The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-03-04
CONSCIENCE FUND.
Uncle Sam Conducts o Sort of Con-
fessional Agency.
Guarantees That No Penitent
Will Be Prosecuted.

y
was sent to the United States Treas
ury Department by seventeen persons,
who confessed that they had come by
money dishonesty at the expense of
the government This sum, says the
New York Herald, was dropped into
the Treasury as the "Conscience
Fund"
Although few have heard definite
information concerning it, Uncle Sam
conducts sort of confessional agency
of his own. He encourages wrong
doers to repent and ease their con-
sciences by returning money for
value dishonesty taken from him in
the past. He guarantees that there
shall be "no questions asked" and no
effort made TO prosecute n penitent
person brave enough to purge his
soul in this way.
The correspondence which this sys-
tch SiiuSS w tuc ptcEctWy VI tuc
Treasury and TO other government
officials often the president himself
is extremely interesting.
A letter, dated Washington, is from
a clergyman, who signs his name and
encloses four dollars and fraction.
He explains that it was owed the gov
ernment as duty, and interest since
accruing, on several cheap watches
smuggled into this country years ago
by man who has since confessed to
him. "The man who pays this mon
ey," the writer goes on to say, ''was
converted a few weeks ago in the -
meetings held in this city regularly.
This act attests the genuinencss of the
work of regeneration by the Holy
Spirit"
A person evidently at one time con-
nected with the navy wrote to Secre-
tary Carlisle from New York several
weeks ago. His communication was
printed in square letters upon sheet
of foolscap from the top of which the
manufacturer stamp had been care
fully torn. Enclosed were five do
lars, which the sender explains are
"For conscience fund, Navy, 1889. -
81 forwarded you," he continues,
October 4, ten dollars for tho Same
purpose, and on the 18th of October,
1895, mailed ten dollars more to the
Treasurer of the United States, WASH
ington, ID. c., because you did not
comply with my request to acknowl-
edge the same through the New York
newspapers; neither did the Trent
urer. You will confer a great favor
on me--'a conscience stricken mani
you will kindly inform the Herald and
other New York papers, and request
publication OF receipt and proper dis
position of the total amount-twenty-
five dollars (S25)."
All conscience money is acknowl
edged through the newspapers of tn,
city or town postmarked upon the en-
velope in which it is received. Very
often, however, the senders of the
money full to notice these a,knowl
edgments, which simply state that tb,
Treasury Department has received I
certain amount from person living
in that locality. The name is never
published, even though signed by tn,
sender of the money.
Another penitent spirit who square
up his old scores on the instalment
plan writes from New York city, al
though the postmark is oil that givcl
evidence of his whereabouts. The en-
velope is addressed to Secretary Car
Isle in an intelligent mans crampet
back hand with no attempt to dis
guise. Inside $40 was enclosed in
smaller envelope, upon which is writ
ten, "The Treasurer OF the Unite,
States The enclosed belongs to tn
U. S."
A similarly indefinite communica
tion enclosing $50 was received from
the same person few weeks later.
Another contribution was receive,
by President Cleveland. In this wa
tive-dollar note, upon which wa
pinned small scrap of paper wit
the following scratched upon it il
pencil: 'Dear Sir-This belongs Il
the United States government. Ig
natus."
The largest conscience contribution
received during the year was not
for $465 drawn bya bank of Montrea
upon q bank OF New York. 1t was ad
| 1raaeed IN tho secratarv Of tha treae