The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-04

that the people are becoming con
scienceless.
For the fiscal year closing June 30
The total amount received aad credit
cd to this fund amounted to only ST.
1890, being decided dc 'feas9 from
that of the yeai 1906, when 1t was 81
343.49 In 1905 1t was s21.336.32, a
year in which conscience got in its
work in good shape, but which was
not the largest received in any one fis'
cal year, since the account was opened
In 1871. The total amount Of this
fund now goes considerably aver $780,
600, every cent coming from those who
wished to make atonement for sins
committed in the way Of pilfering
from the government.
1t may be that the sojourn of some
of the sinners at the Moundsville pen
others from that institution have
something to do with the decrease OF
the fund. The close watch kept on
government employees has unques-
tionably had much to do with the fall
ing off of the fund, for there Is not
now the opportunities to pilfer from
Uncle Sam as in the days a-gone,
when laxer methods prevailed through
out the entire government. 1t Is true
that once in great while large
amount is restored. For some time
after the war, when all sorts of steal
ings were rife in all parts Of the coun-
try, conscielces of the criminals seem
to have reached a very respectable
proportion and penitence found vent
in regular cornucopia of regrets ex-
pressed in cash or its equivalent.
"The decline of the fund" said one
of the Treasury officials, "is not due
to the fact that the world Is growing
better, but that people have not the
conscience they once had. That the
world is growing worse there can be
no doubt, and that little monitor call
ed conscience is not overtaxed. There
is just as much small pilferings in
the government as there ever was.
We seldom hear of these, but occa-
sionally one of the 'plungers' Is caught
up with and made to pay the penalty.
Not all the 'plungers' are caught, eth
er, by a long jump. In word, you
may say that conscience Is simply not
doing its work; it is held in check" "
The history of the fund is not with
out interest and entertainment. The
account was opened in Septmber, 1871,
with contribution of less than 81,
which was forwarded to the Treasury
by a conscience-stricken resident OF
New York, who stated that he had
taken the amount from the govern
ment and wanted to make restitution.
officials of the department state that
1t was not known at that time what o
do Yith the money, and simple mem
orandum was made and the slip OF
pager filed in one of the drawers
where it remained undlsturbed for
many years. 1t appeared that there
would never be another contribution
of this character, and, in fact, 1t was
not until 1861, soon after the breaking
out of the Civil War, when bundle
was received containing $4,000 in
bonds, accompanied by statement
that the restitution which had long
been due the government was prompt
ed by conscience. This gave the ac
count its name, Conscience Fund" II
has since remained open, and all
amounts returned to the Treasury in
consequence of the prickings of the
inward monitor (Which in too many in
stances seems to be ironclad) have
been credited to it. covered into the
general treasury as a miscellaneous
receipt, and may be used like Other
assets of the Treasury for any pur
pose that Congress may deem proper
Letters with Enclosures intended fol
| the conscience fund are usually ad
| dressed to the treasurer, but they &c
10 the public moneys division, which
makes note of the amounts and depos
| its them with the treasurer of the
United States. The sums received
are almost always in cash, stamps
with now and then draft. They arC
never accompanied by the names o
the senders, except once in while II
| the cases of persons who have made
mistakes as to payments Of customs
duties. The written communication!
| relating to them are very brief as &
rule. If otherwise, they contain elab
crate apologies and appeals. Occa
sionally letters are signed by clergy
men at the request Of penitents. Re
mittances are received almost weekl!
occasionally the receipts are two o
three a week.
In forwarding money for the con
science fund the senders frequently re
quest that acknowledgment shall b.
made by publication in the newspa
pers, and this is nearly always done
for the local newspaper men are gen
orally in evidence to gather in sucl
items. A great many of the letter
accompanying the remittances ar
preserved, and the lifting of the re-
tape of the department gives some in
teresting reading. Many of these LEI
ters on file are from jocose CORE
spondents, who have not scrupled t
make light of so serious a matter a
l..