§ Mr. ALDENasked the Secretary to the Treasury why promotion to port clerkships are not in the direct line of assistant clerks employed in the Customs Statistical Office; to what class are assistant clerks in the Statistical Office eligible for promotion, according to their conditions of service; and under what order are they eligibe for promotion to minor staff officers, as stated in the reply of 1st November, 1909?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPort clerkships are recruited by means of a special Civil Service examination, and are, therefore, not in the direct line of promotion of any 473W grade. Assistant clerks are, however, eligible for promotion to these posts and to junior clerkships in the Statistical Office, exceptionally, on the ground of special merit. They are also eligible, under Treasury authority, for advancement to the position of minor staff officer.