The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-14
UNCLE SANS CONFESSIONAL.
Some Curious Contributions to the Con
science Fund.
Sunday News.

public, non-scctarian confessional for
those who have robbed him at various
times, but who have later grown pcn-
tent. This interesting institution IS
a branch Of the treasury department.
1t is one Of fast-growing Importance.
Thousands of dollars are being rccciv
cd through it each year and deposited
in the cavcrnous vaults Of the treas
ury building. The mau who has
active charge Of the booking Of the
unique revenue is Chief +. b. Das-
kan, Of the division of public monies.
He places each item to the credit
of what he calls the conscience
fund
The largest item lie has yet rccciv
cd came lately from London. Our
consul general in that city transmitted
draft for s14 ,225.15, paid to him in
English money by the Rev. Plcbcn-
dairy Bartf, vicar Of St. Giles Church,
Cripplcgatc, London. The sum was
entrusted to the latter by person de-
clining to disclose his identity, but
who intimatcd that he had come into
its possession Of it by dcfrauding the
Government. 1t was somewhat coin
cidcntal that shortly after this deposit
another pcnitcnt sinner sent to the
treasury one cent, the smallest item
ever received. AS in all such cases
the officials made no attempt to trace
the name or whereabouts Of the per-
son who transmitted the largest
amount. 1t has become one Of the
traditions Of the office that no prose
cutions will be made in such cases and
that mo questions asked shall re-
main its policy. Moreover, the names
of depositors are never disclosed,
even when given, which happens very
rarely.
Some amusing letters accompany
recent deposits Of this class. y Chi
cago man writes: Some years ago |
took Il small apple tree from the Coy
ernluent orchard at Fort Sheridan and,
wishing to make compensation for
same, | enclose one dollar in stamps.
Hoping this will be Just, | remain
yours, etc No name was added.
From Springfield, Mass, was received
shortly afterwards single two-ccnt
stamp, wrapped in scrap of paper in
scribed, "For the conscience fund"
A small sheet with mourning border
reads: account Of unpaid duties.
Acknowledge receipt upon enclosed
postal card" Two hundred dollars
was enclosed. Another letter says:
Enclosed please find Is cents to be
applied on conscience fund The
sender was evidently better Chris
tian than dnGnclcr. He enclosed eight
two-cent stamps and one one-cent
stamp. Another individual signing
himself "Citizen,' transmits draft of
$500 and writes: 1T is conscience
money. 1 wish to return it to the
Government"
From Vanita, Indiana, recently came
an envelope bearing conspicuous cvi-
dences of having had at least dozen
addresses written upon it in pencil
and afterward erased. II failed to
pay small tax, enclosed you will find
the amount" was scrawled upon q
rough slip of paper. Ono dollar
and forty eight cents was tucked in
side.
Secretary Gage recently handed an
envelope, marked "Private." Tearing
it open he found small envelope
bearing the two words, Conscience
money" and containing 5000. The
contributor hurried away before any
further explanation could be asked.
In similar manner the Secretary was
recently handed an envelope contain
ing $3.50 without other enclosures to
state its purpose.
A bold effort to disguise his chirog-
raphy is made by New Yorker, who
half prints and half writes this in
pencil: Enclosed $50, to pay for duty
for presents brought over and not list
cd. Charge to conscience fund. Val
ue of presents about s75." A Roches-
ter, N. Y, penitent feigns illiteracy
by scribbling, "Thesc money belong
to the Government. He encloses
Sc. All of the ingenuity of Pitts
burger appears to be concentrated in
transparent attempt TO disguise MS
identity by writing upon an inside en-
velope, bearing only ten cents, the fol-
lowing information: "For the con-
shuns fund" "Konshhen,'' the
original spelling Of the third wn-d 10
stricken out in favor Of the former. A