Organization and Functions 369 
2. THE DEPARTMENTS. 
The Departamento Consultivo y de Asuntos Judiciales (Department Con- 
sultative and of Judicial Matters) might be called the department of legal 
counsel of the Secretariat. Its functions are to assist the minister in the 
preparation of initiatives of laws, revise the phraseology of dispositions of 
any branch of the Secretariat, give advice on judicial matters, look after the 
interests of the Hacienda in matters before the courts, pass upon contracts 
and concessions entered into by the Secretariat, and keep a record of all laws 
promulgated through the Secretariat. 
The duties of the Departamento de Crédito y Comercio (Department of 
Credit and Commerce) are to gather data and make reports relative to the 
federal public debt or to those of the states when by the laws or contracts 
giving rise to the latter the federal government assumes any obligation ; study 
and give opinions concerning institutions of credit, inspect these institutions, 
recommend measures for increasing the efficiency of government supervision 
of them and for guaranteeing the interests of the public; prepare an annual 
report and special reports from time to time on the state of institutions of 
credit and on the operation of securities ; keep informed of and make reports 
relative to matters of coinage, the circulating media, the federal mints and 
assaying offices, taxation of the precious metals, metallurgical establishments, 
internal and external trade, sociedades anénimas, exchanges, federal sub- 
sidies and franchises, and the economic state of the Republic in general; to 
publish commercial information, etc. 
3. THE CONSEJO CONSULTIVO DE EpiFicios PUBLICOs. 
This council (Consulting Public Buildings Council), as its name implies, 
gives advice relative to the construction and custody of public buildings. Its 
functions are prescribed by the law of Dec. 18, 1902, and by the Department 
regulation published Mar. 14, 1903. 
4. DEPARTMENTS DEPENDENT ON THE SECRETARIAT OF HACIENDA. 
The following departments are dependent on the Secretaria de Hacienda: 
The Tesoreria General (General Treasury) ; 
The Direccién General de Aduanas (Direction General of Custom- 
houses) ; 
The Direccion General del Timbre (Direction General of Revenue 
Stamps) ; 
The Direccion de la Casa de Moneda y Oficinas de Ensaye (Direction of 
the Mint and Assay Offices) ; 
The Direccion General de Rentas del Distrito Federal (Direction General 
of Revenues of the Federal District) ; 
The Administracion de la Loteria Nacional (The Administration of the 
National Lottery) ; 
The Oficina Impresora de Estampillas (The Stamp Printing Office) ; 
The Agencia Financiera de México en Londres (The Financial Agency 
of Mexico in London). This agency is charged with auditing all 
payments which, by the law of Presupuestos (Estimates) or by 
disposition of the secretariats of state, are to be made in Europe, 
with making government purchases abroad, etc. ; 
The Direccién General del Catastro (The Direction General of the Tax 
Roll). 
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