Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-11-03

NEW YORK, SATURDAY.
THE copybook story that Lincoln.
when he was clerking in grocery
store once walked eight miles to
return thre.e cents to woman customer.
is equaled almost every day in wicked New
York. This is shown by some of the per-
cons who contribute to Comptroller Craig's
conscience fund.
It's lean day when Mr.. CraiG's mail
does not contain at least one letter signed
Honest" Or reformed Sinner" with
S. or $40 bill inclosed and a note explain
ing that the writer is unburdening himself
Of a debt-sSpurred by conscience
Sometimes the remittance is as much as
$50; sometimes it is only few cents in
postage stamps. Usually the letter is writ
ten or printed in disguised hand. Often
the writer Is illiterate and Judging from
the paper too poor not to miss the money.
At least four-fifths of the conscience fund
donors are poor, if that's any line on the
relative honesty of the classes.
The Comptroller's office is not the only
one that gets these letters. The United
States Treasury Department probably has
the largest conscience fund correspond
ence in the world, especially when times
are flush. Apparently consciences do not
prick so hard in hard times.
The Post Office, the Collector of Gus
toms, the railroads, hotels, department
stores all receive money anonymously.
"My little boy was years old and told
the conductor he was only and should
-! IL Ia 60 - Nuyi n
mother to railroad inclosing stamps to
make up the difference.
"Six years ago ! rode on your railroad
and the conductor did not take my ticket.
cashed it and got my money back, S1.40,
which return herewith" writes passen-
ger. who signs his letter "Remorse."
A great many contributions are unac-
companied by letters or contain merely
slip bearing the words conscience fund
or restitution fund" In the Treasury De
partments fund Ghere are hundreds Of let
ters from former soldiers and sailors who
helped themselves to a pistol or couple
of blankets or sonic serviceable item whenE
they left the service.
For articles l stole when in the army" 1,
is the customary explanation that accom-
panies such remittances The other day the
Government received SIS ticketed, for a
pair of shoes and o. blanket which I sold
when was in the army in Belgium" :.
"Any doughboy who could sell pair Of
army brogans and a blanket to a Belgian
for SIS" said the clerk who got this let
ter, Ought to be pedding snowshoes in
Panama, but this lad is too honest to get
rich that way"
For two Cancelled two-cent stamps I
used about fifteen years ago." This, in a
woman's handwriting, with 81 enclosed,
was received not long ago by the Post
Office. If this woman had been as quick
at compound interest cat per cent? as
she was metculous at remembering the
stamps, she would have sent only eight
cents. She has paid for those stamps,
interest and all, for sixty-six years, or
until 1878. Or, supposing she counted
simple interest only. she has paid up until
the year 1887.
However, conscience fund subscribers
usually do not bother about interest at all.
Here is a letter from a city employee,
added recently to Comptroller Craig's col
lection:
II have been employed by the City 2