Executive Order 1467

Section 4 of Rule X, which is as follows, is hereby revoked:

Physicians employed as pension-examining surgeons, whether organized in boards or working individually under the direction of the Commissioner of Pensions, and carriers in the Rural Free-Delivery Service, shall not be transferred to any other positions in the classified service.

Section 11 of Rule X, which is as follows, is hereby transposed to become section 4.

Any person who has served for at least two years in the office of the President of the United States may be transferred to a competitive classified position upon such tests of fitness as the commission may deem proper.

This amendment to the civil-service rules is recommended by the Civil Service Commission and by the Postmaster General so far as it relates to the prohibition of the transfer of rural carriers. The pension-examining surgeons, although for a time nominally in the competitive classified service, were never so reported or regarded by the department as classified, and since May 29, 1899, have been specifically excepted from examination. The prohibition against their transfer contained in section 4 of Rule X is without effect, as such transfers are prohibited by section 2 of the same rule. The prohibition upon the transfer of rural carriers is removed for the reason that certifications for the appointment of rural carriers are now made in the same manner as for other positions in the classified service, and, upon agreement of the Postmaster General and the Civil Service Commission, an examination will hereafter be given for the position which is substantially the same as that now given for the position of clerk and carrier at classified post offices. The Postmaster General has stated that it would be in the interests of the service to permit exchanges between city letter carriers and rural letter carriers, provided the rural carriers pass the examination required for appointment to the position of city carrier. Aside from the benefits which may result from the transfer of rural carriers to the position of city carrier, eligibility for transfer will probably, by increasing competition, raise the standard of fitness of rural carriers. The amendment will make rural carriers eligible for transfers upon meeting the requirements as to physical condition and examination.

The reason for transposing section 11 of the rule is that it is the last section added to the transfer rule and that certain sections of this rule have been well established in the literature of the Civil Service Commission, and their renumbering might lead to confusion and necessitate changes in literature.

Wm. H. Taft.

The White House,

February 1, 1912.