1. Whenever any officer having the power of appointment or employment
shall so request, there shall be certified to him by the Commission or
the proper examining board four names for the vacancy specified, to be
taken from those graded highest on the proper register of those in his
branch of the service and remaining eligible, regard being had to the
apportionment of appointments to States and Territories; and from the
said four a selection shall be made for the vacancy.
2. These certifications for the service at Washington shall be made
in such order as to apportion, as nearly as may be practicable, the
original appointments thereto among the States and Territories and the
District of Columbia upon the basis of population as ascertained at the
last preceding census.
3. In case the request for any such certification or any law or
regulation shall call for those of either sex, the four highest of that
sex shall be certified; otherwise sex shall be disregarded in such
certification.
4. No person upon any register shall be certified more than three times
to the same officer in the customs or postal service or more than twice
to any department at Washington, unless upon request of the appointing
officer; nor shall anyone remain eligible more than one year upon any
register. And no person while remaining eligible on any register shall
be admitted to a new examination of the same grade.