HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1405

tions as may be specified in the rules by the Commissioner as
to age, sex, health, habits, moral character, physical condition,
and other qualifications, except as hereinafter provided that
are in the judgment of the Commissioner prerequisite to the
performance of the duties of such positions; provided, how-
ever, that the Commissioner may, from time to time, provide
for general rules exempting from competitive examinations,
positions to be filled by unskilled manual laborers, including
positions for road patrolmen under the State Roads Commis-
sion, and may, if he sees fit, provide in lieu of said competitive
examinations such system or systems of registration for said
laborers or otherwise as in its judgment will best provide for
such positions; and provided further as to all positions that
the Commissioner may by his rules give preference in competi-
tion for higher classes of positions to classified service em-
ployees or to classified service employees of a certain class or
classes by giving credit for experience and demonstrated effi-
ciency (not to exceed twenty per centum of all marks) in de-
termining the relative fitness for promotion of suck employees.
Honorably discharged veterans of the military and naval
services of the United States who served sometime during the
war with Spain (April 6, 1898, to July 2, 1902) or the World
War (April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918) and who have been
bona fide residents of this State for five years or more shall be
given special credit for such service. Such honorably dis-
charged war veterans who are disabled as the result of their
war service shall be given a credit of ten points in all examina-
tions for appointments. Non-disabled veterans shall be given
a credit of five points in all examinations for appointment.

The same preference as extended disabled veterans shall be
given to the wives of such veterans as have themselves been
unable to qualify for Merit System appointment because of
disability, and to the unmarried widows of deceased veterans
who had served in any branch of the armed forces of the
United States as aforesaid, provided, however, that they shall
be such wife or widow of said veterans on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; such honorably discharged war veterans
under fifty-five years of age granted preference shall be re-
leased from age limitation, except for positions of policemen
and firemen. Honorably discharged war veterans having
qualified with all such credits shall be certified for appoint-
ment, employment, re-instatement or reemployment before non-
veterans.

Promotion is a change from one class to another class with
a higher maximum compensation, and vacancies shall be filled
by promotion as far as is consistent with the best interests of
the classified service, in the judgment of the Commissioner.