1. There shall be open competitive examinations for testing the fitness
of applicants for admission to the service. Such examinations shall be
practical in their character, and so far as may be shall relate to those
matters which will fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of the
persons examined to discharge the duties of the branch of the service
which they seek to enter.
2. And for the purpose of establishing in the classified service the
principle of compulsory competitive examination for promotion there
shall be, so far as practicable and useful, such examinations of a
suitable character to test the fitness of persons for promotion in the
service, and the Commission may make regulations applying them to any
classified Department, customs office, or post-office, under which
regulations examinations for promotion shall be conducted and all
promotions made; but until regulations made by the Commission in
accordance herewith have been applied to a classified Department,
customs office, or post-office, promotions therein may be made upon any
test of fitness determined upon by the promoting officer. And in any
classified Department, customs office, or post-office in which
promotions are made under examinations as herein provided the Commission
may, in special session, if the exigencies of the service require such
action, provide noncompetitive examinations for promotion.