Persons who were in the classified civil service on July 16, 1883, and persons who have been since that date or may be hereafter put into that service by the inclusion of subordinate places, clerks, and officers, under the provisions of section 6 of the act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States, approved January 16, 1883, shall be entitled to all rights of promotion possessed by persons of the same class or grade appointed after examination under the act referred to above.

7.  No question in any examination shall be so framed as to elicit information concerning the political or religious opinions or affiliations of competitors, and no discrimination in examination, certification, or appointment shall be made by the Commission, the examiners, or the appointing or nominating officer in favor of or against any applicant, competitor, or eligible because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations.  The Commission, the examiners, and the appointing or nominating officer shall discountenance all disclosures of such opinions or affiliations by or concerning any applicant, competitor, or eligible; and any appointing or nominating officer who shall make inquiries concerning or in any other way attempt to ascertain the political or religious opinions or affiliations of any eligible, or who shall discriminate in favor of or against any eligible because of the eligible’s political or religious opinions or affiliations, shall be dismissed from office.

  8.  Every applicant must state under oath—­

  (a) His full name.

  (b) That he is a citizen of the United States.

  (c) Year and place of his birth.

  (d) The State, Territory, or District of which he is a bona
  fide resident, and the length of time he has been a resident thereof.

  (e) His post-office address.

  (f) His business or employment during the three years immediately
  preceding the date of his application, and where he has resided each of
  those years.

  (g) Condition of his health, and his physical capacity for the
  public service.

  (h) His previous employment in the public service.

  (i) Any right of preference in civil appointments he may claim
  under section 1754 of the Revised Statutes.

  (j) The kind of school in which he received his education.

  (k) That he does not habitually use intoxicating beverages to excess.

  (l) That he has not within the one year next preceding the date
  of his application been dismissed from the public service for
  delinquency or misconduct.

  (m) Such other facts as the Commission may require.