Customs

taxes collected on foreign goods. The United States maintains custom houses or offices at all our principal ports and wherever railroads cross the border. All imported goods are examined and duties are collected according to the tariff laws established from time to time by Congress. Some commodities, as animals for breeding purposes, hard coal, tea, coffee, dyewoods, newspapers, magazines, printing paper, raw silk, and uncured furs, are entirely free. Others, as butter, 6 cents a pound; soft coal, 67 cents a ton; honey, 20 cents a gallon; iron screws, 12 cents a pound; lard, 2 cents a pound; hay, $4 a ton; matches, 8 cents a gross; opium, $1 a pound; wool, 12 cents a pound; and eggs, 5 cents a dozen, pay a specific duty according to weight or measure. Others again, as pins, 35 cents on the dollar of value; railroad ties, 20 cents; sealskin sacques, 35 cents; watches, 40 cents; jewelry, 60 cents; glassware, 60 cents; and musical instruments, 45 cents, pay duty according to their money value. Some articles pay a double tariff, both specific and ad valorem, that is, according to weight and value. Carpets, knit goods, cigars, silks, yarn, and clothing belong here.

For the convenience of merchants, custom houses are maintained at many interior points to which foreign goods may be sent in bond, that is to say, in sealed cars or packages to be opened and examined on reaching their destination.

In 1908 the customs receipts of the United States were $285,680,000, as against $314,000,000 from other sources. Until the past few years rather more than half of our national income has been derived from customs. The total receipts from customs from the organization of the government in 1789 to January 1, 1906, were $9,704,570,963.

The collection of customs is in charge of the Treasury Department. The most important custom house in the United States is that of New York. The building cost $10,000,000. The collector has a salary of $12,000 a year. Several subordinates receive half as much. The receipts are larger than those of all the other custom houses combined. See Commerce