The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-10-16
CONSCIENCE MONEY.
How Persons Make Peace with Them
selves for Cheating Uncle Sam.


Not long ago a remittance of $40
was received at the treasury from
Cleveland as contribution to the
conscience fund" The other day,
says Washington letter to the Cleve-
land Leader, had a talk with the
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 rs
money that comes in from other
sources of revenue. The amount re-
ceived each year appears in the an
nual reports. 1t varies Il good deal.
One year it may be $500 aud the next
$1,000. 1t is usually made up of small
though not infrequently single remit
tances run up into the thousands.
1t will be understood that these
amounts are sent by persons who
have, purposely or otherwise, defraud-
ed the government. and are induced by
the shifting of conscience to make
restitution. In forty-nine cases out of
fifty the money is sent in such way
as not to afford the slightest possible
clew to the identity of the sender.
ey seems to be sufficient sedative to
the perturbed conscience without that
'.open confession" which is said to be
ssgood for the soul" Sometimes brief
explanatory notes are sent, stating
for what the money is due the govern
ment, but a signature of any kind is
extremely rare. Some merely say:
This money belongs to the govern
ment," or words of similar purport.
In many cases there is not scratch
of pen or pencil, the money being
simply inclosed in an envelope, per-
haps folded in a sheet of blank paper.
Ali such are presumed to be cases of
conscience" and are so treated. 1t
is. of course, impossible to give any
receipts for the money. Now and
then one will write: "Please acknOwl-
edge receipt in the newspapers"
| This is the reason why care is usually
taken to have the receipt of "con-
| science money" mentioned in the Press
dispatches. The senders are likely
| to be watching for such items and
when they see that the money is in the
treasury they no doubt feel that they
are in better shape for the final reck-
oning in the hereafter.
'.The only cases." said the clerk,
(which have anybody's name connect
ed with them are those similar to one
we had year or two ago. A Catho-
| lie priest in Boston wrote that one OF
his parishioners, on his deathbed. con
fessed to him that he wronged tho
government out of $50. He could moi
die in peace without making restitu.
ton, but desired that his name be
withheld. The priest indorsed the
amount with interest for nine year;
at per cent, $50 in all. The man
evidently didn't want that debt tC
bother him in the next world aud pro
long his stay IN purgatory. The priest
of course, signed his own name and W,
acknowledged by letter the receip
of the money. We have had mum
ber of instances of that kind in whicl
conscience seemed to be quickeneC
by serious illness or the confessional
"The most common reasons givel
for remitting, when the senders max,
any explanation at all, are that tn,
money is due for internal revenu,
taxes, or customs duties evaded, O
for petty frauds to avoid the paymen
of postage. remember one case of
wealthy lady who, after spendin:
some time abroad, returned to thi
country, bringing with her valuabl
article of wearing apparel. | think i
was for her personal use, and no
strictly dutiabie, but her conscienc
troubled her about it. She went bac
to England, and while there told tn
story to one of our consuls, reJuestin;
him to ascertain what would he tn
amount of duty on such garment. Ii
did so, and she promptly remittcd it I
us. She sent with it IL nice little not
explaining the matter. 1t was full {
contrltion, and explained the hop
!! that Uncle Sam would forgive hel
But she hadn't the courage to sign he
name to it.
"A single inclosure of $1,000 is tn
largest amount l remember to hav
been received from one person. l
was little singular that for this larg
sum there was absolutely nothing T.
show whence it came except the post
mark on the envelope. Even that ma
have been misleading, as it is quit
possible that the repentant sinner sen
it away from home to be mailed. II
was evidently very careful to concea
his identity, as the money was in fou
$1,000 bills. Upon the paper wrappe,
around the money was written: Pleas
place this to the credit of Conscience,
and that was all. A draft, you know
would have furnished clew tha
might easily have been followed up
if we had chosen to pursue the mat
ter. l do not remember ever receiv
ing 'concience money in any othe
form than currency. They are al
too smart to send drafts or none,
orders.
II remember one remittance a
small as 10 cents, and that was a fun
ny case, too. The money was in
closed in quite long letter, unsigned
in which the writer said that when
boy he received letter from a friend
the Scent postage stamp on whicl
had escaped cancellation. More in
spirit of mischief than anything els
he detached the stamp and used it oil
his answer to the letter, thus maxim:
it do double duty and cheating TIL
government out of 8 cents. He wrot
that although it seemed like triflin;
matter it had always troubled him-ol
the principle, l suppose, that it. is
sin to steal pin, even though it ma,
be greater to steal a later 1t had
been nearly twenty years since tn
offense was committed and the write
said he presumed the interest woulC
increase the debt to Z OrS cents. He in
closed 10 so as to be sure there woulo
be enough.