EEPORT OF THE APPOINTMENT CLERK. 



United States Department of Ageicultube, 



Office of the Appointment Clerk, 



Washington, D. C, September 19, 1912. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit my annual report, together with 

 certain statistical information concerning the personnel of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, as shown by the records of this 

 office as they appeared on July 1, 1912. 

 Very respectfully, 



R. W. Roberts, 

 Appointment Clerk. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture, 



INTRODUCTION. 



As a consequence of the adoption by this department of the "dis- 

 trict system" established by the Civil Service Commission, having 

 for its object the facilitation of the civil service work pertaining to 

 the Government service outside of Washington, wherebv certifica- 

 tions, etc., for certain field positions are issued by district secreta- 

 ries representmg that commission at the 12 district headquarters 

 into which the United States has been divided, the Secretary of 

 Agriculture, on January 25, 1912, approved regulations governing 

 appointments, etc., in the field service, as adopted between the 

 commission and the department, for the guidance of the field officials 

 of the various bureaus, offices, and divisions of the department in 

 making selections for appointments, etc., to the field positions which 

 are embraced in the district system. The brief period during which 

 the operation of this system has been in force has shoAvn that this 

 branch of the work has been to a great extent benefited, and it is 

 expected that with further experience and familiarity in handling 

 the work under the new regulations increased advantage will be 

 derived from the application of the district system to the field work 

 of the department. 



Referring to the recommendations of the Departmental Com- 

 mittee on Efficiency and Economy in regard to the method of making 

 appointments and other changes affecting the personnel in this 

 department, I desire to report that the adoption of the "blanket and 

 notffication" system, inaugurated August 1, 1911, as distinguished 

 from the "individual appointment" system, which had previously 

 been in effect, has resulted in a decided improvement in the conduct 



1077 



