Executive Order 1275

The Secretary of Commerce and Labor has reported to me that in carrying out the plan of reorganization of the Lighthouse Service, it became necessary to place on furlough without pay a number of employees whose records were entirely satisfactory. The Secretary reports, further, that announcement was made that the furloughed employees would be considered for transfer to other branches of the service of the Department of Commerce and Labor whenever vacancies occurred.

Request having been made upon the Civil Service Commission for authority to make the transfer of one of the employees included in the list referred to, the Civil Service Commission has decided that under the rules and under the present condition of the apportionment transfer certificates ought not to issue for such of the furloughed employees as are residents of the States of Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland. I differ with the Civil Service Commission and believe that the circumstances stated by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor justify the transfer and that nothing in the civil-service law prevents it. Therefore, it is hereby ordered that civil-service Rule X, paragraph 8, clause (c) shall be waived by the Civil Service Commission so as to permit the transfer to the apportioned service of such of the furloughed lighthouse employees as may be requested by the heads of the executive departments. It is reported to me by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor that probably not more than two or three persons who are legal residents of the States of Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland will be affected by this order.

Wm. H. Taft.

The White House,

December 20, 1910.