THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY. The Comptroller of the Currency has, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, the control of the national banks. The divisions of this Bureau are— Issue Division.—The preparation and issue of national-bank circulation. THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. The Director of the Mint has general supervision of all mints and assay offices, reports their operations and condition to the Secretary of the Treasury, and prepares and lays before him the annual estimates for their support. He prescribes regulations, approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, for the transaction of business at the mints and assay offices, the distribution of silver coin, and the charges to be collected of depositors. He receives for adjustment the monthly and quarterly accounts of superintendents and officers in charge of mints and assay offices, superintends their expenditures, and the annual settlements of the operative officers, and makes such special examinations as may be deemed necessary. All appointments, removals, and changes of clerks, assistants, and workmen in the mints and assay offices are submitted for his approval. The purchase of sliver bullion and allotment of its coinage at the mints are made through the office of the Director, and transfers of public moneys in the mints and assay offices, and advances from appropriations for the mint service, are made at his request. The monthly coinage of mints is tested, and ores, bullion, and coins are assayed, at the Assay Laboratory under his charge. The values of the standard coins of foreign countries are annually estimated by the Director, and the collection of the statistics of the annual production of precious metals in the United States is assigned to him. THE SOLICITOR. The Solicitor of the Treasury is an officer in the Department of Justice, having a seal, and is required by law to take cognizance, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, of all frauds or attempted frauds upon the revenue, and exercises a general supervision over all legal measures for their prevention and detection; also to establish regulations, with the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury, for the observance of collectors of the customs; and, with the approbation of the Attorney-General, for the observance of United States attorneys, marshals, and clerks respecting suits in which the United States is a party or interested. He is also empowered and directed to instruct the district attorneys, marshals, and clerks of the circuit and district courts in all matters and proceedings appertaining to suits in which the United States is interested, except those arising under the internal-revenue laws. He is required to examine reports of collectors and district attorneys upon bonds delivered for suit; to inform the President of false reports of bonds delivered for suit, and supervise statements from district attorneys concerning suits, and those from marshals relating to proceedings on execution; also reports from clerks as to judgments and decrees; and is charged by the Attorney-General with all post-office litigation. He also has charge of the secret-service employés engaged in the detection of persons counterfeiting the coin, currency, and public securities of the United States, and all other frauds on the Government. In addition to the duties prescribed by law, the Secretary of the Treasury refers to the Solicitor for opinion a very large number of cases arising in his Department relating to duties, remission of fines, penalties, and forfeitures, navigation and registry laws, steamboat-inspection acts, claims, &c. THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue makes all assessments and superintends the collection of all taxes; preparation of instructions for special-tax stamps, (formerly licenses,) forms and stamps of all kinds; and pays into the Treasury, daily, all moneys received by him. The business of the bureau is transacted in seven divisions, viz: Appointment Division.-Is charged with all matters pertaining to issuing of commissions, leaves of absence, office-discipline, assorting and disposition of the mail, registry and copying of all letters, with the care of the general files; and all matters relating to messengers, laborers, office-stationery, printing, advertising, blanks, and blank books for the bureau. Law Division.-Is charged with all questions (except as hereinafter stated) relating to seizures, suits, abatement, and refunding claims, and those relating to special taxes, documentary stamp-taxes, taxes on incomes, legacies, and successions, and on dividends, &c.; also lands purchased for the United States on distraint, and the extension of time on distraints. Tobacco Division.-Is charged with all matters (including special taxes) relating to tobacco, snuff, and cigars not in suit or in bond, stamp-tax on medicines and preparations. Division of Accounts.-Has charge of the examination and reference of the revenue and disbursing accounts, the estimates of collectors and of their applications for special allowances, and other matters relative to advertising and the purchase of blank books, newspapers, and stationery for collectors, revenue agents, &c.; also has charge of the examination and reference of the monthly bills of revenue-agents, gaugers, and distillery-surveyors, and of all miscellaneous claims presented to this bureau arising under any appropriation made for carrying into effect the various internal-revenue laws, (excepting claims for abatement, refunding, and drawback,) and the preparation of estimates for appropriations by Congress, together with the preparation of the statistical records of the bureau. Division of Distilled Spirits.-This division is charged with the supervision of all matters pertaining to distilleries, distilled spirits, fermented liquors, wines, rectification, gaugers' fees and instruments, approval of bonded warehouses, and the assignment of storekeepers. Stamp Division. This division is charged with the supervision of the preparation, safekeeping, issue, and redemption of stamps for distilled spirits, tobacco, snuff, and cigars, fermented liquors, special taxes, documentary and proprietary stamps, and the keeping of all accounts pertaining thereto, also the supervision of all business with Adams Express Company, and the preparation, custody, and issue of steel dies for cancelling stamps. Division of Assessments.—Is charged with the preparation of the assessment-lists, with the consideration of all reports and returns, except those received from distillers, rectifiers, and brewers, affording data from which assessments may be made; also, with keeping the bonded account, and with the consideration of claims for the allowance of drawback. Division of Revenue Agents.-Is charged with general supervision, under the direction of the Commissioner, of the work of revenue agents throughout the country, examination of their reports and accounts, and the measures taken for the discovery and suppression of violations of internal-revenue law. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. The Coast and Geodetic Survey is charged with the survey of the coasts of the United States and rivers emptying into the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and with the interior triangulation of the country, including that of connecting the surveys of the Eastern and Western coasts, determining geographical positions in latitude and longitude, and furnishing points of reference for State surveys. Besides the annual reports to Congress the Survey publishes maps and charts of our coasts and harbors, books of sailing directions, and annual tide tables, computed in advance, for all ports of the United States. SUPERVISING SURGEON-GENERAL, U. S., (MERCANTILE,) MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE. The Supervising Surgeon-General is charged with the supervision of "all matters connected with the Marine-Hospital Service and with the disbursement of the fund for the relief of sick and disabled seamen" employed on the vessels of the mercantile marine of the oceans, lakes, and rivers, and of the Revenue-Cutter Service, the general superintendence of the Marine Hospitals, the purveying of supplies, the orders, details and assignment of medical officers, and the exam nation of property returns. SUPERVISING INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF STEAM-VESSELS. The Supervising Inspector-General superintends the administration of the steamboat inspection laws, presides at the meeting of the Board of Supervising Inspectors, receives all reports and examines all accounts of inspectors. The Board of Supervising Inspectors meets in Washington annually, on the third Wednesday in January, to establish regulations for carrying out the provisions of the steamboat inspection laws. GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. It is the duty of the General Superintendent to supervise the organization and government of the employés of the service; to prepare and revise regulations therefor as may be necessary; to fix the number and compensation of surfmen to be employed at the several stations within the provisions of law; to supervise the expenditure of all appropriations made for the support and maintenance of the Life-Saving Service; to examine the accounts of disbursements of the district superintendents, and to certify the same to the accounting officers of the Treasury Department; to examine the property returns of the keepers of the several stations, and see that all public property thereto belonging is properly accounted for; to acquaint himself, as far as practicable, with all means employed in foreign countries which may seem to advantageously affect the interest of the service, and to cause to be properly investigated all plans, devices, and inventions for the improvement of life-saving apparatus for use at the sta tions, which may appear to be meritorious and available; to exercise supervision over the selection of sites for new stations the establishment of which may be authorized by law, or for old ones the removal of which may be made necessary by the encroachment of the sea or by other causes; to prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Treasury estimates for the support of the service; to collect and compile the statistics of marine disasters contemplated by the act of June 20, 1874, and to submit to the Secretary of the Treasury, for transmission to Congress, an annual report of the expenditures of the moneys appropriated for the maintenance of the Life-Saving Service, and of the operations of said service during the year. THE WAR DEPARTMENT. THE SECRETARY OF WAR. The Secretary of War performs such duties as the President may enjoin upon him concerning the military service, and has the controlling supervision of the purchase of Army supplies, transportation, &c., and of all expenditures made under the appropriations for the support of the Army, and for such of a civil nature as may by law be placed under his administration. He is required to provide for the taking of meteorological observations at the military sta tions in the interior of the Continent, and at other points in the States and Territories; arranges the course of studies at the Military Academy; submits to Congress all estimates for public buildings and grounds in charge of the Chief of Engineers, and has supervision of all expenditures of appropriations for repair or improvement of the public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia in charge of the Chief of Engineers. He is charged with the purchase of such real estate as in his judgment is suitable and necessary for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions for national cemeteries; has direction of the construction of piers or cribs by owners of saw-mills on the Mississippi River; has the management of and is required to keep in repair the Louisville and Portland Canal; makes rules respecting bids for contracts, and is required to cause sunken vessels obstructing navigation to be removed. He exercises supervision of the disbursements by Army officers; has the control and management of the National Park forming a part of Mackinac Island in the State of Michigan, and has direction of the expenditure of the appropriation for the Mississippi River Commission. He submits annually to Congress a statement of the appropriations for the preceding fiscal year for the Department of War under each specified head of appropriation, the amount expended and remaining on hand, together with estimates of the probable demands that may remain on each appropriation. He also submits to Congress at each session, in connection with reports of examinations and surveys of rivers and harbors, full statements of all facts tending to show the extent to which the general commerce of the country will be promoted by the several works of improvement contemplated by such examinations and surveys, together with numerous other reports relating to the various matters of which he has supervision. The Chief Clerk receives in the Secretary's Office the public mail and correspondence; distributes, records, and answers it; keeps the accounts of appropriations and estimates; is the medium of communication between the Secretary and officers of the Department, and has the general superintendence of the Department. MILITARY BUREAUS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. The chiefs of the military bureaus of the War Department are officers of the Regular Army of the United States, and a part of the military establishment, viz: The Adjutant-General promulgates the orders of the President and the General commanding the Army, and conducts correspondence between the General and the Army, receives reports, issues commissions and resignations, superintends recruiting and the military prison at Leavenworth, has charge of the papers concerning the enlistment and drafting of volunteers, receives all muster-rolls, and furnishes consolidated reports of the entire Army, and has charge, under the General, of details affecting the discipline of the Army. The Inspector-General, with his assistants, inspect and report upon the personnel and the materiel of the Army, at all posts, stations, and depots, and give instruction relative to the correct interpretation of doubtful points of law, regulations, and orders, and upon other mooted questions regarding the proper performance of military duties; and they also inspect the money accounts of all disbursing officers of the Army. The Quartermaster-General, aided by assistants, provides quarters and transportation for the Army, clothing, camp and garrison equipage, horses and mules, forage, wagons, stoves, stationery, fuel, lights, straw, hospitals, and medicines; he pays the expenses of guides, spies, and interpreters, and veterinary surgeons; pays the funeral expenses of officers and men, and is in charge of the national cemeteries. The Commissary-General has administrative control of the Subsistence Department-of the disbursement of its appropriations; the providing of rations and their issue to the Army; the purchase and distribution of articles authorized to be kept for sale to officers and enlisted men; and the adjustment of accounts and returns for subsistence funds and supplies, preliminary to their settlement by the proper accounting officers of the Treasury. The Surgeon General, under the immediate direction of the Secretary of War, is charged with the administrative duties of the Medical Department; the designation of the stations of medical officers, and the issuing of all orders and instructions relating to their professional duties. He directs as to the selection, purchase, and distribution of the medical supplies of the Army. The Army Medical Museum and the official publications of the Surgeon-General's Office are also under his direct control. The Paymaster-General and his assistants pay the Army, also Second Auditor's Treasury certificates, and keep a record of said payments. The Chief of Engineers commands the Corps of Engineers, which is charged with all duties relating to fortifications, whether permanent or temporary; with torpedoes for coast defence; with all works for the attack and defence of places; with all military bridges, and with such surveys as may be required for these objects, or the movement of armies in the field. It is also charged with the harbor and river improvements; with military and geographical explorations and surveys; with the survey of the lakes; and with any other engineer work specially assigned to the Corps by acts of Congress or orders of the President. The Chief of Ordnance commands the Ordnance Department, the duties of which consist in providing, preserving, distributing, and accounting for every description of artillery, smallarms, and all the munitions of war which may be required for the fortresses of the country, the armies in the feld, and for the whole body of the militia of the Union. In these duties are comprised that of determining the general principles of construction and of prescribing in detail the models and forms of all military weapons employed in war. They comprise also the duty of prescribing the regulations for the proof and inspection of all these weapons, for maintaining uniformity and economy in their fabrication, for insuring their good quality, and for their preservation and distribution; and for carrying into effect the general purposes here stated large annual appropriations are made, and in order to fulfil these purposes, extensive operations are conducted at the national armories, arsenals, and ordnance depots. The Judge Advocate General and his assistant receive, review, and have recorded the proceedings of the courts-martial, courts of inquiry, and military commissions of the Armies of the United States, and furnish reports and opinions on such questions of law and other matters as may be referred to the Bureau of Military Justice by the Secretary of War. The Chief Signal Officer superintends the instruction of officers and men in signal duties, supervises the preparation of maps and charts, and has the reports from the numerous stations received at Washington consolidated and published. THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. The Secretary of the Navy performs such duties as the President of the United States, who is Commander-in-Chief, may assign him, and has the general superintendence of construction, manning, armament, equipment, and employment of vessels of war. The Chief Clerk has general charge of the records and correspondence of the Secretary's Office. NAVAL BUREAUS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. The chiefs of the naval bureaus of the Navy Department are officers of the United States Navy, and a part of the naval establishment, viz : The Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks has charge of the navy-yards and naval stations, their construction and repair; he purchases timber and other materials. The Chief of the Bureau of Navigation supplies vessels of war with maps, charts, chronometers, barometers, flags, signal-lights, glasses, and stationery; he has charge of the publication of charts, the Nautical Almanac, and surveys; and the Naval Observatory and Hydrographic Office at Washington are under the direction of this Bureau. The Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance has charge of the manufacture of naval ordnance and ammunition; the armament of vessels of war; the arsenals and magazines; the trials and tests of ordnance, small-arms, and ammunition; also of the torpedo-service, and torpedostation at Newport, and experimental battery at Annapolis. The Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing has charge of all contracts and purchases for the supply of provisions, water for cooking and drinking purposes, clothing, and small stores for the use of the Navy. The Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery superintends everything relating to medicines, medical stores, surgical instruments, and hospital supplies required for the treatment of the sick and wounded of the Navy and the Marine Corps. The Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair has charge of dry-docks and of all vessels undergoing repairs; the designing, building, and fitting-out of vessels, and the armor of iron-clads. The Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting has charge of the equipment of all vessels of war, and the supply to their sails, rigging, anchors, and fuel; also of the recruiting of sailors of the various grades. The Engineer-in-Chief directs the designing, fitting-out, running, and repairing of the steam marine-engines, boilers and appurtenances, used on vessels of war, and the workshops in the navy-yards where they are made and repaired. The Judge-Advocate-General receives, revises, and records the proceedings of courts-martial, courts of inquiry, boards for the examination of officers for retirement and promotion in the naval service; and furnishes reports and opinions on such questions of law and other matters as may be referred to him by the Secretary of the Navy. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the supervision of public business relating to patents for inventions; pension and bounty-lands; the public lands, including mines; the Indians; education; railroads; the public surveys; the census, when directed by law; the custody and distribution of public documents; and certain hospitals and eleemosynary institutions in the District of Columbia. He also exercises certain powers and duties in relation to the Territories of the United States. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. The Assistant Secreta y of the Interior performs such duties as are prescribed by the Secretary or required by law, aiding in the general administration of the affairs of the Department. In the absence of the Secretary, he acts as the head of the Department. The Chief Clerk has the general supervision of the clerks and employés, of the order of business, records and correspondence, and contingent expenditures in the Secretary's Office, also the superintendence of the Interior Department Building. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS. The Commissioner of Patents is charged with the administration of the patent-laws, and supervises all matters relating to the issue of letters-patent for new and useful discoveries, inventions, and improvements. He is aided by an Assistant Commissioner, three Examinersin-Chief, an Examiner of Interferences, an Examiner of Trade-marks, and twenty-five Principal Examiners. COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS. The Commissioner of Pensions supervises the examination and adjudication of all claims arising under laws passed by Congress granting bounty-land or pension on account of service in the Army or Navy during the Revolutionary War and all subsequent wars in which the United States has been engaged. He is aided by two Deputy Commissioners and a Medical Referee. COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND-OFFICE. The Commissioner of Public Lands is charged with the survey, management, and sale of the public domain, and the issuing of titles therefor, whether derived from confirmations of grants made by former Governments, by sales, donations, or grants for schools, railroads, military bounties, or public improvements. The Land-Office audits its own accounts. COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs has charge of the several tribes of Indians in the States and Territories. He issues instructions to, and receives reports from, Agents, Special Agents, and Traders; superintends the purchase, transportation, and distribution of presents and annuities; and reports, annually, the relations of the Government with each tribe. COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION. The duties of the Commissioner of Education are to collect such statistics and facts as shall show the condition and progress of education in the several States and Territories, and to diffuse such information respecting the organization and management of schools and school systems, and methods of teaching, as shall aid the people of the United States in the establishment and maintenance of efficient school systems, and otherwise promote the cause of education throughout the country. |