EXECUTIVE ORDER.

AMENDMENTS OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES.

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, _Washington, D.C._

Clause 2 of Departmental Rule VIII is hereby amended by inserting after
the letter "_d_" in parentheses in line 2 the following: "until
after absolute appointment and," and by striking out all after the word
"transferred" in line 4 to and including the word "made" in line 7; so
that as amended the clause will read:

2. No person may be transferred as herein authorized, except as provided
in section 1, clause (_d_), until after absolute appointment and
until the Commission shall have certified to the officer making the
transfer requisition that the person whom it is proposed to transfer has
passed an examination to test fitness for the place to which he is to be
transferred: _Provided_, That no person who has been appointed from
the copyist register shall be transferred to a place the salary of which
is more than $900 per annum until one year after appointment.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, August 19, 1893_.

The above amendments to clause 2 of Departmental Rule VIII and said rule
as so amended are hereby approved.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, December 4, 1893_.

_To the Congress of the United States_:

The constitutional duty which requires the President from time to time
to give to the Congress information of the state of the Union and
recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge
necessary and expedient is fittingly entered upon by commending to the
Congress a careful examination of the detailed statements and
well-supported recommendations contained in the reports of the heads of
Departments, who are chiefly charged with the executive work of the
Government. In an effort to abridge this communication as much as is
consistent with its purpose I shall supplement a brief reference to the
contents of these departmental reports by the mention of such executive
business and incidents as are not embraced therein and by such
recommendations as appear to be at this particular time appropriate.

While our foreign relations have not at all times during the past year
been entirely free from perplexity, no embarrassing situation remains
that will not yield to the spirit of fairness and love of justice which
joined with consistent firmness, characterize a truly American foreign
policy.

My predece