Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-07
The Government at Work
The Treasury Department.

No other branch of the executive serv-
ice comes so close to every citizen as the
treasury department. II supplies us with
our money and every time we buy any
thing. from a stick of candy to farm.
we utilize the machinery Of the treasury.
: This department manages the finances of
the nation, collects its internal revenue
and its customs duties. pays the expenses
OF maintaining the government. and al
the beginning Of each session Of congress
advises that body what money will be
needed for operating the governmental
machine during the year.
This BIZ no means explains the full
scope OF the. activities of the department
The war and navy departments are ex-
pected 70 protect our frontiers and shores
from invasion by hostile military and
naval forces. The treasury department
protects them from the invasion Of tariff
lodging imports. and the landing OF con-
tsgious diseases from other countries.
Through the life saving service. il looks
after the safety of people at sea; and
through the public health and marine
hospital service It 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 af-
fected by fact. but by sentiment as well.
and the existence Of even an unwarFant-
ed sentiment will produce facts sufficient
TO justify that sentiment. In other
words. no matter how excellent the condi-
ton OF the treasury. IL a panicky feel
ing takes possession Of the people, IL Will
cause the revenues TO fall OF to such an
extent that the treasury Immediately Will
be embarrassed The actual immediate
treasury would not affect II as seriously
as even the most unwsrranted panic.
The major portion OF the revenues of
the government Is collected by the Gus
toms and internal revenue services Since
the foundation Of the government ap-
proximately ten billion dollars have come
into the treasury through the customs
houses Of the country. Two-thirds Of all
the customs duties is transacted at the
port OF New York. where IL costs cents
to collect 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. n. C., IL costs $3.50 to col
lect x-S. and at a Maryland port Is costs
400 to collect 81 cents. Efforts have
been made to abolish these small ports.
but political influence has thwarted them.
Elaborate precautions are taken to
prevent smuggling Men conceal dia-
monds in secret holes in their shoes,
women convert their bodies into huge
epools for rare laces or silks, or sew
New York or Chicago tags on Paris
gowns. in order to escape the payment
OF duties Vessel owners try to land
dutiable goods at PAGES where there are
no customs houses The treasury de-
partment therefore, must maintain
long string OF lookouts to Illustrate the
attempts Of the smugglers. The secret
service keeps a card index OF every
known smuggler in the world and close
~ follows his movements. Reports Of
all big purchases Of jewels or other
valuabIes are made TO the treasury de-
partment and its officers watch for
them on every ship that comes into
port The vessel that would land its
cargo elsewhere than at the ports of
entry must escape the eagle eye Of the
revenue cutter service, which patrols
the coasts Of the country for the pur-
pose OF detecting such violatOrs OF the
law. As the government receives ad-
vices Of the clearance of all cargo boats
from foreign ports bound for America,
the chances OF running the gamut sue
cessfulIy are so small that there are
comparatively few violations OF the law
forDiddIng vessels to discharge their
cargoes at other places than through
the customs house
When a person comes into port of
the United States the first official to
board the vessel is the quarantine Off
cer-a representative Of the treasury
department II all on board have been
In good health and there are no compli-
cations. the visit Is not an unpleasant
one But IL the vessel has contagion
among its passengers or crew, detention
AZ the quarantine station will follow
and much inconvenience results. When
the vessel is locked and the baggage Of
It's passengers unlOaded, there is wait
for the customs inspectors TO go through
IL To have ones baggage examined
infinitely ruffles many people. especial
Is women. but as long as a large por-
ton OF the travelling public regard IL as
no sin TO smuggle. such inspection will
have 10 be endured by everybody. An
Inspector stays on the vessel as long as
IL IS in port One week he may be sta
toned on an ocean-going palace and the
next week on a filthy tramp steamer. He
must watch everything that goes on.
The internal revenue bureau is the
second best tax collector the govern