The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-02
POSTOFFICE BANKS.
POSTMASTER GENERAL FxvoRs GOV.
EMINENT TAKING DEPOSITS.

L and Others Regarding the Project.
Southern and Eastern states Are 0snsr-
ally Opposed 70 tho Scheme.
The sentiment In favor of postal saw
ings banks among public men ut Wash
angton Is pronounced. Postmaster Cen
eral Gary is an enthusiastic believer In
the system and would like to see II es-
Itablished while nc Is in Office. In both
houses OF congress are men who would
be glad to put forth considerable effort
in order to secure the establishment OF
postal savings banks. They believe that
IL their efforts are backed up earnestly
by persons throughout the country who
want postal savings banks, especially by
the wage earning and farming popula-
tion, postal savings bank system can
be made an established fact in the Unit
ed States within very short time.
Postmaster General Gary says he has
long been interested In postal savings
banks and Is glad he is in position
where he can help to bring about their
establishment. Mr.. Gary says he will
cooperate heartily in any steps that
may be taken in congress looking to the
establishment of the system. Mr.. Gary
is large employer Of labor, and his OBJ.
servation convinces him that the man
who saves is likely to prove the best
workman and give the best satisfaction
to his employer. Anything that can be
done to promote habits OF saving, he
thinks, tends greatly to the stability Of
government. Mr.. Gary has been con-
nected for some years with private
savings bank in Baltimore, and his ex-
perience has led him to believe that the
government could greatly benefit the
people and itself by using the postofice
as means for collecting and protecting
the savings Of persons of small incomes.
Generally speaking. the representa-
tives from the central west and the
northwest are especially favorable to
the proposition for the establishment Of
postal savings banks. The extreme east
ern states, especially New York and the
New England states, are 80 much bet.
ter supplied with savings banks than
other sections Of the country that the
representatives from those states feel
there is not SO much demand for postal
savings SO far as they are concerned.
But they appreciate keenly the need for
such banks in other parts Of the coun-
try and would not be disposed to stand
in the way Of their establishment. Con-
gressman Fowler Of New Jersey, for in
stance, points out that most Of the saw
ings banks Of the east are trustee saw
ings banks. operated solely for the bene-
fit of the depositors, and that these
banks therefore could have no selfish
interest in opposing anything that
might be for the benefit Of the people.
Senator Proctor of Vermont is strongly
in favor Of postal savings banks and
hopes to see them established.
Serious opposition to postal savings
banks, if there shall be any, is most
likely to come largely from the old line
states right Democrats Of the south,
who are opposed to any extension of the
functions of the general government.
This opposition will be weakened much,
however, by virtue of the fact that the
south is the section of the country
which, along with the central west, the
west and the northwest, would be es-
pecially benefited by the establishment
of postal savings banks. The spokesman
for tho Democrats of this class is Rep
resentative Bailey of Texas. When
asked his opinion of postal savings
banks recently, Mr.. Bailey had no hesi-
tation in saying he did not believe in
them. Evidently he had not given
much thought to postal savings banks,
but he Immediately classed them in his
mind with other institutions to which
he was opposed. "It would be good
thing, doubtless" he said. "for the
government to take charge of my saw
ings. It would also be good thing for
the government to grind my corn and
do many other things which I believe
the government, and especially the fed
eral government. ought not to under
take. / hold to the idea that that gov
ernment is best which governs least. ;"
The northern Democrats do not seem
to take the same view Of this subject as
does Mr.. Bailey of Texas. Congressman
Sulzer of New York, one Of the most
enthusiastic supporters Of Bryan in that
state last fall, says he believes in postal
savings banks and that most Of the Dem
ocrats would vote for their establish
ment Mr.. Sulzer said, however, that
there was no hope Of getting postal
savings bank system from this congress
because the Republicans would oppose
1t. w. H. Hinrichsen. the widely known
silver champion and Democratic politi-
clan of Illinois, favors postal savings
banks. So does Congressman Campbell
Of Hamilton county, formerly a member
Of the Illinois state senate. Senator
Roach Of North Dakota is another Demo
crat who is believer in postal savings
: banks. He thinks they would be appre-
ciated very much by the farmers of the
northwest.
Congressman Loud Of California, who
for several years past has been chairman
of the house committee OH postoffices
and post roads, is not inclined TO look
with favor OIL tho proposition to use
the postofiice for the collection and safe
keeping of small deposits He says the