The comptroller directs the work of the six auditors, and superintends the 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 taxes and of taxes laid upon tobacco; liquors, etc., manufactured in this country.

The director of the mint has charge of the coinage of money, and reports to Congress upon the yield of precious metals.  There are mints at Philadelphia, Carson, San Francisco, Denver, and New Orleans, and assay offices also at other places.