Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1907-08-08

What is known as the Conscience
Fund" of the Treasury Department is
growing beautifully less. Indicating
that the world is growing better or
that the people are becoming con
scienceless.
For the fiscal year closing June go
The total amount received and credit
cd to this fund amounted to c1ly ST.
1880, being a decided de .rcasa from
that OF the year 1906, when il was ST.
343.49. In 1905 it was $21. 1862. a
year In which conscience got in its
work in good shape. but which was
not the largest received in any ole fs.
cal year, since the account was opened
In 1911. The total amount of I'll s
fund now goes considerably over $780,
oOO. 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
itentiary and the narrow escape Of
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 on Of the fund, for there is not
now the opportunities to piifer from
Uncle Sam as in the days a-gone,
when laxer methods prevailed through
out the entire government. 1t is true
that once in a great while a 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, consciences 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. lis 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 long jump. In a 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, 1911,
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.
Omcials Of the department state that
1t was not known at that time what
do with the money. and a simple men,
orandum was made and the slip of
paper filed in one Of the drawers.
where 1t remained undisturbed for
many years. 1t appeared that there
would never be another contribution
OF this character, and. in fact, IL was
not until 1861, soon after the breaking
out Of the Civil War, when a 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 &C
count its name. Conscience Fund" II
has since remained open, and all
amounts returned to the Treasury in
Of the prickings of the
monitor (which in too many in
stances seems to be ironclad) have
been credited to II. 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 for
the conscience fund are usually ad
dressed to the treasurer. but they go
to the public moneys division, which
makes note OF the amounts and dcpos-
Its them with the treasurer of the
United States. The sums received
are almost always I'm cash, stamps.
with now and then a draft. They are
never accompanied by the names OF
the senders. except once In a while I'm
the cases Of persons who have made
as to payments OF customs
duties. The written communications
relating to them are very brief as a
rule. IL 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 weekly
occasionally the receipts are two or
three a week.
In forwarding mcaey for the con-
science fund the sen ieTs frequently re-
quest that acknowledgment shall be
made by publication In the newspa-
pers, and this is nearly always done.
for the local news .per men are gen.
oraIl.- In o...A.u n A.. .za.k.- l. -