The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
He Does Not Think the Strongest OBJ
JectiOns to Postal Savings Depos-
itaries Are Insurmountable.
FREE DELIVERY OF MAILS
MIR. HEATH TALKS ABOUT ExPERI-
MENTS IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
Suspension of All Sealing on Land and
Sea One Og the Provisions of the
Proposed New Treaty.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-Postmaster
General Gary is receiving many letters re-
garding the postal savings bank PROPOSE
ton, strongly urged by him in his annual
report. Many people throughout the coun-
try have written him commenting on his
projected radical extension of the postal
service and have submitted suggestions cali
cuated, in their opinion. to make the
scheme more feasible. AS whole the COR
respondence indicates a rather general COM
mendation. and some well-known econo-
mists and fnanciers numbered among the
postmaster generals friends and who have
heretofore opposed measures OF this char
acter, have, in letters just received, given
an unqualified Endorsement. Postmaster
General Gary expects some legislation by
Congress on this subject, possibly at the
next session, and believes that the extended
| discussion which has been given 1t through-
out the country will render material assist
ance to this end.
In the course of an interview to-day, Mr..
Gary made an answer to some of the com-
ments that have been made on the subject.
He said: II am very much interested end
not little gratihed at the public criticisms
as reflected by the newspapers Of my rec
concentrations in respect to postal savings
depositaries. find, of course, that the great
majority of the papers are favorable to the
project, but 1 am no less pleased with those
which have taken an adverse ground. No
one disputes that the project is beset by a
good many difficulties. and 1t is only by dis
cussions, full and general, that they can
be overcome and removed. AS far as have
been able to discover, only two objections
have been seriously urged against Lostal
savings system The first, which never fails
to turn UP, is the old contention that the
government ought not to go into the bank
ing business of collecting and taking care
of the savings of the people. l think this
is an objection which may properly be left
| to Congress to answer The other objection
| Is based upon the generally admitted difi-
| Guilty of finding safe and proper methods OF
| putting the money accumulations to profit
| able use.
Il deliberately abstained from setting
forth definite plan for the disposition OF
the savings, for the reason that it is 9. prob
| lem which deserves in it's solution the bene-
| fit of the widest experience andEs highest
| wisdom. l contented myself for the time
with outlining briefly number OF sugges-
tions, repeatedly made by my predecessors
In Office and by others, and thereby invit-
ing, as l believed, that critical and helpful
discussion by the public which has begun
already. Perhaps none OF those suggestions,
nor all of them put together Will prove
equal to the task of absorbing proitably
the collections of a postal savings systelns
but j am convinced that the national debt
as 1t exists to-day offers temporary solu-
ton of this difficulty. In the meantime 1
have no doubt safe and satisfactory plan
will be developed.
TT is agreed on all sides that If practi~
cable, postal savings system would be
| most desirable. This means a great deal
| toward the success Of the project. 1t is be-
| ing demonstrated, too, daily, that the peo-
| Pile want it; and it has been my experiences
| that what the people want very much is
| usually pretty nearly right and Is also very
| likely to be realized sooner or later.
Il have received good many letters since
| the publication of my report from privata
individuals, bankers, merchants, manufac-
| turers, professional men and others. value
these personal communications very highly,
and hope to get many more. The proposi-
| tion needs discussion, and l am confldent
that 1t will bear discussion. trust that the
newspapers, which, by the way, treated my
postal savings recommendations handsome
ly, giving it full and extensive circulation,
will keep up their criticisms, and that the
people will take it up, think about 1t, write
about il and not forget TO send me the re-
suits Of their thinking. If we all put our
heads together the right plan can be de.
vised, and that is what the country wants.
New CanceIing Devices Wanted.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The effort made
by the Postoffice Department to reform the
careless practice existing in a large number
of postoffices in the cancellation Of mail
matter is expected to bring about most inn
portant results. Already the movement has
borne fruit and where, according to the OFF,
cials of the department, at the beginning or
the administration, 30 per cent. of the whole
number of postmarks on mail matter was
practically illegible, the ratio has now been
brought down to less than 10 per cent, First
Assistant Postmaster General Perry ..
Heath is vigorously prosecuting the REFORM
and whenever complaints came In about
careless marking they are referred
to the. delinquent postofice Tor re-
port The matter has attracted gem
eral interest and has brought OUT
suggestions and comments from husi-
ness men and individuals throughout the
country. So far during this administration
about forty thousand hand stamps nave
been sent out to postmasters. The commit
tee appointed by the postmaster general 20
examine new designs or improvements in
canceling stamps will receive for inspection
up to Jan. l, working models OF any .nven-
ton designed to take the place Of the hand
stamps now in use at the various postoinces.
This call for new designs or improvements
applies only to hand stamps and not 70 can
collation. machines, which are used IN the
heavy work of the service. The present Inn
provement is intended primarily to improve
the class of post-marking stamps now sup
piled to the smaller postotfces, as wen as
those used in an auxiliary way in the larger
ones. and the principal points considered
will be simplicity, durability and cost De-
spite the general impression shown in the
correspondence, IL is not necessary that the
device be patented
Cannot Write on the Wrapper.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Assstant Post
master General Merritt has issued an order
stating that it is not permissible to write
upon third of fourth-class mail matter or
its wrapper or to print or write upon sec
ond-class matter or its wrapper direc-
tions relative to delivery. Consequent
address AS to a druggist" or physician"
IN the matter be unbelievable to the adj
dressee, must in all cases be disregarded
by postmasters. Postmasters have been in