Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-07

gressor is hard, and no one but God
knows how have suffered The con-
sequences and would ask to do a
| bountifnl restoration. May God pardon
while the United States government
is benefited. A SINNER"
| The pOstmark upon the package
containing the $4,000 was very bad
| ly blurred Some of the clerks in the
secrctary's Office were of the opinion
that ii had been postmarked New
York, while others believed that 1t
came from Newark. N, j., but there
was no doubt about the amount of
money nor the quality of the bills
which were mostly of $50 and 300 de-
| nominations. The $1,000 contribution
WAS the largest ever received with one
(, exception. The record was made In
| lS9G, when United States Consul Gen
eral Patrick Collins. at London, trans
| mittcd to the secretary of the treasury
$l4.225l5. which had been given to
| him by Rev. Prebendary BarG, vicar
OF st. Giles church, in one of the
suburbs of the English metropolis.
The vicar informed Consul General
Collins TINT one of his parishioners
had handed him the money with the
simple request that 1t be sent to the
United States government. Although
the papers ut the time were filed with
| speculatiOns by various authorities
who advanced various theories to &C.
count for the conscience contribu-
tion." nothing definite was ever learn
ed either of the conscience.smitten
person or of the theft or fraud that
he had committed. 1t was generally
supposed that the sender of the money
had Mt some time defrnuded the gov
eminent through the customs bureau,
and the same explanation Is now held
In regard to the $4,000 package that
came the department on March Ia
Lost Souls Pay Up.
Many contributions received at the
treasury department are apparently
due to recent conversion Mt REVEALS
or campmeetings. These are almost
always signed IA penitent," "a Sin
nor" or "a Lost Soul" The fair
sex is especially given to confession,
and feminine contributions are nearly
always accompanied by long letters
telling in detail how they struggled
their diamonds, lnces and gifts. to
friends in tho country. without paying
duty, or used Cancelled postage stamps
Many of the letters are sent to the
President of the United States, on the
supposition, possibly that he will see
and read them. As matter of fact,
he has too much important official and
personal CORES pondence to be worried
with the conscience troubles OF I'M
known citizens, and Secretary Loeb,
who reads or directs the reading Of all
his mail, sends the money, with the
accompanying notes, to the treasury
department by the messenger. Scarce
| ly week passes without bringing
three or four conscience contribu-
| tions" to tho White House During
President Cloveand's administration
he once received a letter from To-
year-old boy, who returned three two
cent postage stamps. "When ] was
boy of 49," wrote the 15-year.old peni-
tent, 81 used three postage stamps
that had been cancelled, but did not
realize the crime / committed. hope
that will be forgiven for the crime,
because was only Is years old when
| / did It,"
$1,000 in a Lump.
One of the largest contributions
was the sum of $4,000 that was re-
ceived during President Harrison's
| large bills, which were nl cut in two,
and at first only one end OF the roll"
| was received at the treasury depart
ment. 81 will send the other half of
the money" the man wrote. "as soon
as see by the papers that 1t has been
received in Washington. The pub
lication In the papers was made at
once, and the man was ms good as his
word, directing the other halves to
Postmaster General Wanamaker.
The postoflce department has estab-
/ lished a conscience fund" separate
from that of the treasury department,
to accommodate the money and
stamps sent in from time to time to
the postmaster general. AS fast as
they are received, however, the CON
tributions are sent up to the treasury,
and go. with the other mites into the
big vaults. the contents Of which help
to pay Uncle Sans bills when they
come due.-Washington Letter in
| New York Tribune.
| Y