The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-30
CONSCIENCE MONEY.
MAKING FEAcE WITH THEMSELVES
FOR CHEATING UNCLE SAM.

A remittance of $50 was received at
the treasury from Cleveland as a contri-
button TO the conscience fund. / had
n talk with the chief clerk Of the division
of public moneys in the treasury depart
ment about it, The money so received
is not kept in a separate fund, but Is
turned into the treasury the same as
money that comes in from other sources
Of revenue. The amount received each
year appears in the annual reports. 1t
varies a good deal. One year it may be
$500 and the next $1,000 1t is usually
made up Of small sums, though not in
frequently single romittances run up into
the hundreds aud now and then into the
thousands.
now THY ARE KNOWN.
twill be understood that<hese amounts
are sent by persons who have, purposely
or otherwise. defrauded the government,
and are induced 10y the smitings of con
science 10 make restitution. In fOrty-nlne
cases ont Of fifty the money is sent IN
such way as not to afford the slightest
possible clew to the identity Of the SEN
der. The fact that Uncle Sam has the
money seems to be a sufficient sedative
TO the perturbed conscience, without that
"onen confession which Is said 10 bc
good for the soul Sometimes brief
explanatory notes arc sent, stating for
what the money is due the government,
but signature of any kind is extremely
rare. Some merely say, This money be-
longs 10 the United States, or words of
similar purport. In many cases there Is
not n scratch Of pen or pencil, the money
being simply inciOsod in an envelope,
perhaps folded i'm a sheet of blank paper.
All such are presumed TO be cases OF
conscience" and are SO treated. IL Is,
Of course. impossible To give any receipts
for the money. Now and then one will
write. please acknowledge receipt in
tine newspapers" This is the reason why
care is usually taken to have the receipt
of "conscicnco money mentioned IN the
Associated Press dispatches. The sender-
are likely 10 be watching for such items,
and when they see that the money is in
the treasury they no doubt feel that they
are I'm better shape for the final reckon
ing I'm the hereafter.
"Thc only case~." said the clerk
(which have anybody's name connected
with them are those similar to one we
had q year OF two ago. \ Catholic priest
in Boston wrote that one Of his parish
toner's. on his dcathbed, confessed tOhin
that he had wronged the government
ont of $50. He could not die IN peace
without making restitution, but desired
that his name be withheld. Tho prizes
indorsed the amount. with interest TO
nine years at per cent, $50 i'm all Ih'
man evidently didn't want that debt e
bother him in the next world and pro
long nj. stay in purgatory The priest
of course. signed his own name, and w
acknowledged by letter the receipt o
fine money. We have had a number O
instances of that kind, in which con
science seemed 10 be quickcned b.
serious illness or the confessional
1.-The most common reasons giving 70
RENTING. when the senders make an
exclamation at an, are that the money
dine for internal revenue taxes or Gus
toms duties eyaded or for frauds toavoi
the payment of postage. | romembe
ono case of wealthy lady who, aite
amending some time abroad, returned
this country, bringing with her yalu,
bile article of wearing apparel thin
il was for her personal Use, and nc
strictly dutiable but her conscicnc
troubled her about it, She went back
ENGLAND. and while there told the stor
to one of our consuls, requesting him
ascertain what would be the amount
dutv ON such a garment He did so, an
Sine promptly RENTED il TO MS. She sen
] vith it n nice little note explaining I'll
matter. II was full Of contriiion, AN
q EXPRESSED the hope that Uncle Sal
would forgive her. But she hadn't Il
' courage To sign her name TO il.
FOUR BIC BILLS.
"A single mclosure Of $1,000 is Il
LARGEST amount remember TO have bee
/, received from one person. IL was il
tle singular that for this large sum the
-, was absolutely nothing to show when
/, If came except the postmark on the Q
yelope Even that may have becp M
leadine. as il is quite possible that {
4, ropentant sinner sent it away from hon
D., to be- mailed lie was evidently sc
%, careful to conceal his identity, as {
money was in four $1,000 bills. Up
the paper wrapped around the mon
was written: Please place tins 10 {
SIS credit of Conscience. and that was q
RI draft you know, would have Fl
al nished a clew that might easily ha
boon followed up. if we had chosen
q nnrsuo tine matter DO not rememl
IS evor receiving conscience money IN q
o.. other form than currency. They are
MS too smart 10 send drafts or money
II ders.
to II remember one remittance as SIN
he os ten cents. and that was 4 funny ca
il roo Tho money was inclosed in quit
on long letter, unsigned, in which the "
es Ter said that when q boy he received
IT. letter from a friend, the three cent pc
il ,oo stamp on which had escaped G.
d. collation.. More in spirit OF miscl
ia lhan anything else. he detached
stamp and used it OH his answer TO
letter. thus making it DO double du
and cheating the government out
he ,hree cents. lie wrote that although
.o, seemed like a trifling matter It had
ire yays troubled him-on the principle
ch suppose. that it is a sim to steal
in even though it may be greater TO stea
ed later. It has been nearly twenty SO
it, .ince the oiIensc was committed,
,m Inc writer said he presumed the intel
Of would increase the debt TO seven or ei
At .ents. He inclosed ten SO as TO be
ned .he-e would be enough. washing
il COR Cleveland Leader.
eai 4 Romantic Maiden.
III They waltzed and Waited along
ERE cether. the romantic young man and
L. lovely partner from Baltimore.