There are very few ministers resident.  They generally serve also as consuls general, and receive from four thousand dollars to seven thousand dollars each.  Ministers sent to foreign countries upon special service, such as the negotiation of special treaties, are sometimes called commissioners.

CONSULAR SERVICE.—­The consular service includes about sixty consuls general, some of whom are inspectors of consulates, about two hundred and fifty consuls, and many deputies and other assistants.

The chief duties of consuls are to enforce the commercial laws, and to protect the rights of American citizens.  Consuls reside at the principal cities of the consular districts to which they are accredited.  The interests of American shipping and American seamen are specially intrusted to their care.  They keep the papers of American vessels while in port; they record the tonnage, the kind and value of the cargo, and the number and condition of the sailors.  They hear the complaints of seamen, cause the arrest of mutinous sailors, send them home for trial, and care for mariners in destitute condition.  They take possession of the property of American citizens dying abroad, and forward the proceeds to the lawful heirs.

They collect valuable information relating to the commerce and manufactures of foreign countries, which is distributed among our people by the department of commerce.

In Turkey and China, American citizens who are charged with crime are tried by the American consul.  Consuls and consuls general receive salaries ranging from two thousand dollars to twelve thousand dollars each, according to the importance of the cities where they are located.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.—­The secretary of the treasury is the head of the treasury department.  He manages the entire financial system of the national government.  He suggests to Congress plans for raising revenue and maintaining the credit of the United States, and makes detailed reports on all the operations of his department.

He superintends the collection of revenue; the coinage of money; the operation of national banks; the conduct of custom-houses, where taxes on imported foreign goods are collected.  The schedule or table showing the duties levied on foreign goods is called the tariff; this is fixed by act of Congress.  The management of the public health service, and the operation of the coast guard, maintained along the seacoast for the rescue of persons from drowning and for the enforcement of navigation laws, are also under the charge of the secretary of the treasury.  His greatest responsibility is the management of the national debt, which still amounts to many hundred millions of dollars.

BUREAUS.—­The secretary of the treasury is assisted by three assistant secretaries of the treasury, a comptroller, six auditors, a treasurer, a register of the treasury, and numerous other responsible officers in charge of the bank currency, internal revenue, the mint, the erection of public buildings, and other important bureaus and divisions of the treasury department.