The competitor is given his choice of one of two subjects on which to write a letter of not less than 125 words. One year the subjects were on the advantages of city and of country life. At another time the candidates were required to tell what they thought of our colonial expansion in Porto Rico and the Philippines. In a recent test one of the subjects was “Give your views as to the advantages derived from free public libraries in the principal cities of your State.” The object of this exercise is to test the candidate’s skill in writing an intelligent letter. Errors in form and address, in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, syntax and style, count against the competitor. The rules for rating will be found under a separate chapter. Fourth Subject--Penmanship. The rating on penmanship will be determined by legibility, rapidity, neatness, and general appearance and by correctness and uniformity in the formation of words, letters, and punctuation marks in the exercise of the subject of copying from plain copy. No particular style of penmanship is preferred. Fifth Subject--Copying From Plain Copy. Candidates are required to make an exact copy of a piece of composition. All omissions and mistakes, change of paragraphs, spelling, capitals and punctuation, count against the competitor. The following was given in a previous examination: No recommendation of an applicant, competitor, or eligible involving any disclosure of his political or religious opinions or affiliations shall be received, filed or considered by the Commission, by any board of examiners, or by any nominating or appointing officer. In making removals or reductions or in imposing punishment for delinquency or misconduct, penalties like in character shall be imposed for like offenses, and action thereupon shall be taken irrespective of the political or religious opinions or affiliations of the offenders. A person holding a position on the date said position is classified under the civil service act shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits possessed by persons of the same class or grade appointed upon examination under the provisions of said act. Sixth Subject--Reading Addresses.