Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-14
WARRINGTON LETTER
IRON QUE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

FROM QUE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. ID. O., Aug. 4, 1884.
One of the most interesting pieces of
machinery of the Treasury Department
10 the conscience fund" Every now
and then the general public soes an an
nouncement in the papers to the effect
that an anonymous communication has
been received at the Treasury, post
marked such and such a place, con-
tanning an amount which has been
placed to the credit of the conscience
fund. Very few, however, have any
idea of the nature or extent Of this
fund or it's purpose. II is most COM
monty supposed that there is somewhere
in the Treasury fund made up of such
contributions, which by this tim must
be of a very considerable size; but there
is in reality no such thing as a separate
fund for the contributions of the con-
science.strioken. Such contributions
are always covered into the Treasury
under the head of miscellaneous re-
ceipts. The term conscience fund"
owes its origin to old Treasurer Spin
ner, the man with an autograph which
was autographed. Twenty years ago,
during the war, letter was one day
received at the Treasury Department
from man who, inclosing q check for
$500, said that that represented little
misappropriation of Government funds
OF which he had been guilty when act.
ing rs a quartermaster in the army of
the United States. Then came the hap
py idea into Spinner's handsome head.
" Wen cal, that contribution to the
conscience fund.-" he said, land have it
announced in the newspapers, aud per.
haps we'll get some more" Tho bril-
liant idea has worked splendidly. Every
contribution to the conscience fund is
announced all over the country. with the
result that the Treasury Department
continually gets SOME more. The con-
tributions have never been very large
In amount. The largest contribution
ever made was 5000; the smallest con-
trlbution ever received Was nine cents,
forwarded by Massachusetts dude
mngwump Pharisee perfectionist, whose
sensitive conscience had been burdened
for years with the cancelled three cent
stamp which, as n small boy, he had
carefully washed and used on letter
TO his sweetheart. He thought the nine
cents would adequately cover the prir-
Opal and interest involved in the steal.
Most of the contributions have been
made on account of slocessful evasions
OF the customs laws, and next to the
smugglers in point of numbers come
the breakers of the internal revenue
laws. The receipts on account of the
fund were better for the first ten wears.
During the past dec lde they have been
constantly growing more infrequent.
either because the conscience OF the
country is growing more callo1s or be-
cause there are fewer frauds practised
on the Government. In the light Of
recent events IL is most reasonable TO
surmise the callous theory. The total
amount OF Contributions on the score
of conscience is not accurately known.
since th4 conscience fund has not been
kept separate in the Treasury DEPART
ment; but 10 Is estimated by Treasury
officials that 10 would be found To be
about $3.50, 900.
vas standing IN the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad station the other day
when NAN came IN, walked to the spot
where Garfield fell, took of his hat.
crossed himself, knelt, and seemed 20
repeat prayer. while he kept his eyes
fixed upon the marble memorial tablet
on the wall. When his prayer ended he
rose. again crossed himself. and went
reverently out without noticing the
crowd which had observed his devotion
with such curiosity. The nan had lost
an arm. Was dressed in blue flannel, and
had the look and carriage Of q soldier.
An employee OF the railroad told ma
that he had often noticed women cross
themselves as they passed over the brass
star which marks the spot stained bv tia
blood Of Garfield, bat never Def ore saw
prayers said there.
Somebody with talent for mindiue
other peoples business has sst the ma
pers agog by discovering that Mr.. Blaine
u undressing over TO VIM. Walter Phelps
the $4,000 checks which he il recsiyinr
from the Norwich (Conn.) publishing
company that lately brought oas his
nev book. One Of the checks recentlv
turned up IN a New Haven bank. and
speculation a. 10 the why aud where
fore Of II is rife II the talented dis
ccverer Of this bis Of gossip had lived
nearer Washington. he might have
knosn that the matter Is simply a mi
vate business transaction. Involving NO
omen OF consequences. Mr.. Blsiue has
never yet paid for the land on which his
new house h built In this city. and the
title OF which still remains ID the nnms
OF Mr.. Phelps. When shs MONEY il
paid and the Presidential election a
over. q deed Of the property from Mr.
Phslps 10 Mr.. Blaine viii be PLACED ON
record.
Ascending 10 meteorological sum-
mary, this u the coolest summer Al shs
Iapstai for about thirteen years. and
inc result 10 that Miss Vanity Fair Ard
hsr mama remain 90 their iaxurious
noas IN Washington instead Of disrort-
ing themselves. N skey do In other ssa-