The Washington times., 1905-03-20
CONSCIENCE FUND
IS STEADILY FED
800, 900 in a Century Turn
ed Into the Treasury.
LARGE ANNUAL RECEIPTS
Postoffice Also Has a Similar Account
With the Contrite Defaulters.
Records on File.
LARGE ANNUAL RECEIPTS

A guilty conscience is a most wonder
full and potent factor in the life of a
human being.
1t has been said and well said, that
a man or woman never sinks so low as
to lose All sense of right or wrong.
Somewhere there is spot which may be
touched, and this is done quite fire.
quently.
The United States Government recog-
n:zes the power of an awakened con-
science. In two of the great depart
mentS of this Government there is
fund, known as the Coincidence Fund"
made up IF contributions from men,
women, and children. who are experience
ing the pangs Of a remorseful conscience
and wish to make restitution.
A Source of Revenue.
In other words, the guilty conscience Is
g. source of revenue to this Government.
In the Treasury Department and the
Postoffice Department money and
stamps are constantly being received,
with the request that they be credited
to the Conscience Fund
This Conscience Fund" in reality is
no fund at all. Contributions received
at the Treasury Department. which are
generally in money, are turned into the
general Treasury as a part of the mis-
cellaneous" receipts.
Stamps and money received at the
Postoffice Department are also turned
into the general fund. The stamps are
Cancelled, and the money is deposited
as a part of the postal revenue.
However, the way the contributions
became to be known as a rund is De-
cause a careful account Of every case is
kept in a separate book known as the
Conscience Fund" record To this ex-
tent, at least. there is a special fund
made up of the contributions OF con-
seience-stricken people.
Records on File.
The histories of the conscience funds
In the two departments are most inter-
esting. There are some remarkable rec
ords on file, and scores of letters re-
ceived from contributors tell stories of
the awakening of the conscience after
long sleep of ten, twenty, and some
times thirty years
Few of the people who contribute to
the Conscience Fund give their
names. In fact, there Is hardly a rec
ord of such a thing at the Treasury
Department. but occasionally a. name
appears in the letters on file in the
Postofflce Department
The majority of contributions are re-
ceived from persons who have suddenly
become religiously inclined. Hundreds o.
letters tell of stories of conversion to tn
Christian faith and are signed as -
Penitent," A Sinner, and other sucl
designations.
More women are conscience stricken
than men. At the Treasury Department
the contributions are perhaps abou
evenly divided but at the PoStOffice De
partment the women are far ahead.
However the sins confessed by th'
women are generally of small crimes
Women, it has been explained, are more
prone to commit small crimes like using
a Cancelled stamp or cheating the Gus
toms officers out of so cents Of revenu
than the men.
Men have confessed defalcation
amounting to thousands; women hav
owned to smuggling jewels and fin
dress goods into the country. and evei
boys and girls have written of thei
guilty transactions against the Govern
ment.
Big Conscience Fund.
Of the two Conscience Funds tina
at the Treasury Department is the NOR
important For nearly one hundre,
years it has existed, and during tina
time about 100000 has been received
In 1871 a letter was written to Presi
dent Madison. telling him of the com
tulSSiOil VA d StililS d5llliSl lIIC OONSlU
1nent, and jnclosing a sum Of money a
restitution. Right then and there tn
Conscience Fund was founded and a
the years go by the contributions in
crease, until now they average abou
$1,000 or more per year
The Conscience Fund at the Treas
ury is in charge of E. b. Daskam. chic
of the division of public moneys.
President Cleveland once received a
interesting letter from a boy fftee
wears of age. He inclosed three 2-cen
stamps, and stated that he was in
dreadful state OF mind having ono
used two or three Cancelled stamps. nc
at the time realizing what he did. II
begged for forgiveness. and closed
saying. 4 was only thirteen years oil
when / did it
Some years ago a man sent contribr
ton of IS, 900. He sent the money in tn
shape Of eight s.. 600 notes, cutting thel
exactly in half when he sent the frs
installment, saying that he would sen