US Presidency
1871

An advisory board of suitable persons, to be employed by the President under the ninth section of the act of March 3, 1871, entitled An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, and for other purposes, shall, so far as practicable, group the positions in each branch of the civil service according to the character of the duties to be performed, and shall grade each group from lowest to highest for the purpose of promotion within the group. Admission to the civil service shall always be to the lowest grade of any group; and to such positions as can not be grouped or graded admission shall be determined as provided for the lowest grade. 3.