New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-08
POSTAL SWINGS BtNhS.

Posima~ter-t;eDcral Gary announcement that
The establishment Of postal savings banks viii
be made the leading feature Of his admins
,rative policy VIII undoubtedly stimulHtr TIE
hopos Of thr," who FOR many years pat hav"
been vainly urging upon Congress tie adv iSd-
bility of cnGIHftng on The present postal ,crvic"
certain limited and guarded banking functions
TIE Idea Of cnlarc'ng the Governments postal
operations so ~ To include within their scope
the maintenance OF "A system of National savings
banks has found, indeed. in the new head Of
the POstollicc Department an eager and cnthusi-
aslc champion. Mr. Gary believes that pub
lie convenience emphatcally demands the open
ing under Federal supervision Of small and
easily accessible savings institutions every
where throughout the country, and he can see
no obstacle 10 the satisfaction Of this acknowl
edged popular want by means Of some slight
and thoroughly feasible extensions Of the eX-
listing machinery Of postal administration
Il ain in favor Of the postal savings bank
plan" Mr.. Gary is quoted as saying IN re-
cent interview, because believe II will confer
great benefits on people who live In out-of-the-
way places where they are deprived OF Ill
banking facilities. If put in operation it will
bring out many thousands, perhaps millions,
"of money now boarded away In chimncys.
Stockings or stoves and will give thousands
"of people an interest IN the Government. II Is
said that a National debt Is National bless
ing; but National bank OF this kind would
'be even more Of one"
The Postmaster-Genera! then enun1erates the
other advantages Of a system Of small savings
banks controlled by the central Federal power
security. accessibility, ease of exchange when
working conjcinty with tho present Pcstoffice
order bureaus. cheapness Of operation and
practical non-!nterferenco with the functions of
the larger loan discount or savings institutions.
For six months. Mr. Gary says, he has been
collecting Information about the workings Of
the postal savings banks Of other countries. and
the results Of his Investigation are H. be en-
bodied In his annual report 20 the President and
may also appear in the draft Of hl for III"
establishment Of q system OF savings inst,u-
tons which ne viii prcsen: 10 Congress in Dc
cember At present the Pos,master-ocneral
leans toward the adoption of the plan now IN
operation in Canada. which seems 10 have
proved decided administrative success.
Certainly with Mr.. Gary active and jealous
support the prospect of the passage through
Congress OF bill creating a system. of postal
savings banks seems brighter ut the approach
ing session than It has for many years past
But the temper OF the legislative branch OF
the Government toward administrative projects
submitted for It's approval, whatever their
merit Is 80 cautions and hesiiat.ng That Mr
Gary is perhaps as likely as not to find his own
term in Office ended before his reconmenda-
t!ons have run the tedious gan,let Of the two
houses OF Congress. The frequent coupling Of
the postal savings banks project with the larger
innovation Of Government control and opera
ton OF the countrys lines Of telegraph has had,