ot three
eligibles resident in said counties, then certification shall be made in
like manner from the counties of said State or Territory nearest to the
line of said road in which there are three eligibles; or if there are
not three eligibles upon the register of said State or Territory, then
certification may be made from the register of any adjoining State or
Territory: _Provided further_, That if upon the register of the State
or Territory in which vacancy exists there are the names of eligibles
having a claim of preference under section 1754, Revised Statutes, the
names of such eligibles shall be certified before the names of other
eligibles of higher grade.

At the end of the rule add an additional section, as follows:

7. In case of public and pressing exigency demanding the immediate
employment of experienced railway mail clerks who can not be at once
supplied in the manner provided for in section 2 of this rule, or by
transfer under Rule V, or reappointment under Rule VI, there may be
employed, without examination or certification, under such regulations
as the Postmaster-General may prescribe, for a period not to exceed
thirty days, which, with the consent of the Commission, may be extended
to sixty days, any persons who have been in the railway mail service,
who have the requisite knowledge and experience, who may be available.
Every such employment and the reasons therefor shall be at once
reported to the Commission.

Approved, November 1, 1889.

BENJ. HARRISON.

AMENDMENT OF CIVIL-SERVICE RULES.

Special Customs Rule No. 1 is hereby amended by adding to the places
excepted from examination at the port of New York the following:

Office of the General Appraiser: Chief clerk and law clerk.

Approved, November 18, 1889.

BENJ. HARRISON.

FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, December 3, 1889_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

There are few transactions in the administration of the Government
that are even temporarily held in the confidence of those charged
with the conduct of the public business. Every step taken is under the
observation of an intelligent and watchful people. The state of the
Union is known from day to day, and suggestions as to needed legislation
find an earlier voice than that which speaks in these annual
communications of the President to Congress.

Good will and cordiality have cha