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Show CURIOSITIES OF THE CONSCIENCE FUND. At irregular intervals, says the Washington Star, a paragraph appears announcing the receipt by the Treasury Department of a contribution to the "conscience fund." These contributions now-a-days vary from one dollar to between one and two hundred. A few years ago they were much larger. The money comes from all parts of the country. Philadelphia and New York leading in the number of contributions. A member of Congress from New York, when Mr. Bristow was in the Treasury, referring to this fact, remarked that it showed conclusively that New York and Pennsylvania were the most religious States in the Union. Mr. Bristow replied that in his opinion it only showed that these two States had done the most stealing. The money which comes from conscience-stricken people is on account of frauds on the customs, frauds under the income tax law, or on the revenue. The income tax having been abolished some years ago, contributions on its account are very low. The first record of money received by the Government from repentant defrauders was in 1863. When General Spinner was Treasurer he kept the account separate, but the practice was discontinued. The money now, as it has been for the greater number of years since 1863, when the contributions began, turned into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. Repeated attempts have been made by members of Congress to secure appropriations to be paid out of the conscience fund. If the money goes into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, it ceases to be a separate fund, and cannot be drawn upon. It is not known how much the conscience money now amounts to. The total amount from December1, 1863 to June 30, 1871 as given in the Treasurer's report for the latter year was $163,044. Since then no account of the contributions has been kept. Treasurer Gilfillan, however, estimates that the money now foots up $250,000. The contributions, as a rule, come through the mail, with a note saying for what purpose the money is forwarded. Very frequently a penitential explanation is included. Some of these explanations are very curious, and some very laughable. The ladies contribute a great deal. They repent principally over false returns made under the income tax, and for having evaded the duties upon articles of dress. A lady visited this country in 1864 from England. She smuggled in, while here, a silk dress pattern. A short time ago she wrote, confessing the evasion of custom duties, and sending $15 to clear her conscience. She gave the value of the dress, and wanted the balance sent back to her if the duties did not amount to $15. The custom division of the Treasury made a computation based upon duties discharged in 1864, and found the lady owed exactly $7.50. The balance was remitted. Ministers of the Gospel are very frequently the medium through which the money is refunded. While administering spiritual consolation the confession of defrauding the Government is made, and restitution follows. The clergy transmit the money without mentioning names. The largest amount ever received as one contribution was $15,000 in United States 7.30 notes. This contribution was announced in the newspaper. Many and ingenious attempts were made to get this money out of the Treasury. One man said that his father had sent the contribution and that he was crazy. The contributor of it had carefully cut out the numbers of the notes, so as to make it impossible to discover from the books who had sent them. - N. Y. (New York) Tribune. |
