The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-26
CONSCIENCE TROUBLES THEM.
Where Money Dishonesty Appropriated
Has Been Restored.

science doth make towards OF US all,
but 1t is certain that he did not know
ALI n the conscience is capable or 90
ing. 1t has made more heroes man
towards. a thousandfoId. When 1t de-
ters one from doing wrong, and when
IL courges one to do right, II - IN poth
Instances and in both equally me MN
lister Of courage in the indiNidual man
That ii requires courage OF a hlgh or
der for an employe of a moneyed es-
tablisnment. who has dishonesty ap-
propriated sums TO his own use' 10
make restitution. under circumstances
tina are certain to discover MS Bulll
TO others, is a fact not 10 be disputed.
Hence 1t is that conscience money
has a sort of sacredness OF It's own.
Mum is the word" from first TO last
In most cases of conscience money. IL
is at once a sign of repentance ana a
claim to be forgiven. The former de-
l~inquent, whose conscience pricks him
on to the first steps in restitution, the
Intermediary he employs, and the maj
recipient, all are usually covered with
a mantle Of secrecy. This way OF
treating such cases is commonly regard
ed as good morals, as II certainly IL
I'm economics.
Secrecy in a recent case OF conscience
none in this city was SO imperfectly
observed that some of the clrcum-
stances have been published, ana IL is
possible that the unrevealed clrcum-
stances may be rightly guessed by some
person or other. This is precisely what
is generally thought desirable to Ell
fectually guard against.
IT appears that through the agency
OF Jesuit priests at the College OF 81.
Ignatlus, this city, the Chicago d East
ern Illinois Railroad company mas re-
ceived conscience money TO the amount
of 81 1000. The inference is that the
sufferer in his conscience offered at the
confessional TO make this restitution.
AT any rate, the priests reported the
case and handed the money to Presl-
dent Hoeffer of the college, who in his
turn took il to President Lyford of the
railroad BY him the matter
was referred to the vice president, VINO,
after making fruitless inquiries intend
ed TO discover the name OF the penitent,
gave his receipt for the money, and
thereupon the priest and educator with
drew in silence. 1t would be strange
if the railroad official, Notwithstanding
the dutiful silence OF the priests, should
not be able to locate the misapropria-
ton and identify the delinquent. The
loss of 81, 600 Is not, surely, so common
an occurrence hat the railroad COM
pany has no means of tracing this par
ticular loss. But OF this point the
president Of the company very proper
Iy says not a word. So the known
facts Of the case stand thus-the un-
happy eX-railway employe is relieved
in his conscience, the priests are guilt
less Of any betrayal Of their confess
ant and the railroad has its own again.
Every now and then somebody or
other in the treasury or postotiice de-
partment at Washington allows II TO
he given out that conscience money has
been received, but the particulars are
always withheld. 1t is no secret. how
ever. that the aggregate of the many
sums so returned to the government
Is large. They arise from every depart
ment Of the public service. and ever
individuals, who, on returning from
foreign travels, have smuggled parcels
Of goods into the country and atterward
ascertained the amount OF the duty
evaded, have made it good to the treas
ury by secret payment.
Cases OF the kind have occurred III
the postofice If this city, and so sue
cessfully has the secret restitution beer
made at times that the postmaster has
not known whether the conscience suf'
ferer was still an employe or not. II
the great mercantile houses OF the city
in the banks and in various other large
establishments where the money L
handled first and last by many n
viduals, the item OF conscience money
il a constant and by no mean a SINAI
one.
The second vice president OF thu
Northwestern Railway company, who Il
also. and has been for 30 years, the II
cal treasurer Of tho company, is au
thority for the statement that cases o
conscience money in their service ar
, and always have been Of frequent &C
]Currence. aHs
Not he says. that they occur ev
cry week or month, or perhaps ever.
year. but that the cases are many 4
the time ! have been connected Wit
the company. Some of them have beef
very puzzlinc, but the most Of then
. nave explained themselves He de
To- Clines TO give particular instances an
TO mention names. for. in his opinion
s 10 do 80 would be breach Of confidence
I He does not remember more than
g very few Instances where priests Of IN
v Catholic church have not been the in
r struInents Of restitution. They hav
r come TO him confAeutially bearing mes
. sagea Of the peui,ant. and the none
20 that had weighed on the penitent'
20 conscience. and ne has accepted Of
all under the obhration. he thinks, c
y absolute secrecy from the world. Some
O times he has secretly investigated case
80 brought to his attention, and wher
q ever he has done so ne has been pc
q rectly satisfied OF the honesty Of ii
repentance and of the absolute integ
~ rlty Of the priests
II My somewhat extended experient
- in these matters says Mr.. Kirkma'
: has convinced me that the way
. which the Catholic hurch IS admins
a tered, in relation to matters Of busine,
' and honesty. IS vastly to the credit
II, that church. I am grateful TO u
:, priests for their frequent assistance Z
: Intermediates IN these cases. and Il
as one I do not choose to give up any s.
: cret they have cOuhded to me.
a. would not conduCe to individual hone
d " nor 10 genaral morality 10 do So,