Washington, its sights and insights [1909]Monroe, Harriet Earhart
History
Washington, its sights and insights [1909]
Monroe, Harriet Earhart
Washington (D.C.) -- Description and travel
In 1895 I was abroad with a company of Presbyterians; among them was
Professor G., of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of California. He
happened to fall in with a little coterie of friends of whom I was one.
The most of us bought photos and souvenirs in almost every city. The
professor bought nothing. One day he said: "I would so like to have
brought my wife with me, but I was not able to do so. I shall be very
saving, so I can take her back a nice present." When we were in Italy
some fool woman suggested a cameo pin as a suitable and beautiful
present for his wife. Cameo pins have been out of fashion for twenty
years. He purchased one of great beauty for $30. As we came into port, a
friend said: "Professor, you had better let some woman wear that pin for
you or you will have trouble." "Thank you, no; I expect to pay the
required duty to my country." "Oh, you do not know your country yet;
you'll get a dose!" He paid $27 duty, and had not money enough left to
get home. I felt that this duty was an outrage. Things of beauty which
are not for sale should surely be admitted free.
The Treasury is the heart of the whole machine that we call the "United
States Government."
XVI
SECRET SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
OF THE UNITED STATES
EVERY one is interested in what is called the Secret Service of the
government. The name covers many things, altho we usually associate it
with the government's protection of the coin and greenback currency of
the country.
The detectives of this department are often employed in assisting to
find out or run down robbers of banks, railroad trains, express offices,
etc. They are also used in detecting frauds at the custom-houses, frauds
in the departments of justice, pertaining to naturalization papers,
post-office robberies, and attacks on the Mint. In the Pension Bureau
they unearth fraudulent attempts to represent dead pensioners, etc. For
work outside of their own departments they are paid by their employers.
In the last report of the Secret Service, dated July 1, 1902, the chief
enumerates 253 persons convicted of attempt of counterfeiting currency,
and 106 yet awaiting action of the Court. The arrests for the current
year have numbered 573; of these, 413 were born in the United States; of
the 106 remaining, Italy furnished 65 counterfeiters; Germany, 25;
Ireland, 15; the others, except 6 Mexicans, are of the different
countries of Europe. Of the different States, New York produced 85
counterfeiters (including those who make false representations of any
kind in passing currency); Missouri, 47; Pennsylvania, 45; while almost
every State has one or more. Altered and counterfeit notes to the value
of $46,004.95 have been captured, and counterfeit coins to the value of
$19,828.47.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account