The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-06

whose duty ft shaii be to determine the quallficptions of persona dcsir- mated by tic President for examina- ton to determine their fitness for possible appointment as secretaries of embassy or legation.
 "rhe examination herein provided for shall be held in Washington at such times as the needs of the ser- vice require. Candidates will be giv- en reasonable notice to attend. and no person ahail be designated to take the examination within thirty days or the time set therefor.
 "The examinations shall be both oral and In writing and shall include the following subjects: Internationai law. diplomatic usage. and know ledge of at least one modern language other than English, to-wit. French, Spanish. or German: also the natural. industrial and commercial resources and the corAmerce of the United States. especially with reference to the possibilities of increasing and ex- tending the trade of theN United States with foreign countries: Amer lean history, government and institu- tions: and the modern history since 1850 of Europe, Latin America and the Far East. The object of the oral ex- animation shall also be to determine the candidates alertness. general con- temporary information, and natural fitness for the service, including mem tai. moral. and physical qualifications, character, address. and general educa- ton and good command of English. In this part of the examination the applications previously filed will be given due weight by the Board of Examiners. In the determination of the final rating the written and oral ratings shall be of equal weight. A physical examination shall also be in- cluded as supplemental.
 Examination papers shall be rated on a scale of 100, and no person with general rating of less than 80 shall be certified as eligible.
 No person shall be certified as eii- gible who is under 21 or over 50 years of age, or who is not citizen of the United States, or who. is not of good character and habits and physically. mentally. and tempera- mentally qualified for the proper per- formance of diplomatic work. or who has not been specially designated by the President for appointment to the diplomatic service subject to exami- nation and subject to the occurrence of an appropriate vacancy.
 Upon the conclusion of the exam nations. the names of the candidates who shall have attained upon the whole examination the required mark win be certified by the board to the Secretary of State as eligible for ap- poirtment.
 Names on Eligible List. The names of candidates will re- main on the eligible list for two years. except In the case of such candidates as shall within that period be ap- pointed or shall withdraw their names. Names which have been on the eligible list for two years will be dropped therefrom and the candidates concerned will not again be eligible for appointment unless upon fresh ap- plication. designation anew for exam ination. and the successful passing of such second examination.
 Tn designations .or appointment subject to examination and In ap- pointments after examination. due re- gard will be had to the rule, that as between candidates of equal merit, appointments should be made so as to tend to secure proportional represen-
 tation of all the States and territories in the diplomatic service; and neither in the designation for examination or certification or appointment after ex- animation will the political affila- tions of the candidates be consider ed
 Transfers from one branch of the foreign service to another shall not occur except upon designation by the President for examination and the successful passing of the examination prescribed for the service to which such transfer is made. Unless the exigencies of the service imperative ly demand 1t. such person to be trans ferred shall not have preference in designation for the taking Of the ex- animation or In appointment from the eligible list, but shall follow the course of procedure prescribed for all applicants for appointment to the ser vice which he desires to enter. To persons employed in the Department of Sttate at salaries of $1,S0O or more, the preceding rule shall not apply and they may be appointed. on the basis of ability and efficiency. to any grade of the diplomatic service"