Western news and the Libby times., 1932-12-22

How 1t Operates
By William BraekS5
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF
THE TREASURY

HERE Is provision In the Con.
sttutlon that says the federal
government has power to levy lmposts
to be collected at the customs houses.
Ii Is an obviously simple provision,
but performance OF the privilege &c
corded there has been the basis for
probably the greatest and most pro
ionged controversy Into which poll
ucians hav~ set their teeth.
Tariff fights" or tissues by what
ever name known have formed the
backbone OF more campaigns between
the political parties than Gun re-
member.
Millions of citizens of our country
know Of the treasury for one OF two
reasons. the money II handles or the
taxes 1t collects. A great many hun
dreds OF thousands know OF II. how
ever. because of the customs service
TINT was referred to. Next to tux
| collections. the treasury prahnbly
touches more people directly through
the customs service than In any 9th
er way.
Its primary function was to collect
| those inposts levied at the customs
houses. and ii does that Job. rs every
importer OF merchandise of any kind
| cun tell you. Not all imports are
subject to tariff duties. but those on
which the impost Is laid are exam-l
| ined with a fine toothed comb.
Customs inspection Is term that
IL broad In Its meaning. II goes be
yond just casual examination. II
means, actually. the most thorough.
going investigation. For example.
| the tariff law may say that duty is
| laid upon an article OF rubber. but
| 1t would add to that the phrase "or
| of which rubber Is the article Of
| chief value" II is up to the customs
inspectors to determine how much
| rubber Is used Again, the levy may
| be laid at 10 per cent ad valorem. or
! 10 per cent OF Its 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 have stated. the custoIna serv
Ice Is designed for protection Of the
revenues as we'll as for collecting
properly the duties on the mrrchnn
disc entering ports legally. In pro
tecting the revenues, II hns To prevent
smuggling. and here Is where another
old and distinguished treasury service
| should be called onto the stage. |
refer to the United States coasi
| guard, service Tint Is as old as the
| government Itself. military orgHnI.
.ntion that have always believed
| never has received the credit due 1t.
The original purposes Of the coast
| guard were named as protection OF
| life and property ut sen and preven
| tlon OF Illegal entry Of merchandise.
| II has the added duty nf stopping the
| Illegal entry OF liqnor--rllm running
since the nation hns been under the
| Eighteenth amendment. but he II
| said to the credit OF that 0rganzn
| tlons every blue uniformed officer and
man OF his crew retains the first con
| ceptIon Of the service AZ tradition
| to be followed. They may be found
In the places along shore That appnr.
| emily God forgot hnt where the storms
| of the sen strike hardest. and | have
yet to encounter single gnnrdsnan
| who complained Of the bitter battles
| or the hnrdshIps which are the lot OF
| the United States coast guard.
But while attention is directed nj
| uncomnlalnlng public servants. there
| Is another agency In the treasury that
| must not be overlooked namely the
| United States public henlth service
| Here Is group Of highly trnlnfd
! men OF science who delve into nnes.
| tinns affecting or likely to affect the
/ nations health your health and
mine. They do II without seeking
| public favor. for the nlhin love OF
/ learning truth. II seems
Many Is the warning the local pub.
| lie health department transmitted To
| the citizens OF community thrt Ind
| Its origin In the research and con
/ clusions 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. II was they. for In.
stance who shed the light Of science
on parrot fever few yenrs agn and
| taught nation how to fend II OFT
/ 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 81 refer
cnce to the office OF supervising archi
tect Especially Is this true under
| present conditions. when the federal
government Is proceeding with vnst
programs OF building. Every day,
the plans for Il post Office. or federal
ccnrts building. or customs house or
some other building with public
nnrnasn arn bplnP C0mulptpd and