years
from the date of their respective registrations, unless sooner
appointed.

Approved, July 18, 1884.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the Constitution,
and by virtue of the seventeen hundred and fifty-third section of
the Revised Statutes and of the civil-service act approved January 16,
1883, the following special rule for the regulation and improvement of
the executive civil service is hereby promulgated:

SPECIAL RULE NO. 3.

Appointments to the 150 places in the Pension Office provided to be
filled by the act of July 7, 1884, except so far as they may be filled
by promotions, must be separately apportioned by the appointing power in
as near conformity to the second section of the act of January 16, 1883,
as the need of filling them promptly and the residence and
qualifications of the applicants will permit.

Approved, July 22, 1884.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, _Washington, September 5, 1884_.

SIR:[19] With deep regret I announce to you that the Hon. Charles J.
Folger, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, yesterday died
at his home in Geneva, State of New York.

Thus has closed the life of a distinguished and respected citizen, who
by his services as an executive officer of the United States and as a
legislator and judge of his own State won the esteem and regard of his
fellow-countrymen.

The President directs that all Departments of the executive branch of
the Government and the offices subordinate to them shall manifest due
honor for the memory of this eminent citizen, in a manner consonant with
the dignity of the office thus made vacant and with the upright
character of him who held it.

To this end the President directs that the Treasury Department and its
dependencies in this capital shall be draped in mourning for a period of
thirty days, the several Executive Departments shall be closed on the
day of the funeral of the deceased, and that on all public buildings of
the Government throughout the United States the national flag shall be
draped in mourning and displayed at half-mast.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

FREDK. T. FRELINGHUYSEN.

[Footnote 19: Addressed to the heads of the Executive Departments, etc.]

In the exercise of the power vested in the President by the
Constitution, and by virtue of the seventeen hundred and fifty-third
section of the Revised Statu