davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTION.

Since the establishment of the fund si23,-
S6S Is has been contributed in amounts from
one cent to more than $4,000. The largest
single deposit was received November %,
1902, when the Collector of Customs at New
York City forwarded to the Treasury slS,-
669 co, which he had received from some
unknown person. who claimed that this
amount represented the duty on goods
which he had smuggled into the country at
different times The Collector of Customs
at New York had no way Of tracing the
writer of the letter which accompanied the
money as it was unsigned and merely bore
the postmark New York City"
The second largest sum that has ever
been added TO the conscience fund at any
one time was $.i22j Is. which was received
from an English clergyman, the Rev.
Prehendary Barft, vicar of st. Giles
Church, Cripplegate. London, who stated
in a letter that the money had been given
to him by a member of his parish. who
requested that he send 1t to the Treasury
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

For First Time in History of Government Speaker
of House Will Sit Shorn of His 4
Chief Prerogative.

younger element Of Democracy. Hafns.
is only thirty-eight. Hughes. Peters sns
Palmer each thlrty-nine. and Hull. OF ~"
nessee, is forty.
The manner i'm which Palmer, OF Penns'.
vania. came to Congress this time Is W"
the telling. Palmer, IL should be stateI
a Quaker. but the very antithesis OF VIZ" -,
the name might imply. He is pn's"
giant man with a football record anu
aggressive political fighter. In the o'Su~.
he represents In Pennsylvania there wS :.
peculiar system of rotation in effect :"
Congressman ever served more Una" ~.
term. The controlling forces IN t"'
trict mapped out for years ahead the -.
ton OF the Congressional job through =,
various counties; and young men ho'
OF their teens were marked for the R'I.7'i
years In advance. It,.
Mr.. Palmer was elected first by ro'a''
Then he sprung a surprise on the d',u .,sst
He Informed his constituents that u.
believe in the rotation system ana VS.. -.s
did not propose TO be bound by IL ..ts
devised when he was too young F" ..,,s
mart I'm II. and IL would probably conu'"
until after he died. .,...,,Oa
SO with q banner emblaZoned 80 10
Is Rot" A. Mitchell Palmer proceeu'.ss.,
unset all the traditions OF the 2oth D''s -
OF Pennsylvania. lie was re-e'eos s,cxn
the hardest fight the district hSo v.aS
and Is the first Congressman IN ma: :.,,id
10 serve the second term from that a',
" ~ " WORTH HARpE"
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

science fund" is in realty a national inst-
tuition the rises and falls shown on this
chart may be taken to indicate the pulsa-
ton of the public conscience that occurred
during the interval. 1t Is to the story that
this chart tells that officials of the Treas
ury point when they say that we are De-
coming a more conscientious nation.
The chart shows that $4,000 represented
the amount of money that found Its way
10 the conscience fund" In lSS5 An I'M
provcment in the conscience of the people
must have begun at that time, for two
years later the amount contributed was
si0.655 At this point falling off, so char
acteristic of all matters in which the con-
science is involved, took place, and In an
other ten years the amount had dropped
tn 81 .739 A sudden improvement. however,
brought the amount up TO sll.l71 the next
wear. During the three years that followed
the conscience of the people appears to
have undergone another change for the
worse, for in the year 1893 the amount had
fallen below the 5000 mark single de-
nosit of more than $4,000 brought the
amount up TO more than S16,740 in 1896, but
the wear following it returned to It's NVOo
level. The amount was back TO this level
in 1900. although 1t underwent q slight I'M
provement during the interval. Then the
banner year of the conscience fund oc-
Cured. a single deposit of more than SlS-
0OO and several of 5000 and $4,000, brought
the amount up TO S35, ,S6S in 1902 Officials oil
the Treasury point to this amount with
great pride when they assure you that the
conscience Of the nation is ever improving.
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
SOME CURIOUS LETTERS.

That truth is stranger than fiction
was never better illustrated than by the
letters that accompany donations to Un-
Gle Sans national conscience fund NO
writer could ever frame up series Of
letters that could compare with the
unique collection now on file in the Treas
ury. Take, for example, letter received
from a Middle West town several years
ago, which follows:
Treasurer of the United States.
Dear Sir: Some years ago I took a
small apple tree from the Government
orchard at Fort Sheridan, and now wish
ing to mako compensation for the same,
| inclose 81 in stamps. Hoping this Will
be just. remain. Yours, &c, ---.
The writer of an equally remarkable let
ter which bears the postmark "Muskegon,
Mich.," says:
"I wish to make confession and settle
ment, having found favor with God
through the instrumentality of the Saliva
tion Army. and had my desires changed
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
arv Half Million Shows Activity of American Conscience

you forward II to the Treasury? Yor-.
very truly, A FRIEND
The Representative did an was reou.s...
thinking that that was the last he ~.
ever hear from his conscientious 60.
The writer, however, was true TO hia ~
and shortly afterward ne Forwarded .~
other 81 bill, with the same unusuai
quest. Up to the present time so has ~
received fron this man In 81 instaIms,..'-
and those who have charge OF the r.c.~
ing OF the conscience deposits are conad...
that the remaining s. will be forthcomir, :.
Some years ago. when John q. cay,,.,.
was Secretary Of the Treasury, the fo,,...
ing letter. containing so in bills, reath..
his Office, from a resident Of Hartfo,S
Conn:
Dear Sir: Though I disapprove al hss.
ily as you OF the recent tariff laws, th,,
Il the duty OF every honest man 10 dsc,s,
fully the duty Of articles subject 10 ~.
same as he can only avoid doing 40 ~
perjuring himself. did so when I retu,r.s
from Europe recently. with the exception a
a few trifes, which. IL examined, woun
have involved pulling about the contents ~
my trunk. TO the injury Of my propertr,,
but with the intention Of sending the fpll
duty thereon to you"
Continuing, the writer expressed his hon.
that the Secretary would have the prs.
ent tariff laws altered. and wound up M
saying: II hope this less on account Of een
nomic ignorance which they display thu,
because of the terrible demoralizstio.
which they have powerfully aided to bra,
about. Yours, respectfully. ABB c."
In contrast to this unusually long lettes
may be found such short statements a
Stamps yoused fraudulent" This ss b.
longs to the u. S. government" The IN.
closed, trust. you will place in the Treas.
ury," and other equally brief letters, all a
which accomplish the same result. One
writer, evidently fearing to write his "a.
tire message in long hand, merely ssnsd
the letter "H' to the following typewrttv
statement
Conscience fund.
$50 u. S. customs"
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

cratic Congress. Even now the fourteen,
with the pledge Of their party caucus to
support them, and without waiting for the
appointment OF their Republican colleagues.
are preparing the list of committees. fixing
the rule OF committee eligibility and dis
cussing the plans and details for the re-
vision of the tariff and for the action OF
the Democratic majority in the next House.
1t has taken more than hundred years
to thrust all this power and glory upon the
Ways and Means COMMITTEES. but the result
has been accomplished at last through en-
tirely peaceful means. Champ Clark has
given up to II the prerogatives that made
Speaker Cannon most powerful In the
House. oscar w. Underwood. OF Alabama,
as chairman. will actually be more pow
erful figure in the House. so long as he has
his committee members firmly with him.
than will Speaker Clark himself.
The men who have made UP the Repub-
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

and my past blotted out by the pardo"
ing mercy Of my Saviour. ] am CHANGE
man. Some time ago I used old STAMP,
on my correspondence. five OF them' ai1
now remit 10 cents to rectify the same
Please forgive"
Another odd letter was received from
government clerk Here IT is:
"Snce holding a government c'er"'
ship / have thoughtlessy used an en-
velope or sheet of writing paper once III
while for my personal use. but jesus
Christ saves me and shows me IL "a'
wrong, and therefore inclose 81 to reihi-
burse the government"
poetical government clerk, living 'h
Alexandria. Ind, sent $40 along with the
following squib
TOO much pay
This month OF May"
Another contributor to the fund wrote
Enclosed find s. for cigars l made at
home without using revenue stamps
Please put this money in the proper place
or give 1t to the United States. By doing
so you will do justice and will oblige
CONSCIENCE"
A resident Of the State of Kentucky for
warded letter TO the Treasury year or
SO ago which conveys the following mes
sage:
Enclosed find 500 in currency. Place 1t In
the Treasury, where It will do the most
good Hope you will not do with 1t as l
have done. You need not send any re-
ceipt. A PENITENT THIEF.
The writer of this letter was not so par
ticular regarding the question Of a receipt
as an unknown resident of New York city
who sent to the Treasury several years ago
one-half of eight government bonds of the
81. 900 denomination. The bonds had evil
dently been cut in two with pair or
rather dull scissors. The writer Of the let
| ter stated that If a receipt for the eight
| half bonds was sent TO an address which
he designated he would then forward to the
Treasury the remaining portions of the
eight bonds His request was complied
with to the letter. and few days later
the remaining half bonds reached the Of
flee of the Secretary.
! A similar incident occurred several years
| later when there was received at the Treas
ury Department one-half Of 130 81 bills that
| had had similar treatment. Several days
later the remaining portions were received
from the Collector Of the Port Of New
York, who stated in an official communi-
| cation that he had received them through
the mail from unknown person. The
half bills were pasted together, then after
ward destroyed with other condemned
money, and an item of $3.50 was added to
the conscience fund.
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

what may be known as Northern ana
Southern Democrats. Seven OF the fourteen
members come from below Mason ana DIX
on's famous line, and seven from above
This careful balancing OF the committee Is
,,kelv TO mean more TO the country when
the tariff comes under consideration than is
now fully understood. The recognition
given TO the Northern states. full half OF
the majority membership Of the committee.
Is such as to give the solid South only
a half voice in the makeup of the new
Congress. and the preparation Of the Demo-
cratic tariff bill.
The fourteen lawyers are divided be-
tween North and South as follows: From
the South: Oscar W. Underwood, Ala
bama: Choice b. Randell. Texas; William
c. Brantley. Georgia: Dorsey w. Shackle-
ford, Missouri: Ollie NJ. James. Kentucky;
Claude Kitchin. North Carolina, and Cor
dell Hull. Tennessee. From the North:
Francis Burton Harrison. New York; Lin
coin Dixon, Indiana Henry T. Rainey. IL
iinois. Winfield S. Hammond, Minnesota;
William Hughes. New Jersey Andrew ].
Peters, Massachusetts, and a. Mitchell
Palmer. Pennsylvania.
These fourteen men have been set apart
as ineligible TO serve on any other COM
mittee OF the House. AS result 1t is sup
posed they will be less open TO influence
upon any special legislation, and less like
ly to be biassed in their choice of members
OF the other important committees.
Beyond its geographical division and its
singular equipment with lawyers in every
position on the committee. the membership
IL characterized by many other important
facts. A majority OF the men are gradu-
ates of colleges, and bring TO their work
an academic training. Harrison is a
graduate OF Yale, and was an instructor in
the New York Law School; Peters Is a
graduate OF Harvard Palmer. OF Swarth-
more Hammond. OF Dartmouth; Rainey. OF
Amherst: Dixon. of the Indiana State Uni
versity; Underwood. OF the University OF
Virginia. Brantley. OF the University OF
Georgia; Hull. OF Cumberland University,
and Kltchin. OF Lake Forest College
The Northern Democrats represent the
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

fund should be established, and for want
of q better name It was called the CON
science Fund" This is the name by whlch
the fund is generally known, but In the
annual report Of the Treasury 1t Is re-
corded under the heading Money Received
from Unknown Persons"
During the first year the conscience fund
was in existence $3.50 was forwarded to the
Treasury by people who wished TO make
restitution for their wrongs. The con-
science Of the people apparently must nave
surely been in rather dscouraging state
during the sixteen years that followed, for
not a single penny of conscience fund
money was received. In 1927 a Sc contriou-
ton was added to the original deposits.
Seventy dollars and s75. respectively, rep
resented the amount received during the
next two years and in 1880 the amount
suddenly jumped up to $1,000.
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
The Renentane Pool" Was Founded with Five Dollar Contribution
Century Ago and Increased Yearly by Sorrowul Evdoe
Individual Remittance Having Exceeded $l8OOO

the last twenty-five years. When one
doubts the correctness Of their statement
all that they need to do is point to their
compilations OF figures and show that al
though there is an occasional falling or
the high levels are becoming higher and
higher from year to year.
The conscience fund was established In
1911, during President Madisons admins
tration, when a letter containing s. was
received at the Treasury. The writer OF
the letter stated that the money rightfully
belonged to the government. He claimed
to have stolen 1t several years before, but
did not state from what source he had OBJ
tanned the amount. No name was signed
TO the letter save the word Conscience"
After a consultation. officials Of the Treas
ury decided that the money should be
turned into the general Treasury funds,
but that the deposit shall be duly re-
corded in the proper books. Not knowing
lust what heading or classification the
money should be deposited under, 1t was
then and there decided that separate
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

,convr,eht. 1911. by John Crosby Mccarthy
-HERE are many learned students of
public matters in this country who
Il believe that. as q nation, we are de-
enairingly lacking in morals. They say
that we are a constituencies people, with
practically no conception of the difference
between right and wrong. Some even go
so far as to say that our case is wellnigh
hopeless
This condition would be quite alarming
II these statements were allowed TO pass
unchallenged. But, as a general rule. TO
every critic there is an equally energetic
booster, and in this latter category may
be included a number of officials or the
Treasury Department who have at hand
elaborate compilations OF figures TO prove
their statements. These are the oft1cials
who have as a part of their routine work
the recording and depositing of all moneys
sent 10 the Treasury by unknown persons
who feel that they have come by it wrongly
and desire TO make restitution by having
II added to what is known as the con
science fund"
This fund is the register of the public
conscience Of the nation. 1t is the only in
stitution of the kind the scope of which Is
nation wide. and, accordingly. if one would
Judge the conscience of the country fairly
he must base his criticism on the informa-
ton which this fund presents.
Exactly one hundred years have elapsed
since the conscience fund received its
first contribution. Every letter that has
been received from its contributors since
that time has been carefully filed away in
the Treasury Department A record has
been kept of every penny that has found
sts way TO the fund.
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
Ways and Means Committee, of Honored Memory,
Has Had Unaccustomed Authority for
Good or Evil Placed Upon 1t.

the committee the chief committee OF Con-
gress, and which made its chairman floor
leader Of the party that controlled the
House. Although the appropriation bills
were turned over 10 the now powerful APP
preparations Committee in 1865, the Ways
and Means Committee still continued TO be
the recognized elder son OF the House or
ganization, and as its chairman Serene e.
Payne, of New York, has been floor leader
Of the House for many years.
But never until 219 Democrats Of the new
Congress that IS 10 meet next December
assembled in Washington on January II and
held solemn and binding caucus, had this
powerful committee dreamed Of the field
Of action that lay before it. BY single
resolution, adopted with little opposition
and with the entire consent and approval
Of Speaker-elect Clark, tho Democrats took
away one of the prerogatives that has al
ways been the bone and sinew Of the
Speakers strength and that has made him
next 10 the President in power and author
ity. They turned over this prerogative to
the precocious infant that is to dominate
the coming Congress.
Fourteen men were picked out by that
caucus TO compose the Democratic end Of
the ways and Means Committee. For all
practical purposes the search for control OF
the new House may stop there. The Re-
publicans will name some members OF the
committee; Speaker Champ Clark will sit
In the presiding chair throughout the ses-
sions OF the House; but the power Of or
ganizaton and the control of legislation
rests in the fourteen men selected by the
Democratic caucus.
They will determine how the tariff shall
be revised, and they will make the new
tariff bill. They will selecs the members
Of all other standing committees of the
House. They will determine how many
committees a man may serve upon, will
pass upon the individual qualifications Of
each member and determine the committees
TO which he shall be appointed.
With its chairman as tioo- leader of the
majority party, this little band OF fourteen
men will actually and effectively rule the
House through the sessions Of the Demo-
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
USED INDIRECT ROUTE.

One OF the most unusual cases that have
ever been brought to the notice of the
Treasury authorities is that of a man liv-
ing in Maine, who claimed that he owed
the government money, but who was afraid
to send it to the Treasury Department ad-
dressed to the Secretary. Accordingly. he
wrote the following letter 70 member Of
Congress from his state:
Dear Sir: I am asking a favor Of you.
incose 81. which l wish you would place
in the Treasury at Washington. ] feel that
am indebted to the government to some
extent, and as l have been trying to lead
a Christian life l wish to make up / can
only send small sums, like 81, and have
heretofore sent 1t. to the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington, but sending IL that
way fear it will be stolen. / am going
to send you about $l5-sl at time. VIII
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
INFLUX rs INTERMITTENT.

II is on this great mass Of letters and
figures that officials of the Treasury De
partment base their statements when they
say that the conscience Of the people of
the nation is steadily improving, notwith-
standing the fact there has been a no
tioeable falling off during the last few
years They have ignored this fact in bas-
ing their conclusions. however, as the thor
oueh study they have made Of the subject
has led them to believe that falling of
in the amount of money contributed to the
conscience fund is only a forerunner of
marked improvement.
a chart has been prepared showing the
amounts of money that have been added
70 the fund during the last twenty-five
years. When one considers that the con
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

he held first rank on the Democratic side.
With Mr.. Clark elevated to the presiding
chair in the House. Mr.. Underwood the
next In rank among the Democrats. has
succeeded naturally to the leadership OF the
committee. 1t is fortunate for the Demo-
cratic hosts In the new Congress that be-
tween Clark and Underwood there exists
seemingly the kindest and most friendly
feeling and an apparent lack OF all rivalry
or Jealousy.
II 1t were otherwise the taking from the
Speaker the power Of naming committees
and the giving OF II TO the chairman OF tho
committee already recognized as the lead
Ing element OF the House might give rise
to grave dissenslons within the ranks OF
the majority. Clark and Underwood are
both strong. positive. clear thinking men,
and they have worked together in harmony
and without serious differences.
The committee is equally divided between
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

yHEN the election returns last No
M vember showed that the Demo-
w Gratis had captured the next House
of Representatives the country hailed
Champ Clark as the great power OF the
approaching Congress.
Later events have shown that new
force is due to take control Of affairs. and
that II has already begun. in fact, 10 formu-
late the policy Of Democracy and prepare
the work for the next two years. For the
first time in the history OF the govern
ment the Speaker will sit shorn Of his
chief prerogative. that OF appointing the
committees OF the House.
A new giant OF legislative government
has arisen--the Ways and Means Com
rnittee Not that IL is a new committee-it
fs in fact, one OF the Oldest in the COM
position OF the American Congress-but
now, for the first time, there has been
thrust upon II a function which, with that
formerly given II, makes 1t the dominating
element in the greatest deliberative legis-
lative body in the world.
What IS this Ways and Means Committee,
and who are the men upon whom the bur-
den Of the next Congress has been placed?
The questions have been asked and an
swered on every hand. but the subject is
still new enough TO hold the attention or
the country and 10 form the topic OF po-
litical discussion.
Ways and means to raise the nation s
cash" is the problem 10 which this for
nidable committee has devoted itself ever
since II was born. way back In l7s9. when
the American Congress was just getting
under way. In those days, and, in fact,
all through the years up TO the close OF
the Civil War. it did more than raise the
money-it spent II also.
The Ways and Means Committee actual
ly carried the cash box into which Uncle
Sam threw his earnings. and from which
he paid his creditors and HIS workmen.
Every bill to raise revenue. and every ap-
preparation bill TO spend 1t. as well as the
banking laws customs regulations. trade
agreements and the like went through the
hands Of this powerful organization.
II was this great Importance which made
New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
SHOULD GO UP THIS YEAR.

Another characteristic falling off left the
amount a little below the $4,000 mark two
years later. and then a sudden change
brought it back to S2l, 1856 in 1905 The $1,000
mark was again reached after lapse or
two years, and then a sudden squirt llftel
il to nearly $4,000 A drop Of about 5000
and then another Of more than twice that
amount lowered the mark to S2,9i3 in 1910.
Just how much Of a jump the figure VIII
make during the present fiscal year no one
can tell. The Treasury officials know, how
ever. that the next move of the line show
ing the pulsaton of conscience will be up
ward, as there already has been more than
s.. 1000 contributed TO the fund since the first
day of last July.
With such an array of figures at hand,
the Treasury officials who handle this con-
science fund know whereof they speak
when they say that the conscience Of the
nation has showed an Improvement during