1. Persons who have a _prima facie_ claim of preference for
appointments to civil offices under section 1754, Revised Statutes,
shall be preferred in certifications made under the authority of the
Commission to any appointing or nominating officer.
2. In making any reduction of force in any branch of the classified
civil service those persons shall be retained who, being equally
qualified, have been honorably discharged from the military or naval
service of the United States, and also the widows and orphans of
deceased soldiers and sailors.