xvi UNITED STATES Secretai'y. — Edward A. Moseley. Has general supervision of the clerks and employees and business of the commission. Civil Service Commission. — John R. Froctor, President; John B. Harlow^ Mark S. Brewer. Chief Examiner. — A. R. Serven. Secretary. — John T. Doyle. Tliis commission was establislied by law approved Jan. 16, 1883, being an act "to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States." The duties of the commission are to conduct competitive examinations, certify appointments when called for by officers having the power of appointment, and in general to execute the laws relating to the civil ser- vice and the rules established thereunder. The Chief Examiner has charge of the construction of examination papers and the conduct of examinations, while the Secretary performs the duties of a chief clerk. Government Printing Office. — F. W. Palmer, Public Printer. Has charge of all business relating to the public printing and binding. Chief Clerk. — W. H. Collins. Has general supervision of the clerks and clerical business of the office; conducts correspondence relating to public business, and performs such other duties as may be assigned to him by the head of the office. Connected with the office are the Foreman of Printing, Foreman of Binding, Superintendent of Documents, and Foreman in charge of Con- gressional Records. Tiie duties of these officers are sufficiently indicated by their titles, except those of the Superintendent of Documents, who has general supervision of all public documents other than those printed for the use of the two houses of Congress and the several Departments. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. — George M. Bowers., Commissioner. Chief Clerk. — I. H. Dunlap. Disbursing Agent. — W. P. Titcomb. The Commissioner is required to be a person of scientific and practical acquaintance with the fish and fisheries of the sea, coast, and inland waters. His work covers the propagation of useful food fishes; the in- quiry into the causes of decrease of food fishes in the lakes, rivers, etc., and the collection and compilation of statistics of the fislieries, and the study of their methods and relations. In the prosecution of its work the Commission has 30 stations in different parts of the countr}-, 4 fish-dis- tributing cars, 2 steam vessels, and 1 sailing vessel. Board on Geographic Names. — Henry Gannett., Chairman, with eight associates. Secretary. — Marcus Baker. This board was organized to secure uniform usage in regard to geo- graphic nomenclature and orthography, particularly upon the maps and charts issued by the various Departments and Bureaus, and its decisions are to be accepted as standard authority in such matters. Bureaii of American Bepublics. — Russell Hastings, Director. Secretary. — Horacio Guzman. Chief CVerA;. —Williams C. Fox. This bureau was established to secure the prompt collection and distri- bution of commercial information concerning the different American Re- publics, and is supported by contributi(Uis from them in proportion to their population. It publishes translations of the tariffs of the countries of Latin America; hand-books of the different countries; a monthly bulletin containing the latest information respecting resources, commerce, and
