Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-02
CONSCIENCE MONEY.
How People Make Amends for
Cheating Uncle Sam.
Sums from Four Thousand Dol
lars to Ten Cents Returned.

1 US contribution TO tile "c0nscienco
fund. The other day, says Washing
ton correspondent of the Cleveland
Leader, l had talk with tho chief
clerk of the division of public moneys
In the Treasury Department about it.
The money so received is not kept in a
separate fund, but is turned into the
Treasury the Same ms money that comes
IN from other sources of revenue. The
amount received each year appears in
the annual reports. 1t varies good
deal. One year it may be $500 and the
next $4,000. 1t is usually madc up of
small sums, though not infrequcntly
single rcmittances run up into the hun
drcds and now and then into tho thou
sands.
1t will be understood That these
amounts will be sent by persons who
have, purposely or otherwise dcfraudc d
tho Government, and arc induced by the
smltlngs of conscience To mako restitu-
ton. In 40 cases out of so the money
Is sent in such n way rs not to afford
the slightest possible clue to the iden-
tlty Of the sender. The fact that Uncle
Sam has the money seems to be suf-
hclent sedativo to the pcrturbod con-
science, without that 'iopcn confession"
which is said to be "good for the soul.n
Sometimes brief explanatory notes ere
sent, stating for what the money is due
tho Government, but signature of any
kind is extremely rare. Some merely
say, "This money belongs to the United
States, or words of similar purport.
In many cases there is not scratch of
pen or pencil, the money being simply
enclosed in an envelope, perhaps folded
III sheet OF blank paper. All such are
presumed to be cases of "conscience.
and are so treated 1t is, of course.
impossible to give any receipts for tho
money. Now and then ono will write.
"Picasc acknowledge receipt in the
newspapers. This is the reason why
care IS usually taken TO have the recent
OF conscience money" mentioned in
the Associated Press dispatches. The
senders arc likely TO be watching for
such items, and when they sec that the
money is in the Treasury they no
doubt feel that they arc in better
shape for the final rcck oning in the here
after.
"Thc only cases." said the clerk,
(Which have any body's name connected
with them arc those similar to one VIC
had a year or two ago. A Catholic priest
in Boston wrote that one of his parish
loners, on his deathbcd, confessed to
him that he had wronged the Govern
ment out of $50. He could not die in
peaca without making restitution, but
desired that his name be withheld. The
priest endorsed the amount, with inter
est for nino years at per cent, $50 in
all.
The priest, of course, signed his own
name, and we acknowledged by letter
the receipt of the money. We have had
a number of instances of that kind, in
which conscience seemed to bo Quick.
cncd by serious illness or the comics.
sional.
1.-The most common reasons given for
renting, when the senders make apy
explanation at all, are that tho money
Is due for internal revenue taxes or Gus
toms duties cvadcd, or for petty frauds
to avoid the payment of postage.
remember one case of wealthy lady
who, after spending some time abroad.
returned to this country, bringing with
her a valuable article of wearing nm.
parel. l think it was for her personal
use and not strictly dutiable but her
conscience troubled her about it. She
went back to England, and while there
told one of our consuls, requesting him
to ascertain what would be the amount
of duty. He did so, ana she PROMPT.
y remitted it to us. She sont with it
nice little note explaining the matter
1t was full of contrition, and expressed
the hope that Uncle Sam would forgive
her. But she hadn't the courage to
sign her name to it.
ga single enclosure of 81, 900 is the
largest amount remember to have been
received from one person. 1t was n
little singular that for This loroo sur,
there was absolutely nothing to show
whence it came except the postmark on
the envelope. Even that may have
been misleading, as it is quite possible
that the repentant sinner sent it away
from homo to be mailed. He was evil
IDENTIFY very careful to conceal his iden-
tity, as the money was in four 81, coo
bills. Upon the paper wrapped around
the money was written: Please place
| this to the credit of Conscionoo ond