Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-19

The Postmaster-General IL is announced ha,
decided not TO permit postmasters to give a.
suretles the bonds Of guarantee associations
His argument is, that on the death or sudden
removal OF the postmaster it often becomes ne
cesSary for the sureties of that Office to take
charge or the officer. and he does not think thai
thls duty could he properly undertaken by O
foreign corporation
In every aspect of the subject It is to be re
gretted that the Postmaster-General feels
obliged TO take this view OF the subject and II
Is 10 De hoped that, after more thorough con-
sideratlon of all the points involved, he may be
able 10 reach a different conclusion.
Guarantee associations have sprung into be-
ing and become popular because necessary TO
the community. In simpler age il was conn
paratively easy and safe to go on friends bond.
But In the more complex relations of modern
society this system of personal bonds has be-
come impracticable. We may be much our
brothers keeper now as formerly, but we can
not know as much about him as formerly, and
he is tempted nowadays in so many new direc-
lions that ii Is a dangerous matter to assume
the responsibility for his correct behavior.
More innocent men have been ruined by en-
dorsing a friends bond than by almost any
other act of imprudent generosity. 1t Is a favor
that commonly is a hard one 10 refuse, since, to
do 50, implies lack of complete faith in the
friends integrity sagacity. And on the other
favor under an obligation which is always more
or less embarrassing, and at times leads to
scandal. a man who is properly watchful of
his own interests hesitateS to give a bond, and
truly independent man equally dislikes to
ask the endorsement.
The guarantee association comes in to relieve
both parties OF embarrassment. For a small
sum one of these companies will assume the re-
sponsibility of the bonded officers honesty. The
risk is calculated on business principles as in
any other branch of insurance, and the cost OF
apolicy graded accordingly. The officer can now
buy where he had formerly to beg Instead of
soliciting his friends and relatives to put their
fortunes in jeopardy, testimonial to his up
rightness and business efficiency, he can buy a
policy of honesty from responsible corporations
who make this their sole business
1t Is surprising to hear that these CORPORATIONS
Will be less careful to protect their interests
than individuals. II they are brought into the
relation of q receiver by the death or misdeeds
OF one of their policy holders they would proba-
bly, see To ii that they suffered no unnecessary
loss 1t is notorious that suit against a prf-
Vate bondsEan is rarely pushed through to q
payment The defendant in such q suit gene
rally manages in some way to squirm out OF his
obligations. The guarantee company, on the
contrary, would be more likely to treat the in
cldent on its merits one of the features of its
business.
There is another consideration also to be taken
into account An Individual who becomes a
boHdsman may have secret suspicion that his
friend Is not living exactly right, but he may
nave no proofs and he does not feel inclined to
begin system OF espionage to learn the facts
The guarantee associations will have less deli
cacy- They may be trusted to keep a close
watch ON their policy holders, and as the latter
Will be aware OF that fact, a new motive for hon.
esty is added to the ordinary protection of frail
humanity Violations of trusts would be less
frequent If il was understood that men who ac-
cepted such positions lived under the supervis-
Ion OF those who vOuched for their character
Next Thursday, two hundred years will have
elapsed since Louis XIV revoked the edict of
Nantes. signed by Henry ~ nearly hundred
years before. 1t was an attempt on the part of
the Grand Monarch to make revolutions go
backward, and naturally it did not succeed
But its immediate effect to dIsperse some
of the sturdiest sons of France in new lands
thereby diffusing through the world an ele-
Inent of thrift and vigor which still shows in
their descendants. This country shared in the
blessing which came out of the misfortune of
the Huguenots, and hence we can join in cele-
Drafting day which brought dismay to mil
lions, and for time seemed to check the
progress of religious liberty.