Evening star., 1923-09-23

that has cheated Uncle Sam
according to the records of
4 the United States Treasury
which show that ever since 1871
Anonymous contributions which as-
igregate hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars have flowed into the federal
strong boxes from unknown donors
who wished 10 square" themselves
with the national government in
financial way for Illegal liberties they
have taken with federal funds.
Considerably over q century age
some unidentified person who had
short changed our venerable national
relative in one way or another sent
Ifiye-dollar bill to the Treasury tc
balance his account with the govern
lmcnt. This curious contribution start
ed the ball rolling. From that day to
this anonymous gifts of money have
lbeen received regularly.
The extraordinary hush money
which the Treasury Department re-
Iccives so regularly is sent in order tc
lstin the consciences of certain Amer
leans who wish to reimburse Uncle
Isam without disclosing their identi-
ties for money they honestly believe
Ithey owe him.
In no respect do the conscience con-
ttributions take the form OF bribery
funds. There is nothing illegal asso-
ciated with their transmission tc
Washington or their reception and
retention by the government authori-
ties.
The psychological study of the hu-
man conscience is one of the most in.
tricate and interesting researches
which either the amateur or profes-
sional Investigator can ever under
itake. Conscience is a relatively un-
lexplored mine. 1t causes the mur-
derer to confess his crime despite
THAT. apparently, he has cleverly
Ievaded detection and allayed all sus-
Ipicion. It forces the robber to broad
cast the story of his shortcomings gs
years after he has committed the
crime and successfully escaped.
Conscience ia a sort of binding
Iagreement between man and his
Maker which forces the former tc
make public all his offenses. The
sense Of duty associated with ar
active conscience is deep-seated In
force which has created the national
lconscience fund. the most extraordi.
mary credits ever recorded on the
federal cash books.
1
CONSCIENCE Is something of q
~ curious contradiction. 1t per.
mlts a man to steal, yet later il
troubles, and worries the culprit sc
atonement.
A striking example of the motive;
which indirectly gave rise to the ma
tional conscience fund Is found in the
extraordinary story of an American
tourist who once stole curio from
Westminster Abbey in England. Or
lone of the walls of the famous building
is q wonderful tableau, scrolled ant
embossed In marble and stone. II
\ depicts the acts of two Americans
Aaron Burr and Benedict Arnold
| When the Americacn traveller In
tquestion visited the notable abbey, his
| guide left him alone for a few min.
4 utes in the neighborhood OF the large
! marble plaque. Quickly. the Amer.
lean broke the head of Burr from
the statue. He carried the trophy
back to the United States with him
+ Several years OF mental suffering
engineered by guilty conscience
4 finally caused him to return the curic
| anonymously to the directors of west
minister Abbey.
| This same variety of mental suf-
| fering melted by guilty conscience
impeis many Americans annually te
1 repay Uncle Sam in cold cash fol
money they believe they owe him.
Perhaps q society matron who has
| been abroad smuggles some fine
Jewels, furs. laces or other articles
OF feminine finery into the United
States without paying the requisite
customs charges. Thereafter. hel
sense OF wrongdoing may develop tc
a point where she malls to the United
States Treasury in an unidentified
! communication the belated customs
| taxes which she owes Uncle Sam.
Many people. in one form or an
other, are overpaid by the wash
lington experts who run the federal
government Some Of these people
accent the overplus funds for the