e recovery of debts due the United States.

The _auditor for the treasury department_ settles--that is, examines
and passes on--all accounts in the collection of customs duties and
internal revenue, the national debt, and other accounts immediately
connected with the operations of the treasury department.

The _auditor for the war department_ settles the army accounts.

The _auditor for the interior department_ settles pension accounts,
accounts with the Indians, and all other accounts arising in the
department of the interior.

The _auditor for the navy department_ settles the accounts of the navy.

The _auditor for the state and other departments_ has charge of the
accounts of the secretary of state, the attorney-general, the secretary
of agriculture, the secretary of commerce, and the secretary of labor,
and of all the officials under their direction; the accounts of the
United States courts; and those of various institutions which are not
under the control of any department.

The _auditor for the post-office department_ examines and passes on the
accounts of the postal service.

The _treasurer_ is custodian of the funds of the United States. All
funds and securities are kept in vaults made for the purpose, or
deposited in reliable banks for safe keeping.

The _register of the treasury_ has charge of the account-books of
United States bonds and paper money. They show the exact financial
condition of the United States at all times. The register's name is
upon all bonds and notes issued by the government.

The _comptroller of the currency_ supervises the national banks. A
_bank_ is a place for the safe keeping and lending of money. A bank
holding its charter--that is, its power to do business--from a State
government is called a State bank. Two kinds of banks are chartered by
the national government: the _national banks_ and the _federal reserve
banks_.

By the laws of the United States, any five or more persons with
sufficient capital may organize a national bank. A national bank may
issue its notes--that is, its promises to pay--as currency, to an
amount not exceeding the amount of United States bonds deposited by the
bank with the national government. Each federal reserve bank is a
large central bank organized by the banks of a certain district. It
issues notes as currency, secured by commercial notes, drafts, etc.

The _commissioner of internal revenue_ supervises the collection of
income taxe