The Portland daily press., 1896-02-15

Several weeks ago another contribution
was received by President Cleveland. In
this was a SIS note, upon which was
pinned scrap Of paper, with the follow
ing scratched upon it in pencil: dear
Sir: This belongs to the United States
government. Ignotus."
The largest conscience contribution re-
ceived during the past year was note
for S4665 drawn by bank of Montreal
upon bank of New York. 1t is ad-
dressed to the secretary of the treasury in
an 1lliterate hand and inolosed in a piece
Of paper which bears a note in pencil re-
quest1ng that it be deposited in the
national fund. The sender signs name,
but it is believed that it is fictitious.
In almost all cases where acknowledge
lnents are sent by the department to con-
tr1butors giving their names the receipts
fail to reach any one and are returned.
A yellow envelope, postmarked, "Bos-
ton" and addressed to "Johu g. Car
l1sle," contains sheet of ruled paper up
on which is stated that the inclosed So
''closes the account of an overpaid SOL
diers." 1t is signed simply Union
Soldier" A conscience stricken SNUG
gler sends an envelope postmarked
Brooklyn" inclosing Sc folded in
sheet of plain note paper, upon which
is written the single word, Duties. +"
Smugglers are said to be the most nu-
merous Of all offenders who have yet
made amends through the conscien oe
fund.
. feminine hand writes to the secretary
OF the treasury, under New York post
mark,a few months ago: "Fifteen dol
lars to pay duty on piece of embroidery
bought Of a poor lady in Canada to help
her along, but contrary to my wish
brought across the line by her brother
without paying any duty. The United
States consul informed him at the time
that there was duty of 60 per cent on
that class of work." To this there is
signed no name.
A similar case is that of person, evil
IDENTIFY man, writing from Hartford.
Ct. He addresses himself to Secretary
Carlisle and says:
Dear Sir:-Ihough II disapprove as
heartily as you of the recent tariff laws,
think it the duty of every honest man
to declare fully the duty of articles SUBJ
jeot to the same. as he can only avoid
doing SO by perjuring himself. I did SO
when returned from Europe, with the
exception of few trifes, which. if ex-
amined, would have involved pulling
about the contents of my trunk to the
injury Of my property, but with the in
tention Of sending the full duty thereon
to you."
Continuing. the writer expresses the
hope that the secretary will have the
present laws altered, and winds up by
saying: ~ hope this less OH account of
economic ignorance, which they display
than because Of the terrible demora1iza-
tions which they have powerfully aided
to bring about. Very respectfully, A.
B. c." This sample Of eloquence &C.
companied $40 in greenbacks. the duty
owed on the "few TRIES"
The largest amount of conscience
money ever received from one person was
$4,000 sent by mail some years ago.
This was in the form of a note, which
the sender cut diagonally in half. He
mailed one-half and retained the other
until after he had received acknowledge
ment of the former through the press.
The noue was of course good for the face
value whom both parts were in possession
OF the treasurer. 1t was never learned
what tine offense of this person had been.
1t is believed by the treasury officials
that many of the contributions received
through this agency are from feeble
minded persons suffering from the hal
lucination that they aregdebtors to the
government. This type of crank is said
to exist in contradistinotion to the indi-
vidual who has claims against the gov
eminent for alleged services rendered or
property confiscated. On the whole,
however, this confessional agency is an
enterprise to be encouraged. 1t not only
pays Unole Sam, but it lifts crushing
weight from man a repepting soul.