Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-29

almost overwhelm Mr.. Roberts for per-
mits to see the outside wrappings of
this almost inconceivable wealth. The
Treasurer holds that every citizen has
an interest In the money, and conse-
quenuy II he gets any satisfaction in
looking at 1t and In examining the
vaults in which 1t is kept, he Is entitled
to that satisfaction. Consequently none
Is turned from his Office without the
necessary permit unless there is some
special reason for Withholding It
best Show In Washington.
The hospitable welcome given visit
ors, together with the sordld delight
Americans take in seeing vast stores
of money, makes the treasury one Of
the best showhouses In Washington.
We're an admission fee charged to the
silver vaults the revenues Of the Gov
eminent would be appreciably in
creased, for there 10 rarely a day that
from 1000 to 1000 persons do not feast
their eyes on the crisp new bills tied up
in packages containing from $4,000 to
100000, according to the denomina-
ton or voice their approval Of the ap-
parently wanton destruction Of the
precious bills In the division of redemp-
ton.
Sightseers come from all over the
world. One day when 1t was partlcu-
larly gloomy and disagreeable outside,
so that there was not much doing in the
tourist line, Treasurer Roberts took the
trouble to keep track Of his callers. Ex-
actly 100 persons entered his office that
day on other than departmental bust
ness. They represented thirty-five
States, seven foreign countries and
nearly forty different nationalities. The
foreigners came from Great Britain,
France, China. India, Germany, Africa
and Australia.
Matters are arranged so that the visit
will impress itself upon the minds Of
the strangers There is corps Of we'll
drilled guides maintained, who. after
Mr., Roberts has passed upon the per-
NIT, see that the stranger registers his
name in little book kept for the pur-
pose. This Is for the purpose Of assist
Ing the Government later on In case a
silver certificate or a gold bond Is miss
ed during the day. They first go to the
vault where the money Ia kept, which
Is used in the current business Of the
treasury. After the necessary signing
and countersigning Of the permit they
are admitted. The cashier In charge
hands around small frame, which in
closes two well-worn $4,000 bills and
one of 5000.
"There!" he says, triumphantly.
You've had $4,000 in your hand"
Shown Millions In Bonds.
Bigger things come later on in the trip
when they are permitted to fondle
millions of gold bonds in the national
bank division or to look at the doors
behind which are stored tons Of pre-.
cious gold and silver which has been
stamped into coin. Because Of the cleo
trical appliances they cannot see the
bags Of coin. Any attempt to move the
magnetized doors, the guide impressive
ly relates. would result in calling the
seventy-three heavily armed guards
who are constantly kept at the treas
ury to protect the money.
III we were as money mad az some
foreigners would make US out" OBJ
served Treasurer Roberts, "visltors at
the department would not conduct
themselves as well as they do. l pre-
sumo 100000 persons have gone
through the vaults during my tenure
Of office, but so far as l know not one
has made an attempt to get hold of apy
If the money. or course, we keep close
watch on them. but If the American
people were insane on the question Of
money this would be good place tn
note interesting symptoms We l,k,
money, but we are not SO crazy abou,
IT as our foreign friends profess to he.
lleve. At least the presence of tho
cause Of our alleged madness does NOT
seem to aggravate the disease"
There are some men in the world 70
good that when they are seen on the
streets after o o'clock. II ia wordo-nd