Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-22

gatherer be silenced." Let him never be
heard knocking at the door Of an institution
founded in christian beneyolcncc, and keep
ing pace in its Der eicence with the out-growth
of our christianity for more than century.
Spare the Savings Banks for what they are,
and for what they are doing. All other institu-
tions and corporations Of similar character
pale in comparison.
Our National Banks are a necessity. With
out them the energies of our country would be
paralyzed; but it is only the rich and fortunate
stockholders, who reap the ten and eighteen
per cent. dividends, and enjoy the pleasing
thought that they may sell their shares if
they wish, at gain not unfrequently of from
fifty to seventy per cent
Fire and Life Insurance are blessing.
These save from beggary often-times. These
sometimes hold out to the unfortunate and dy-
ing man the only hope that his wife and
orphan children will not be left penpiless,
Railroads are necessity. Our country owes, :.
its greatness largely to them.
But how with all these corporations? They
are served by men whose salaries exceed
in some instances that of the President
of the United States. All these corporations
necessary and benign as they are, draw the
stupendous sums, which afford such dividends
and such salaries directly or indre city from
tie pockets Of the people
What are the Savings Banks aud how are
they served3 Institutions where the cid who
have saved little sum for their declining
years, may deposit it and feel safe; insiitu-
tons that encourage the young in habits Of
industry, economy and fruEality,- insti'utions
which gather up the Comparatively small
sums saved from toll, and put them again in
to circulation, building our railroads, erecting
our manufactures, moving our looms, spin
dies and trip hammers: the very institutions
in our country, with their millions in reserve,
which have carried our business men through
FIRE and disaster safely past the lst of January
1878, where they otherwise might have been
cornered producing panic in commercial
circles unheard of. And while the Savings
Banks DO all this, they hold themselves in
readiness to pay back to the poorer and
| interest. These are eminently the institutions
! of the people. The President, for his SUI
| pervision, adding much in most instances to
| his cares. is prohibited by law from receiy-
| ing any compensation. The trustees until the
| last year have received nothing. The treas
| urers accepting trust under heavy bonds,
| liable to make good all losses by count, fer
which the laws Of England allow Il sum year
| ", equal to more than two hundred dollars in
our currency, and holding this trust in these
days Of professional burglary at the jeopardy
| of their live, these men are in many instances
without fixed salary and are doing work out
of work hours for support.
| This is the institution that it is proposed to
crush out by taxation. From whence came
the call to this unholy purpose. 'Surely not
| not from the middle and poorer. Il came
from those who bind heavy burdens and
grievous to be borne and lay them On mems
shoulders; but they themselves will not move
| them with one of their fingers.
We ask then the members OF our present
| Legislature TO hasten to repair the wrong.
| Wait not till we send up petitions bearing the
names Of thousands OF the toiling ones, Of
widows and orphans, yea and of business
| men too, who having security but not money,
fed to the Savings Bank for aid in their ex-
tremty and have not called in vain. Do this
and the plaudit shall come up from the peo-
| pie "well done good and faithful servants"