o application for examination shall be accepted unless the applicant
is within the age limitations fixed herein for entrance to the position
to which he seeks to be appointed: _Provided_, That, subject to the
other conditions of these rules, the application of any person whose
claim of preference under the provisions of section 1754 of the Revised
Statutes has been allowed by the Commission may be accepted without
regard to his age. The age limitations for entrance to positions in the
different branches of the service shall be as follows:

Minimum. Maximum.

Departmental service:

Page or messenger boy 14 18
Apprentice (or student) 16 20
Printer's assistant and messenger 18 No limit.
Positions in railway mail service 18 35
Superintendent, physician, supervisor, day-school
inspector, Indian service 25 55
All other positions in the Indian service 21 45
All other positions 20 No limit.

(These limitations shall not apply in the cases
of wives of superintendents of Indian schools who
apply for examination for the position of teacher
or matron.)

Custom-house service:

Clerk and messenger 20 No limit.
Other positions 21 No limit.

Post-office service:

Letter carrier 21 40
Other positions 18 No limit.
Government printing service:
All positions (male) 21 No limit.
All positions (female) 18 No limit.
Internal-revenue service:
Clerk 18 No limit.
Other positions 21 No limit.

5. No application shall be accepted for examination for a position which
belongs to one of the recognized mechanical trades unless it shall be
shown that the applicant has served as apprentice or as journeyman or as
apprentice and journeyman at said trade for such periods as the
Commission may prescribe.

RULE VI.

The f