of the district, or from other person or persons
residing within the said district, may be addressed
to the Secretary of the Treasury, inclosing proper
certificates of character, responsibility, and capacity;
and if any of the subordinates so applying shall
be found suitable and qualified, the name or names,
not exceeding three, of the best qualified shall be
certified by the board of examiners to the Secretary,
and from this list the nomination or appointment
will be made; but if no such subordinate be found
qualified, the said board shall certify to the Secretary
the name or names, not exceeding three, of the best
qualified among the other applicants, and from this
list the nomination or appointment will be made.
If, however, no applicants under this regulation
shall be found suitable and qualified, the vacancy
will be filled at discretion. Appointments
to all other positions in the customs service in
said districts may be, until otherwise ordered, excepted
from the operation of the rules.
8. When a vacancy occurs in the office of postmaster in cities having, according to the census of 1870, a population of 20,000 or more, the Postmaster-General shall ascertain if any of the subordinates in such office are suitable persons qualified to discharge efficiently the duties of postmaster, and if such are found he shall certify to the President the name or names of those subordinates, not exceeding three in number, who in his judgment are best qualified for the position, from which list the President will make the nomination to fill the vacancy; but if no such subordinate be found so qualified, or if the nomination be not confirmed by the Senate, the nomination will be made at the discretion of the President. Vacancies occurring in such positions in the said post-office as are included in the subjoined classification will be filled in accordance with the rules. Appointments to all other positions in the said post-offices may be, until otherwise ordered, excepted from the operation of the rules.
9. When a vacancy occurs in the office of postmaster of a class not otherwise provided for, applications for the position from any subordinate or subordinates in the office, or from other persons residing within the delivery of the office, may be addressed to the Postmaster-General, inclosing proper certificates of character, responsibility, and capacity; and if any of the subordinates so applying shall be found suitable and qualified, the name or names of the best qualified, not exceeding three, shall be certified by the board of examiners to the Postmaster-General, and from them the nomination or appointment shall be made; but if no subordinate be found qualified, the said board shall certify to the Postmaster-General the name or names, not exceeding three, of the best qualified among the other applicants, and from them the nomination or appointment shall be made. If, however, no applicants under this regulation shall