New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15

Every year $50 bill Is sent to the Controller
inclosed in a letter written on notepaper In
delicate hand explaining that the sum Is due
FOR taxes on a very small estate" The sigma
ture to the note varies. Sometimes II is "A b.
c." at others "B A. c." again &C A. b. The
arst of these fiftes according to the records
came IN 1889.
On January 5. 1895 a $50 and 500 bill were
received by the Controller. Printed In neat
hand in pencil on a slip of paper pinned to the
bills were the words Due to the city. On
January %. 1885, the same sum was inclosed
with the same words inscribed in apparently the
same hand.
On March 10 the Rev. James Mclean. Of old
81. Peters Roman Catholic Church. in Barclay
ST.. sent $3.50 to Controller Fitch which he said
had reached him through the confessional the
sum Of SIS was received on March 20 from r
Harper. who wrote that 1t came from man
with "a very unmodern conscience" On April T.
the Controller received $50 through the mall
The accompanying letter, written in an Irregular
hand said lowed the city for taxes
SMALL SUMS AND LARGE.
From the last-named date no conscences seem
TO have been troubled in 1895 until November Il,
when the Controller received three new, crisp
500 bills They were attached to piece OF
paper upon which written In pencil, This
money is due the city" The next day, Street
Cleaning Commissioner Waring sent 81 to Con-
trolier Fitch. For dirt removed by Depart
ment carts" was written on the accompanying
letter
The largest sum which was received in one
Enclosure for years was sent TO the Finance De-
partment on December 10 last. 1t contained
81 500 Taxes justly due the city" was all the
exclamation that came with the money. Two
DAYS before last Christmas the sum Of s37 In
cash arrived. The transmitter wrote tersely on
a bit CT paper in the same envelope, For City
Treasury-Conscience
The last contributor Controller Fitch has had
TO the Conscience Fund" came last week In the
shape Of new 81 bill.
I'VE have not the slightest notion where these
voluntary additions to the city treasury come
FROM" said the general bookkeeper. and so far
as / know. no attempt is ever made 10 find out.
If the senders thought that their personality was
likely TO be inquired into they would probably
promptly cease their contributions"
FOR OMISSIONS TO PAY DUTY.
do we ever get conscience money!" unused
James H. Jenkins. assistant cashier Of the Gus
toms Department of the Custom House. echoing
the question Of The Tribune reporter. Eyes. very
often: but it never comes in large amounts. II
is quite impossible TO tell where 1t comes from:
nor have we any means Of finding the reason
When money is sent in that way, the sender
simply incloses II in an envelope with brief
note 10 the effect that Enclosed you will find $40.
or whatever the amount may be- which belongs
to the Government. Please credit 1t and an
nounce the receipt OF II through the papers.
These letters always addressed to the Col
lector, and ne generally gives the Item to some OF
the reporters. and the fact reaches the public In
that way When such an anonymous communi-
oi,-rd tbo ic e1 IN he
Conscience Fund II these people only knew it,
they need not 20 50 far round TO satisfy their
feelings There are two other funds which are
Intended 10 reach TIE same end For instance,
some one may come from the other side and may
have something which he does not declare as
dutiable at the time OF arrival The person iASy
not make the declaration for many reasons The
presumption Is that he IS not aware that such
goods come under the law. Later ne may see
something that will lead him to change his mind.
This money then passes 10 the Iuho uhuei WIG
..Others again. may send the money In. saying
that 1t is for duties. but withholding sne ,,I
from unknown hands. But moneys received IN
any other fashion arc always put down as con.
head and so forwarded to Washington There
they become swallowed up In the general mass mass
Of revenue. l cannot say whetner any spec cid
disposition Is made OF them AS nave Sao'
however. the amounts are never large.
Then he brought out his record book for the SIX
months beginning July last and enulhs On ' are
last day OF December and running over i.s
pages found one item in September. me amount
was $S4, and IL was credited duties rom . un-
known hands" In November was aho,nei
amounting TO &c. bearing the same creoit Le,ei
ence. On December "a however, was a uoup =.
item as a tribute to conscience Inc iact 'io' =.
was received the day before Christmas may or
may not be OF Significance. One amount was Ior
$50 and the other for $50. These were HI INC ie-
ceipts for the half year.
A sUPERsENsITIvE CONSCIENCE.
Now" continued Mr.. Jenkins. you VIII ma
that this Is about the average manner In whcn
the items run along that the amount IN 'o'a'
Is comparatively Insignificant remember
rather a comical incident In connection with inns
Swede out in Minneapolis sent letter 10 the
Collector containing 81 rs. He said that when hs
came to this country q short time before ne nau
come articles which he did not declare put tnas
his conscience would not let him rest and ne nae
therefore forwarded the amount. Well. we looked
the matter up and found that the articles ne
thought much Of were not dutiable under any
circumstances The money was returned to MN
by Mr.. Northrop. He replied. and have that re-
ply" Thereupon he brought out his letter.Dooh
and this was the letter the Swede had written.
He had evidently had a severe struggle with the
name. for he addressed II to G. T. Armhurp. Such
an aspersion upon the clearness OF his hand
writing Mr. Northrop meets with the utmost
good nature:
Dear Sir Your letter OF December q with 81 IS In.
closed. has been received by me- and has caused