of examiners. The seals are not broken until the competitors are assembled, and then only in their presence. An invoice of the papers shipped is inclosed in the package, and the local examiners are required to account for each paper shipped, both used and unused papers to be returned under seal, by registered mail, to the commission immediately after the close of the examination. The first paper given to a competitor in an examination is known as the "declaration sheet," and this is the only paper of his examination on which he signs his name. The declaration sheet is, in other words, a sheet of identification. It bears at its top a printed number, which is to be used by the competitor in place of his name on all other sheets of his examination. Before any of the actual examination is given to the competitor he must fill out and sign the declaration sheet, placing his examination number on a sheet of general instructions, or preliminary sheet, which he retains until the examination is completed. As soon as all the competitors have filled out the declaration sheets these sheets are collected, placed in an envelope, and sealed, there to remain until the papers of all the competitors have been rated. Competitors are invited to remain and see the papers wrapped and sealed for return to the commission. When the returned papers are received at the commission's office, they are sent direct to the examination question room, where they are opened and the invoice checked. Unused questions are returned to the proper place and the used papers are arranged by subjects, in bundles containing from 100 to 300 sheets. A bundle of papers on one subject is often composed of papers from many different examination places. After the papers have been so arranged by subjects, they are sent to the examining division for rating. Each examiner who rates exanination papers specializes on certain subjects. The identity of any competitor on whos paper he may be working at any time is unknown to him. The rating is done in accordance with specific rules laid down by the commission, and the work of each examiner is reviewed by another, not because of any suspicion of favoritism or unfairness on the part of the first examiner, but in order to secure accuracy in the rating. An examiner is not permitted to select the papers of his special subject for any particular place of examination, but his work is assigned to him by an issue clerk, who assigns it in such manner as to complete the whole most expeditiously. When the papers of all the subjects have been rated and reviewed they are assembled and the general averages computed, after which the envelopes containing the declaration sheets are opened. It will be seen that in this way the identity of the competitor is not disclosed until all the rating is completed for all of the competitors of the same examination. INCREASED USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRIES. The value of confidential vouchers as a means to ascertain the personal fitness and integrity of applicants for examination has been mentioned in previous reports, and in last year's report the extended use of such vouchers was recorded and still further extension of their use was advocated. During the past year these inquiries have been used to a much greater extent than ever before, and the results have served to emphasize more strongly than ever the advantages which would accrue to the service if it were possible to extend the system to practically all examinations. By means of confidential inquiries in letter form it has been possible to obtain accurate and reliable information in regard to the qualifications and personal fitness of applicants for all kinds of positions from the highest to the lowest. The system comes next in value to personal investigation. It has been extensively used in connection with rural carrier and fourth-class postmaster examinations where charges of unfitness have been made by patrons. It is believed that confidential inquiries should be used in all examinations except possibly those for the post-office service, which are usually held only at the places of employment, where the postmasters have every facility for investigating the suitability of eligibles certified to them for selection. For the service in Washington or for positions for which the nominating or appointing officer is stationed at a place remote from that where the examination may be held, it is believed that these inquiries should be made. So great an extension of the system would, however, materially increase the work of the application division and would not be practicable without the employment of a number of additional clerks in that division. The extensions already made in the use of confidential inquiries have necessitated the assignment of at least two clerks constantly to this work, while other clerks are engaged upon it for a part of their time. NEED OF AN INDEPENDENT PRINTING PLANT. In last year's report attention was called to the delays which have been experienced since October 1, 1909, in the printing of announcements of examinations and examination questions. Prior to the date mentioned the commission had such printing done at the branch printing office located in the Interior Department. With the abolishment of the branch printing office in the Interior Department it became necessary to have all of this work done in the main office of the Government Printing Office, and because of the delays to the work the results have been far from satisfactory. It is absolutely necessary that announcements and questions be printed promptly, but, as stated in last year's report, the delays incident to the change are usually from 5 to 12 days. No improvement in this respect, but rather the opposite, has been noted during this report year. On account of the confidential character of examination questions, it is important to be able to know into whose hands any set of questions has passed in their preparation and printing. While this is possible under the present system, yet necessarily a larger number of persons must be engaged upon the work and consequently a larger number have opportunity to see the questions than would be the case if they were printed in a small, compact office. Moreover, it is considered of importance that every employee engaged upon the preparation of questions for examinations, whether in the framing of the actual questions or in the mechanical part of preparing them for use in the examination room, should be under the direct control and authority of the commission. For the reasons here given the recommendation made in last year's report is renewed that the commission obtain authority and appropriation from Congress for the establishment of an independent printing plant in the commission's office, to be used for the printing of announcements and examination questions. Respectfully submitted. G. R. WALES, Chief Examiner. CIVIL-SERVICE ACT.1 AN ACT To regulate and improve the civil service of the United of commissioners. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized to appoint, by and with Appointment the advice and consent of the Senate, three persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of the same party, as Civil Service Commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the United States Civil Service Commission. Said commissioners shall hold no other official place under the United States. Removal of The President may remove any commissioner; and any commissioners. vacancy in the position of commissioner shall be so filled by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as to conform to said conditions for the first selection of commissioners. and traveling ex The commissioners shall each receive a salary of three Salaries thousand five hundred dollars a year. And each of said penses. commissioners shall be paid his necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of his duty as a commissioner. * * * "By the executive departments, when that term is used in the Federal Statutes, is properly understood only those departments specified in section 158 of the Revised Statutes, to which has since been added by subsequent legislation the Department of Agriculture [and the Departments of Commerce and Labor]. * * * The Civil Service Commission * * * is not attached in anywise to any of the executive departments, nor is it subject in anywise to the control of any of the heads of those departments. There * * ion, Atty. Gen., May 4, 1898, 22 Op., 62.) Through subsequent legislation the salary of the president of the commission is now $4,500 and that of the other commissioners $4,000 each. (Act of May 22, 1908, 35 Stat., 197.) Rules. SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of said commissioners: missities of comFirst, To aid the President, as he may request, in preparing suitable rules for carrying this act into effect, and when said rules shall have been promulgated it shall be the duty of all officers of the United States in the departments and offices to which any such rules may relate to. 1 Definition.-Civil service is defined as the executive branch of the public service as distinguished from military, naval, legislative, and judicial.-(Century Dictionary.) 65826°-15-3 3383 |