Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-03
The Conscience Fund.

A few days ago the papers spoke OF
the receipt by the United States gov
crnment of 1900 contribution to the
so-called conscience fund, the sender
Of the money being unknown. This
was spoken of at the time as the larg-
est contribution ever made to this fund.
A Washington correspondent OF the
Boston Transcript points out, however.
that once upon a time, ElaI.y years ago.
the sum of $4,000 was received from an
unknown British subject who stated
that he wished to make restitution for
certain frauds upon the custom laws of
the United States. 1t is not at all un-
likely that the national debt would be
materially reduced, If not altogether
wiped out, il all who have evaded our
custom laws during the past century
should return to the government with
interest the sums they have cheated it
of.
This so-called conscience fund has
been separately tabulated by the trea-
sury department for the past 81 years,
and in this time contributions to it
have amounted to one-third of a mil
lion dollars. The money received is ell
tered among miscellaneous receipts and
applied to the current expenses of the
government. Contributors to the fund
have by no means been confined to
eccentric persons or cranls, as a great
number of the letters on file show that
most OF the contributors are sincerely
repentant, and take the only practical
regret. Nearly every sum- is accom-
panied by an explanatory letter, which.
however, is rarely if ever signed. The
religious element is found in the great
majority of letters accompanying the
contributions to the conscience luna.
In speaking of this fund the Transcript
correspondent writes entertainngly as
follows:
Slightly removed in spirit from the
conscience fund. but belonging to the
pc culiar" receipts of the Government
are the gifts which it receives from its
citizens. Occasionally man be-
Queaths his property. in whole or III
part, to the United States Government.
This was true Of General Nathaniel
Lyon, who was killed at the battle of
Wilson's Creek, while fighting valor-
ously to save Missouri for the Union.
1t is in times of war that persons are
most inclined to gifts. Helen Gould's
contribution of 100000 in the recent
Spanish War is well remembered. An
EEglishman at the same time enclosed
a postal order for one pound sterling,
as a contribution toward carrying on
your war with SPAIN" Doubtless many
similar contributions from this country
went to Japan during her recent strug-
gle, and perhaps few to Russia. An
other Englishman, a clergyman, sent
the United States half 4 guinea, which
he hoped might furnish cup OF cold
water to some member of the army or
navy" Two little girls in St. Paul sent
s.. 40 out Of their small earnings. Most
Americans We're content to pay their
taxes, and let it go at that.
One of the most curious gifts which
the Treasury regularly receives, four
times a year, is s72 check. The giver
draws pension of that amount. He
does rot want to relinauish it, for fear
that some time he might want it, but
SO long aA he retains lucrative
position. which he is able to fill, he
thinks he ought not to have the PEN
sion. He is doubtless right. He is
moreover sane and in his right mind.
There was story told during the last
administration of the Pension Office of
man who wrote very penitently, ask
| ing for the withdrawal OF his name
from the pension roll in acknowledge
ment that it had never deserved to get
there, and otherwise apoiogizing for the
dishonesty that hal rervaded his APP
plication. COMMISSIONS. Ware was
greatly pleased with the spirit of the
| letter and in order to write its author
| a letter of congratulation sent his mes
seESer downstairs to get the address.
1t was found to be in an insane asylum.
Some people get possession of queer
ideas. A New Yorker wrote to the
Government not long ago that he had
heard of the embarrassment to which
presidents were often put by not hav-
ing sufficient funds for secret investi-
cations. which they could expend
without any accounting for it." He
| wanted the President to feel free to
have a little allowance of this kind, and
so sent $1,000. Uncle Sam takes all
these gifts and only regrets that they
do not amount to more.