[Fourth regulation for the civil service under the Executive
    order of April 16, 1872[34]]

The appointment of persons to be employed exclusively in the secret service of the Government, also of persons to be employed as translators, stenographers, or private secretaries, * * * may be excepted from the operation of the rules.

    [Ninth rule for the civil service under the Executive order of
    April 16, 1872. [35]]

Any person who, after long and faithful service in a Department, shall be incapacitated by mental or bodily infirmity for the efficient discharge of the duties of his position may be appointed by the head of the Department, at his discretion, to a position of less responsibility in the same Department.

    [Seventh rule for the civil service under the Executive order
    of August 5, 1873.[36]]

Applicants for appointment as cashiers of collectors of customs, cashiers of assistant treasurers, cashiers of postmasters, superintendents of money-order divisions in post-offices, and other custodians of large sums of public money for whose fidelity another officer has given official bonds maybe appointed at discretion; but this rule shall not apply to any appointment to a position grouped below the grade of assistant teller.

The amendments of the New York custom-house rules seem proper.

R.B.H.

[Footnote 29:  The positions for which applications may be made in the several offices are:  Collector’s and surveyor’s office:  (1) Inspector, at salary of $4 per day; (2) clerk, at annual salary of $1,200; (3) weigher’s clerk, at annual salary of $1,200; (4) ganger’s clerk, at annual salary of $1,200; (5) night inspector, at a salary of $2.50 per day, and clerk, at an annual salary of less than $1,200.

Naval office:  (1) Clerk, at an annual salary of $1,200; (2) clerk, at an annual salary of less than $1,200.

Assistant treasurer’s office:  (1) Clerk, at an annual salary of $2,000; (2) clerk, at an annual salary of $1,200; (3) clerk, at an annual salary of less than $1,200.

Appraiser’s office:  (1) Examiner, at an annual salary of $1,800; (2) clerk, verifier, or sampler, at an annual salary of $1,200; (3) clerk, verifier, or sampler, at an annual salary of less than $1,200; (4) openers and packers, at a salary of $3 per day.]

[Footnote 30:  See p. 181.]

[Footnote 31:  See p. 158.]

[Footnote 32:  See p. 231.]

[Footnote 33:  See rule 7, promulgated December 19, 1871, p.158.]

[Footnote 34:  See p. 181.]

[Footnote 35:  See rule 9, promulgated December 19, 1871, p. 158.]

[Footnote 36:  See p. 232.]

MARCH 6, 1879.

General E.A.  MERRITT,
  Collector of Customs, New York

SIR:  Your letter of the 26th ultimo, inclosing a draft of modification of the civil-service rules, was duly received, and the rules have been considered and approved by the President.  You may therefore act upon them.