The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-10-10


that the world is growing better or
that the people are becoming con
seienceless.
For the fiscal year closing June so
The total amount received and credit
ed to this fund amounted to Aolly So
1880, being a decided decrease from
that Of the year 1906, when 1t was 81
S4S.49 In 1906 It was S21.S36.s2 a
year in which conscience got IN its
work in good shape, but which was
not the largest received In any one is-
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.
II may be that the sojourn Of some
Of the sinners at the Moundsville pen
itentlary 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 of 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 It is true
that once in a 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, consciences Of the criminals seem
to have reached very respectable
proportion and penitence found vent
In a 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 pilferlngs In
the government as there ever was.
We seldom hear Of these, but occa-
sionaliy 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 a 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 ana wanted to make restitution.
Of1cials OF the department state that
il was not known at that time what
do with the money, and a simple mem
orandum was made and the slip OF
paper fled in one Of the drawers,
where 1t remained undisturbed for
many years. It 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 a bundle
was received containing $1,000 in
bonds. accompanied by a statement
that the restitution which had long
been due the government was prompt
ed by conscience. This gave the &C
count It's name. Conscience Fund" II
has since remained open, and all
amoants 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 for
the conscience fund are usually ad
dressed TO the treasurer, but they 20
20 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 a draft They are
never accompanied by the names Of
the senders. except once in a while In
the cases Of persons who have made
mistakes as to payments Of customs
duties. The written communications
relating 10 them are veTy brief as a
rule. II otherwise, they contain elab-
crate apologies and appeals. Occa-
sionally letters are signed BY clergy
men at the request Of psnitents- Re
mittances are received almost weekly
occasionally the receipts are two or
ttr,n a uraat