The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-03
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.

Ii there is any one subject on which
there is more favorable unanimity of
opinion among the great masses of the
toiling millions of the land. especially
those residing in the rural d%istricts-in
the small cities, towns and hamlets-i
is that of postal savings banks. For
years congress has been asked by this
class of people to establish savings de-
! pOsitories in connection with the post
Offices, and it is a matter of surprise that
such a popular demand should have
been so long disregarded.
The question of establishing postal
savings banks was hrst presented ~
Postmaster General Cresswell during the
first administration of President Grant.
Since then nearly every postmaster gem
eral has earnestly urged the propriety of
creating such repositories, and none
more ably and forcibly than the present
head of the postoffice department. In
his three annual reports Postmaster
General Wanamaker has advocated
postal SAYINGS banks with a most con-
vincing array of facts, figures and argu-
ments. But these earnest recommends
tions, supported by the successful ex-
perience with such banks in Great
Britain and other countries of Europe.
have apparently failed to impress son
gress with the Importance of this sub
ject. OF if its Importance is realized it
must be assumed that there are very
potent influences at work in opposition
to it. There can be no reasonable ques-
ton regarding the practibility of the
plan, and as to the alleged lack of cun-
stitutional power. that objection has
few defenders whose opinions are worthy
of serious consideration.
The establishment of postal savings
banks in European countries has been
attended with remarkable success. The
system WAS inaugurated first in Great
Britain thirty-one years ago. and it has
since been adopted in one form or an
other in France, Austria, Italy. Belgium.
Russia, Sweden. Hungary, the Neither
lands, Canada. and ever Japan. 1t has
had a remarkable development IN the
United Kingdom. According to official
figures there were from the year 1861,
when the system was established, to the
end of the year 1890. 113.O09.OOO deposits.
amounting to Sl,}S1, $4,000, the with
drawals during that period being less by
SG}S,OOO,OU than the deposits. At the
close Of the last year there were in the
United Kingdom of Great Britain 10000
separate postoftices having postal savings
banks, and during the year 1880 over
one-eighth of the whole population of
that kingdom had accounts with these
banks. Noteworthy progress has been
made in all other countries having the
system. giving irrefutablc proof OF the
merits of this plan for encouraging thrift
among the people.
The class of people who would derive
the greatest benefit from the establish
ment of postal savings banks are those
living in rural communities and the
small towns where there are no private
banks; though a great many in the larger
towns and cities would doubtless avail
themselves of the postal repositories
from a feeling of greater security. As
w have already observed, there is small
probability of any action on this subject
by congress at the present session, but
there can be no doubt of the ultimate
establishment of postal savings banks in
the United States.-Omaha Bee.