GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AXD PROTECTION. 25 



Selection. 



In selecting men from the civil service registers, pains should be taken to 

 look into their character and reputation, so that unfit men may be prevented 

 from entering the Service. If a person on the eligible list is found to be unfit 

 Lis name should be passed, and the facts reported promptly to the District 

 Forester. 



The experience and training necessary to pass the civil service examination 

 for assistant forest ranger can be obtained in but few occupations outside of 

 the Service, and usually eligibles on the register are persons who have been 

 employed in some capacity on the Forests. In selecting forest guards and 

 other temporary employees the supervisor should, therefore, consider their 

 natural aptitude and encourage promising appointees to perfect themselves in 

 all branches of Forest work. 



Assignment. 



When making personnel assignments the supervisor should carefully con- 

 sider the fitness of the man for the particular project. This precaution not only 

 obtains better results but is more just to the man. No one should be assigned 

 to work which he can not perform satisfactorily. Fully qualified men can be 

 obtained, however, only rarely, and. in order to insure the greatest possible 

 degree of success, the officer in charge should see that inexperienced men are 

 furnished with the most explicit instructions. These instructions should cover 

 not only the methods of doing the work, but should include suggestions as to 

 proper equipment and any other information which may prove of value. 



Authority to Assign or Transfer. 



The supervisor has authority to assign or transfer men on the Forest of which 

 he is in charge, but transfers to other Forests, after being arranged for tenta- 

 tively, must be approved by the District Forester, and must be reported to the 

 Forester when the transfer is made. The district foresters may arrange for 

 the transfer of rangers and clerks between districts, but if such transfers in- 

 volve changes in district allotments the District Forester will at once recom- 

 mend the necessary increase or decrease in the district allotment. The' assign- 

 ment or transfer of executive officers such as assistant district foresters or 

 supervisors, may be arranged for tentatively by the district foresters, but must 

 be approved by the Forester. 



Supervision. 



To judge a man's efficiency, it is necessary that the officer in charge shall 

 have an intimate knowledge of his character, mentality, and ambitions. This 

 can be obtained only by actual contact, and advantage should be taken of every 

 opportunity to get into personal touch with the man and to watch his work in 

 the field. Some men develop rapidly, others slowly, and this fact should be 

 taken into consideration when determining an employee's present and possible 

 future value to the Service. 



Officers should not hesitate to extend praise for good work; in fact, it can 

 almost always be given without danger. At the same time, errors, negligence, 

 or lack of industry should be pointed out immediately they are discovered. 



Probational Appointments. 



The civil service rules provide for a period of probation, during which time 

 appointees from the register may be separated for unsatisfactory services with- 

 out the formalities required to terminate absolute appointments. 



The probational period is six months, except for forest assistants and assist- 

 ant forest rangers. For these two positions the period is one year. During 

 the probational period the officer under whom the appointee is working will 

 determine his ability to perform the duties of his position. The conclusion 

 should not be hastily reached that the probationer is inefficient or incapable; 

 but when the officer in charge is fully satisfied that the appointee is inefficient 

 or incapable and that the public service will not be benefited by his retention, 

 the facts should be reported to the District Forester in ample time to permit 

 the initiation of the action required under the civil service rules. Retention 

 after the expiration of the probational period constitutes an absolute appoint- 

 ment. 



Salaries and Promotions. 



The rates of compensation of Forest officers on the miscellaneous roll are 

 fixed by the Secretary. Statutory positions are established by act of Con- 



