The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-23
OurGoyerumeut
How 1t Operates
BY William Brxckart
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF
THE TREASURY


government has power to levy imposts
to be collected at the customs houses.
1t is an obviously simple provision,
but performance Of the privilege &C
corded there has been the basis for
probably the greatest and most pro-
longed controversy into which poll
ticians have set their teeth.
Tariff fights" or tissues" by what
ever name known have formed the
backbone of more campaigns between
the political parties than / can re
member.
Millions Of citizens of our country
know of the treasury for one of two
reasons: the money it handles or the
taxes it collects. A great many hun
dreds Of thousands know of it, how
ever, because of the customs service
that was referred to. Next to tax
collections, the treasury probably
touches more people directly through
the~customs service than in any 9TH
er way.
Its primary function was to collect
those imposts levied at the customs
houses, and it does that job, as every
importer of merchandise of any kind
can tell you. Not all imports are
subject to tariff duties, but those on
which the impost is laid are exam
ined with a fine-toothed comb.
Customs inspection is term that
is broad in it's meaning. 1t goes be-
yond just a casual examination; 1t
means, actually, the most thorough
going investigation. For example,
the tariff law may say that duty is
laid upon an article of rubber, but
it would add to that the phrase "or
of which rubber is the article of
chief value" 1t is up to the customs
inspectors to determine how much
rubber is used. Again, the levy may
be laid at 10 per cent ad yalorem, or
10 per cent of it's value. The GUS
toms inspector and the appraiser of
merchandise who work hand in hand,
so to speak, have to determine what
that value is.
AS l have stated, the customs serv-
ice is designed for protection Of the
revenues as well as for collecting
properly the duties on the merchan-
disc entering ports legally. In pro-
tecting the revenues, it has to prevent
smuggling, and here is where another
old and distinguished treasury service
should be called onto the stage.
refer to the United States coast
guard, service that Is as old as the
zation that I have always believed
never has received the credit due it.
The original purposes of the coast
guard were named as protection of
life and property at sea and proven
ton Of illegal entry of merchandise.
1t has the added duty of stopping the
illegal entry of liquor-rum running
since the nation has been under the
Eighteenth amendment, but be 1t
said to the credit Of that Organiza-
ton, every blue uniformed officer and
man of his crew retains the first con-
ception of the service as tradition
to be followed. They may be found
in the places along shore that appar-
emily God forgot but where the storms
Of the sea strike hardest, and / have
yet to encounter single guardsman
who complained Of the bitter battles
or the hardships which are the lot of
the United States coast guard.
But while attention is directed at
accomplishing public servants, there
is another agency in the treasury that
must not be overlooked, namely, the
United States public health service.
Here is a group of highly trained
men of science who delve into ques-
lions affecting or likely to affect the
nations health, your health and
mine. They do it without seeking
public favor. for the plain love of
learning truth, it seems.
Many is the warning the local pub
lie health department transmitted to
the citizens of community that had
it's origin in the research and con-
illusions Of the little group of med
ical men making up the service and
whose work in conjunction with state
and city health officers extends from
coast to coast. 1t was they, for in.
stance, who shed the light Of science
on parrot fever a few years ago and
taught nation how to fend 1t off.
Another example: they have studied
the anti-freeze solutions used in auto
mobile radiators and have branded
some Of them as dangerous to health
because the fumes given off are
poisonous.
No picture Of treasury operations
would be complete without a refer
ence to the office of supervising archi-
tect. Especially is this true under
present conditions, when the federal
government is proceeding with vast
programs of building. Every day,
the plans for a post Office, or federal
courts building. or customs house or
some other building with public
purpose, are being completed, and
they are prepared by or under super.
vision of the architects in the treasury.
Before those architects start work.
however, a branch of their Office has
examined available sites in the city
or town where the building is to be,
consulted with the local authorities
as to the needs, purchased the site
out of federal funds and has received