Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-27
CurIo.I,le. Of the Conscience Fund.

At irregular intervals a paragraph appears
announcing the receipt by the treasury de-
partment of a contribution to the conscience
fund" These contributions nowadays vary
from one dollar TO between one and two hun
dred. A few years ago they were much larg-
er. The money comes from all parts Of the
country, Philadelphia and New York leading
in the number Of contributions. A member
Of Congress from New York, when Mr.. Bris-
tow was in the treasury, referring 10 this
fact, remarked that II showed conclusively
that New York and Pennsylvania were the
most religious states in the Union. Mr..
Bristow replied that in his opinion it only
showed that these two states had done the
most stealing. The money which comes in
from conscience stricken people is on ac-
count of frauds on the customs frauds on
the income tax, or on the revenue. The in
come tax having been abolished some years
ago, contributions on its account are very
few now.
The first record Of money received by the
government from repentant defrauders was
in 1868. When General Spinner was treas
urer he kept the account separately, but the
practice was discontinued. The money now,
as it has been for the greater number of
years since 1868, when the contributions be-
gan, is turned into the treasury as miscella-
neous receipts. Repeated attempts have
been made by members Of Congress 10 se-
cure appropriations TO be paid out Of the con-
science fund. II the money goes into the
treasury as miscellaneous receipts, II ceases
to be q separate fund, and cannot be drawn
upon. It is not known how much the con-
science money now amounts 10. The total
amount from Dec. 1, 1868, to June 80, 1874
as given in the treasurers report for the lat
ter year, was $162, 2,914. Since then no ac-
count of the contributions has been kept.
Treasurer Gilfllan, however, estimates that
the money now foots up $3.50, 600.
The contributions, as a rule, come through
the mail, with a note saying for what pur-
pose the money is forwarded Very fire.
quently penitential explanation is included.
Some of these explanations are very curious,
and some very laughable. The ladies con-
tribute great deal. They repent principal
ly over false returns made under the income
tax, and for having evaded the duties upon
articles of dress
A lady visited this country from England.
She smuggled in, while here, a silk dress
pattern. A short time ago she wrote, con-
Tossing the evasion of customs duties and
sending SIS to clear her conscience. She
gave the value Of the dress, and wanted the
balance sent back to her if the duties did not
amount to $15.
The custom division of the treasury made
computation based upon the duties discharg-
ed in 1864, and found that the lady owed ex-
actly $3.50. The balance was RENTED.
Ministers of the gospel are very frequently
the medium through which the money is re-
funded. While administering spiritual con-
ISOLATION the confession of defrauding the
government is made, and restitution fol-
lows The clergy transmit the money with
out mentioning names. The largest single
amount ever received was $4,000 in United
States 7-30 notes. This contribution was an
nounced in the newspapers. Many ingen-
ious attempts were made to get this money
out of the treasury. One man said that his
father had sent the contribution, and that he
was crazy. The contributor had carefully
cut out the numbers of the notes, so as 10
make it impossible TO discover who had sent
them.-N y. Tribune.