The Portland daily press., 1896-02-15
UNCLE SANS CONFESSIONAL.
Conscience-stricken Mortals Who Refund
Money Defrauded From the Govern
ment.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia
Times.)

Washington Letter in Philadelphia
Times.)
During the past year over 500 was sent
to the treasury department by II different
people who confessed that they had come
by it dishonesty at the expense Of the
government. This sum was dropped into
the treasury as the conscience fund 1"
The public occasionally offices acknowl-
edgements for conscience contributions
published by the government in the
definite information concerning 1t.
u mole Sam conducts q sort of confession
al agency of his own. He encourages
wrongdoers to repent and ease their con-
science by returning money for value dis
honestly taken from him in the past. He
guarantees that there shall be "no ques-
tions asked'' and no effort made to prose-
cute penitent person brave enough to
purge his soul in this way.
The correspondence which this system
brings to the secretary of the treasury
and to other government officials, often
49, P~SpANSA1o aiAAAiS0iA5 40 VAUloAIOly hoO1
esting. The writer has been given the
usual privilege Of examining the official
file, in which the odd communications are
preserved. A letter recently received by
the president is from child, evidently
but Is years Of age. 1t read:-
To His Majesty. Pres ident Cleveland:
Dear President:-I am IN a dreadful
state of mind, and thought would
write and tell you all.
About two years ago, as near as can
remember it was two years, used two
postage stamps that had been used before
on letters, perhaps more than two stamps
but I can only remember of doing 1t
twice. I did not realize what had done
until lately. My mind is constantly
turned on that subject, and I think Of it
night and day. Now, dear president,
will you please forgive me, and promise
you I will never do it again. Enclosed
find cost of three stamps, and please for
give me, for was then but IS years old,
for l am heartily sorry for what I nave
done.
From One Of Your Subjects. -''
This pathetic appeal for forgiveness was
neither dated nor did the writer sign
his or her name. The penmanship is
characteristic of child, probably girl
but the spelling is good. the whole indi-
eating youth rather than ignorance
A letter dated Washington is from
clergyman, who signs his name and in
closes $4 and..a fraction. He explains that
it was owed the government as duty and
interest since acoruing on several cheap
watches struggled into this country q
number OF years ago by man who has
since confessed to him. s.The man who
pays this money" the writer goes on to
say, twas converted a few weeks ago in
the---meetings held in this city regular
the work of regeneration. y
A person evidently at one time con-
neoted with the navy wrote to Secretary,
Carlisle from New York several weeks
ago. His communication was printed in
So are letters upon sheet of olscap,
from the top Of which the manufacturers
stamp had been carefully torn. Inclosed
was S. which the sender explains is 'sfor
conscience fund, navy, 1885," 81 for
warded to you,'' he continues, October
4 $40 for the same purpose and on the
18th of October, 1895, mailed SO more
to the treasurer of the United States,
Washington. D. c., because you did not
comply with my request to acknowledge
receipt of the same through the New
York newspapers, neither did the treas
urer. You will confer great favor on
me, conscience-stricken man, If you
will kindly inform the papers and re-
quest publication of receipt and proper
disposition of the total amount-$25.
All conscience money is acknowledged
through the newspapers of the CITY or
town post-marked upon the envelope in
which it is received. Very often, how
ever, the senders Of the money fail to
notice these acknowledgements which
simply stated that the treasury depart
ment has received q certain amount from
a person living in that locality. The
name is never published even though
signed by the sender Of the money.
Another penitent spirit who squares
up his old scores on the instalment plan
writes from New York city. although
the post marx is all that gives evidence
of<his whereabouts. The envelope is ad-
dressed to Secretary Carlisle in an intelli-
gent mans cramped backhand, with no
apparent attempt to disguise. Inside,
$40 was Enclosed in smaller envelope,
upon which is written, "The treasurer
of the United States. The inclosed be-
longs to the U. S. 4" A similarly indefl-
mite communication inolosing $50 was re-
ceiyed from the same person few weeks
later.