The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-01
THE CONSCIENCE FUND.
1t Almost Reaches the Three Hum
dred Thousand Dollar Mark


The conscience fund at the United
States Treasury has reached 1929. 94i.55-
The account was opened in September,
1911. the first contribution being 81 sent
by man from New York State.
\ record was kept of the matter, but
it was many years before another con-
scieRce-stricken individual exhibited
disposition TO swell the sum In fact it
was not until 1861. soon after the break
ing out of the civil war, that there was
received 5000 in bonds, accompanied by
statement that the sum had long been
due the Government and the remittance
was prompted by conscience. This, it is
said gave the fund its name It has since
remained open. and the amounts received
are covered into the general treasury as
a miscellaneous receipt, and may be used
like other assets OF the Treasury for any
purpose that Congress may deem proper.
Remirtances are received almost week
ly. occasionally the receipts are two or
three a week. and, as rule. the letters
are not signed Frequently they are sign
Cd by cIergymen at the request of peui-
tents As nearly all the communications
are anonymous, acknowledgement are
made through the local press
Tho smallest amount ever received WAS
q 2-cent stamp. the sender explaining that
he had used a Cancelled stamp 10 prepay
postage on a letter. No money has ever
reached the fund from the hundreds Of
people in Official life who use penalty
envelopes TO carry on private correspond
euce-
From London came the largest eontri-
bution-$la 20. Some one in the Presby-
terry of 81 Pau. transmitted through the
American Consul General TO the State
this amount There was no reason as
signed for this pricEing of conscience
A greet many Of the letters accompa ny
ing the remittances are preserved The
majority of correspondents either give no
explanation or content themselves with
very brief statements or the reasons for
/ the return of the money. The contribut-
ors are chiefly people who have dcfraud-
ed the Government while acting as its
agents or offs ers, or who nave evadei the
Internal revenue taxes or customs duties.
| The men and women who have touched
tnc Government in q slight way are gen
efaiiy heard from soon after a religious
revival in their Immediate neishborhOod
Many Of the letters on file are from
loe'Se correspondents One u these let
Please ind Sl.25. coin OF the realm. won
/ from q United States pa yunaster at tIra v
poker, and which [ am convinced right
Iuily belongs to Uncle Samuel. l have car
nee Il 4or nearly six days. and dare not
trust myself with IL longer Nv CON
science calls for relief. my harassed M
lure calls Tor a good nights sleep [ can
nave neither 50 long as / carry this terri
Die witness You can apply il IN Hquida-
/ ton Of the national debt Now I can feel
q realization of the prOverb- BE yirtu0uS
and You viii be happy Now can I feel
: an assurance that in years yet 10 come
IL may be said OF my children vet 10
conc i ny We're OF poor but honest
parents. Please acknowledge through civ
papers, and request them TO double lead
IN editorial column"
The 81 . was an II O e. and not worth
the paper on which il was written.
department clerk wrote:
a clear conscience S0freus the hardest
/ bed and as ] am poor Government clerk
my bed Is very hard and needs much soft
/ enlngc so l herewith return y cents over
paid me last pay day and. besides [ have
ioa1ed a good deal lately
one OF the letters which had q genuine
ring was received IN 1850 from an officer
who signed himself John l. Markham -
The letter read:
Find check for $3.50 I VIII briefly ex-
plain why l send it l have been in the
United States service many years and a
part Of the time with rank which entitled
me 20 TWO servants ] drew pay for two
DUt actually had but one. Il is the com
mon practice Of officers TO do this. and the
p5fyunaStCrs are aware Of i. ] entered the
army poor and SiCk-tUO poor. in fact TO
gel along We'll without Il clear conscience:
hence the check.
Another writer says:
Years ago q sum Of money was left in
my hands which belonged 70 the Govern
meuT- / WAS instructed by the depart
m-ct to which il belonged TO retain il
until rCqulsitiOa was made for il. This
reqlIisilian has never been made and prob
ably never Will As the money Is uOJ mine
/ send II with iuteTeSJ-Sl5j.51.