§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary to the Treasury what considerations led to the departure from Regulations adhered to since 1896 in throwing open the examination for assistant clerks to candidates who have not served as boy clerks?
§ Mr. MASTERMANOwing to the large demands in the last eighteen months for assistant clerks, it has become necessary to hold a special examination for that class. As it appears that the number of candidates available from the usual sources will be insufficient to supply the probable requirements, it has been decided for the special examination to waive the usual rule restricting the examination to boy clerks or ex-boy clerks and to held an entirely open competition. This arrangement is only intended to meet a temporary emergency, and will not be applied to the usual assistant clerks' examination, which will be held under the usual conditions in the summer.