUREAU OF PROHIBITION It became apparent during the fiscal year 1928 that the commission's first examinations for administrative positions in the Prohibition Service would not provide a sufficient number of eligibles to meet entirely the needs of the Bureau of Prohibition for administrative officers. As examination results became available and disclosed the extent of this need for further examinations, the commission announced a second series of examinations for certain administrative positions in definitely identified prohibition districts. Experience had in the conduct of the first series of administrative examinations emphasized to both the commission and the Bureau of Prohibition the desirability of some modification of the examination requirements. Special attention was devoted to needed changes in the experience requirements. The investigation of the character, qualifications, and general fitness of the competitors admitted to consideration in the second series of administrative examinations extended well into the current fiscal year. Certifications of eligibles were made for the prohibition districts affected as promptly as given examinations were completed. The last of these examinations was completed and final certification made during the early months of 1929. The current requirements of the Bureau of Prohibition for eligibles for administrative positions appear now to have been met through competitive examination, and it seems probable that such turnover as is not met through reinstatements, transfers, and promotions within the classified service can be met from existing registers of eligibles. The table furnished below indicates the volume of examining work associated with the second series of examinations for administrative positions: |