The Washington times., 1901-12-29
CONSCIENCE FUND
AND ITS ORIGIN.
FIRST CONTRIBUTION IN 1871.
Regular Account Kept Since shortly
After Outbreak of the Civil War,
Postage stamp the Smallest
Amount Received.

Amount Received
The history OF the technically cafled
conscience fund" is not without interest
and entertainment. The account was
opened, according to the officials Of the
Treasury Department. in September. 1911.
the first contribution being a sum of less
than 81, sent by a man from New York
State. a record was kept of the matter.
but it was many years before another
instrumentation individual exhibited a
disposition TO swell the sum.
In fact. it was not until 1861. soon after
the breaking out of the Rebellion, that
there was received $4,000 in bonds. accom-
panied by a statement that the sum had
long been due the Government and was
prompted by conscience. This. it is said
gave the fund its name. IL has since re-
mained 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
A Delicate Conscience.
The smallest amount ever received was
a 2-cent stamp. the sender explaining
that he had used once upon a time a can
celled stamp to prepay postage on a let
ter No money has ever reached the fund
from the. hundreds Of people in official
life who use penalty envelopes to carry
on private correspondence.
From London came the largest contri-
Gomoora In tha Draebt--
terry Of st. Paul transmitted through the
American Consul General to the State
Department, and thence to the Treasury.
this amount. There was no reason what
ever assigned for this pricking of con-
science.
The contributors are chiefly those who
have defrauded the Government while
acting as its agents and officers, or who
have evaded the internal revenue taxes
on customs duties. The men and women
who have only touched the Government
in a slight way are generally heard from
soon after a religious revival in their
immediate neighbOrhood. They seem TO
feel that in order to get squarely started
in the strait and narrow path they must
make good their little pilferings from
Uncle Sam.
Enkc ODntriDutiOn.
Many Of the letters on file are from io-
cose correspondents, who are not scru-
Piled to make light of so serious a matter
as to address to the Treasurer pretended
conscience letters. and whose humor is
far in excess of the money enclosed. One
of these letters says;
please find sl.25. coin Of the realm.
won from a United States paymaster at
darw poker, and which I am convinced
rightfuny belongs to Uncle Samuel.
have carried it for nearly six days. and
dare not trust myself with it longer. My
conscience calls for relief-my harassed
nature calls for a good nights sleep.
can have neither so long as I carry this
terrible witness. You can apply it in
liquidation of the national debt.
Now 1 car feel realization of the
proverb: BE virtuous and you will be
happy Now can | feel an assurance that
in years vet to come 1t may be said of
my children (yet to GOMEZ They were
Of poor but honest parents Please ac-
knowledge through the city papers and
request them to double lead in editorial
column"
L ne sl--o WAS an 4 - = anu lAbA NCA III
The paper on which 1t was written.
After Soft Couch.
A conscience stricken department clerk
writes: a clear conscience softens the
hardest bed. and as I am poor Govern
ment clerk, my bed is very hard and needs
much softeuins-so I herewith return
twelve cents overpaid me last payday,
and. besides. 1 have lcafed good deal
lately"
One CT the letters. which had genuine
ring. was received. in 1866, from an Of
hcer who signed himself John L. Mark
ham. but. strange to say, not another like
it has ever reached the Treasury. The
letter read;
Find check for 500. will briefly ex-
plain why send it. l have been in the
United States service many yeiIs and
part Of the time with rank which entitled
mo to two servants. drew pay for two.
but actually had but one. 1t is the com
mon practice of officers to do this. and
the paymesters are aware OF it. 1 en-
tered the army poor and sick-too poor
in fact, to get along well without clear
hence the check"
Another writer says: Years ago sum
OF money was left in m y. hands which be-
longed to the Government. | was in
structed by the department to which II
belonged to retain it until requsition
was made for 1t. This requisition has
never been made, and probably never will.
As the money is not mine | send ii with
1t can hardly be said that this restitu-
tion was dictated by conscience. as the
writer Would have been justified in keep
ing 1t. having received instructions from
the Government to do so.
An official states that it was related OF
Mr.. Lincoln that sum was left by the
in his hands when he retired
as postmaster OF country town. Many
years after q demand was made for IL.
when he promptly drew forth an old
stocking from his desk and delivered up
the exact sum in the very pieces OF coin
received by him years before.