Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
Received From the
Conscience Stricken

liz LloIIlu Vi JdHuaTy WAS d ISCOIu-
breaker for conscience fund contributions
In no single month for many years has
there been so many contributions to this
famous fund. 1t seems as If the conscience
microbe got busy during the first month of
the year and SO worked upon the hearts and
minds Of some persons who had defrauded
Uncle Sam in the past that they forthwith
made good.
During the month the treasurer of the
United States received eleven separate con-
tributions, amounting in the aggregate to
$s2433. Treasurer Charles R. Treat says
that this is the largest amount received
during any one single month in several
years-that is to say, outside of those
months in which the large contributions
amounting to thousands of dollars were re-
ceived.
Last summer man in Newark n j.,
sent to the Secretary of the Treasury a
package containing So, 600, which he stat ed
was "fourfold'' return Of funds which he
defrauded the government of years ago.
There has been only one contribution
larger than this. About two or three years
ago the Secretary received 1880 from a
conscience-stricIen man out west.
The monthly contributions, however, gen.
orally consist of small amounts seldom
more than $50. In the month just closed
there We're five contributions of more than
s1Oo, two being for $500, one for $50, one
for S102.05 and another for s1O2 40 Two
men were "conscience-struck'' to the extent
OF cents-two 2-cent postage stamps
Some OF the interesting entries in the
treasurers conscience fund book read as
follows:
January 8. The treasurer of the United
States received this day, through the COM
missioner of pensions, from an employe of
the pension bureau, check for $780, to be
deposited to the credit of the conscience
fund
January 10. The treasurer of the United
States received this day from an unknown
source, from Philadelphia. Pa, draft for
s1Oo. 40, to be deposited to the credit of the
conscience fund
January 20. The treasurer OF the United
States received this day, through the Office
of the Secretary of the Treasury. from an
unknown source at Senatorial Miss postal
money orders for 500 and sos, to be de-
posted to the credit Of the 'concieace fund.
January Is. The treasurer of the United
States received this day from AN unknown
source, in an envelope postma-ked New
York city, N. Y. check for $50, to be de-
posted to the credit Of the conscience
fund"
Secretary Shaw received an envelope post
marked st. Louis. containing $500 Inside
was small slip of paper on which was
written, Due United States treasury con-
science fund" Signed, John Smith.
remarkable illustration of how the con-
science of some men digs at them fo- years
and years was contained in the story ac-
companying contribution Of $40 after a
lapse of thirty-six years The money In
question was forwarded by a missionary in
Kansas who wrote the following letter:
United States Secretary of the Treasury
Dear Sir: About thirty-six years ago a GER
tain man bought horse from some desert
ers of Fort Leavenworth. He knew that
the horse was stolen from the government.
immediately after, he sold the horse for
the same price he paid for 1t, which was
$40. He has long regretted the trans lctIon,
and thought he was obliged to make resti-
tuition to the government The only fault
that can see that he had was to buy the
horse. Inciosed you will find draft to pay
for the same
Thus after thirty-six years Uncle Sam
came into his own again, and perhaps he
Is better of. as the horse would have long
been carried to the boneyard with him.
A Union, South Carolina, man was SO
worried over beating Uncle Sam out of two
postage stamps that he inclosed them In a
letter. The same thing seemed to worry a
man living in Dayton, Ohio, who sent
cents in stamps
All OF the money received for the CON
science fund" Is turned into the treasury
Under the head of miscellaneous receipts
Since the fund was started, 1 nthe ad-
ministration OF President John Quincy Ad-
ans, nearly 800. 000 has been received.