The Detroit times., 1910-10-12

beginning OF each .
session Of congress - =. -
advises that body what money will be
needed for operating the governmental
machine during the year
This by no means explains the full
scope OF the activities OF the depart
ment. The war and navy departments
are expected to protect our frontiers
and shores from invasion by hostile
military and naval forces. The treas
ury department protects them from
the invasion Of tarifY-dodging imports.
and the landing OF contagious diseases
from other countries. Through the
service, 1t looks after the
safety OF people at sea: and through
the public health and marine hospital
service II looks after the health OF the
nation.
In dealing with the public credit. the
treasury department has to do with
one Of the most sensitive things known
to man. Not only Is the public credit
affected by fact, but by sentiment ns
well, and the existence OF even an un.
warranted sentiment will produce facts
sufficient to justify that sentiment. IN
other words, no matter how excellent
the condition OF the treasury, IL pan.
icky feeling takes possession OF the
people. II will cause the revenues 10
fall OF to such an extent that the
treasury Immediately will be embar.
raised. The actual immediate loss oil
hundred million dollars from the
treasury would not affect II as seri'
ously as even the most unwarranfed
panic.
The major portions OF the revenue 8
OF the government Is collected by the
customs and internal revenue services
Since the foundation Of the govern
ment approximately ten billion dollars
have come into the treasury through
the customs houses OF the country
Two-thirds OF all the customs bust
ness Is transacted at the port of New
York, where II costs two cents to col
lect each dollar of revenue. There are
a number Of other customs houses
some located at important cities along
the coast and along the frontiers
while others are found at smaller
towns. At Beaufort. North Carolina
II costs flfteen hundred dollars to COS
lect $1.55. and at Maryland port Il
costs $1,000 to collect 81 cents. Ef
small ports. but political influence has
thwarted them.
Elaborate precautions are taken tc
prevent smuggling. Men conceal lia
monds in secret holes In their shoes
women convert their bodies into huge
spools for rare laces or silks, or sew
New York or Chicago tags on Paris
gowns, In order to escape the pay
ment OF duties. Vessel owners try it
land dutiable goods at places where
there are no customs houses. This
treasury department therefore mug'
maintain a long string OF lookouts t.
Illustrate the attempts OF the SNUG
glers. The secret service keeps
card index of every known smuggie'
In the world and closely follows MI
movements. Reports OF all big pur
chases of jewels or other valuab.es
are made to the treasury department
and its officers watch for them or
every ship that comes into port. The
vessel that would land its cargo else
where than at the ports OF entry mus
escape the eagle eye OF the venue
cutter service, which patrols the coasts
OF the country for the purpose OF de
tecting such violators Of the law. Al
the government receives advices o.
tie c'eargnces Of all cargo boats from
foreign ports bound Tor America. tho
chances of running the gamut success
foil, are so small that the e are com
paratively few violations OF the Law
fcrbiddins vessels TO discharge thei'
cargoes at other places than throug.
the customs house.
When q person comes into a por
OF the United States the first ohcia
TO board the vessel Is the quarantine
officer-a representative OF the treas
ury department. II all on board have
been in good health and there are nc
complications, the visit Is not an un
pleasant one. But II the vessel has
contagion among It's passengers OF
crew, detention at the quarantine sta
ton will follow and much inconven
fence results. When the vessel |.
locked and the baggage Of It's passen
gers unloaded, there Is walt for thu
customs inspectors to 20 through II
To have ones baggage examined min
utely rufYles many people, especiall,
women. but as long as large por
ton of the travelling public regard j
as no sin to smuggle. such inspection
will have to be endured by everybody
An inspector stays on the vessel al
long as II IL In port. One week M
may be stationed on an ocean-goint
palace and the next week on filth,
tramp. steamer re must watcf
everything that goes on.
The internal revenue bureau Is thu
second best tax collector the govern
ment has. Its receipts amount to sew
eral hundred million dollars ever,
wear. II was organized early In tn
history Of the nation. What the banl
bill was at Philadelphia or the shill
ing niece at Lancaster, that was wills
XIV TO the town In Western Pennsyl
yania in 1871. A gallon OF good rye
whisky was worth exactly a shilling
piece. and constituted, SO to speak
the coin OF the realm. In that year
tax of from seven to eighteen cents
gallon was levied on whisky, and thii
tax led to the first resistance agains
the government of the United States
These violators of the law were tn
forerunners OF the present generation
OF moonshiners. The present high tn
of S1.10 a gallon makes moonshinins
a profitable business. and there arr
no drawer men to be found than TIT
revenue agents whose duty II is u