Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-27
Washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON JUNE GATH, 1889.

washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, JUNE GATH, 1889.
The average postmaster becomes so
attached to his Office that it is almost
impossible to separate him and the OBJ
iect of his affection. While this is an
honorable love, and does credit to the
postmaster'sunselfish generosity, it may
lead its victim into devious paths. Sey-
eral Commissions have been with
held for few days when they got into
the hands of the man about to be depos.
ed. The climax seemed reached Satur.
day when Geographic notice was given
the department by Texan who was re-
Gently appointed that he had not rec d
his commission. Oninspectlng the rec
ords it was found that the original
commission had been mailed him May
l6. and the duplicate June7 An IN.
vestigation has been ordered, but will
probably be without any practical re-
suit. In the meantime, the Democrat
here had one extra month of official ex.
istence.
The number of office seekers has in.
creased in the past week, and one again
sees many of the faces that were famil.
lar in March. The faces are not so
cheerful now as then but they look i'm.
mensely wiser and even chastened as
the faces of those who have unexpected
ly toyed with circular saws.
The so called conscience fund Of the
United States Treasury received anoth-
er contribution Saturday, and one of
rather more than the usual size. This
was draft dated St. Louis, January
20, 1889, to order Of ]. H. Armstrong
for $l75, payable by the National Bank
of Commerce of New York. The note
which accompanied it said /: "please ap-
ply this to the conscience fund.-
Nobody knows just how large the
conscience fund" is now, and it would
take il long time to find out, as the
Treasury records showing the receipts
since June 80, 1885, would have to BE-
searched through for the items. There
is no seperate fund or account kept OF
such moneys, and they are put with the
miscellaneous receipts and reckoned as
part OF the Treasury balance.
When General Spinner was United
States Treasurer he used to give the
| total of the conscience fund in his
annual reports, but his successors have
discontinued that practice. The reason
why no regular reports have becE made
since General Spinner's time Is said to
be that every report was followed by Il
number of schemes for spending the
money. Statesmen with all eye to the
main chance seemed to think that this
money had cost the Government moth
ing, was a sort Of free gift in fact, and
therefore could be spent without any
fuss being made about it.
The term conscience fund" as gen.
orally applied to all this money from
unknown sources, is misnomer. 1t is
not altogether made up of contributions
from people who have robbed the Gov
eminent and are therefore troubled
with remorse. A large part of it is
money which came, in IA perfectly legal
way, into the hands of people who did
not think themselves entitled to it.
The fund received its largest contrlbu-
ton from such a source, when IN 1878
Congress increased its own pay and
many of the members covered back the
excess which they received into the
treasury. The fund was increased that
year $23,302. There must have been
more honesty or less conscience the
year before that, for in 1872 the con.
tributions only amounted to SO 2o4, the
smallest in any year from 1864 to 1885
Speaking Of civil service rules, Post
master General Wanamaker and Sena.
tor Sherman had AL odd experience
shortly before the latter's departure
for Europe. Senator Sherman had
gone to the Postofiice Department tc
secure the appointment OF former
member of the Ohio senate to postof-
flee inspectorship. The man was high
ly Endorsed, but on looking up the
matter it was found that the law pro-
vided that he must pass civllservice
examination before he became eligible
for appointment. But demonstrated
the Ohio statesman, IL know this man
very we'll, and he is perfectly compe'
tent to fill the place, and without q
civil service examination.
THAT may all be very true" replied