The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-15

estimated. S6,04S. 63. Following is an
abstract of the report: The increase
of the postal deficit for 1897 is largely
a reflection of the depressed business
condition which prevailed all over the
United States during the first three
quarters of that period. There has
been no extravaganza of expenditure
save that obligated by law. Reiterat-
ing the injustice inflicted both upon
the postal revenues and the people by
second-Class mail matter carriage regu-
latiOns, the enactment by congress of
some measure to remedy the wrong,
similarly pointed out by past postmas-
terS general, is urged. As to this the
postmaster general says:
If this were done there would be an end
to postal deficits. and the service could be en-
larged and popularized by broad extension
of free delivery, without infringement upon
the general resources of the government, and
eventually result in the much desired reduc-
ton Of letter postage to l cent per ounce. No
method of perfecting the organization of the
postal service has proved more effective than
the consolidation of postofices. Legislative
GREETED, and a repeal of the fve-mile limit
consolidation measure in the 1896 postal ap-
preparation bill is recommended.
The experimental rural free delivery has
been generally appreciated few expenditures
have conferred greater benefits in proportion
and it has unqueStfonably proved a potent
factor IN ATTAINING WndC SlOulQ be a cnlef
aim of government, the granting of the best
possible postal facilities to the farming class.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
The report reviews in detail the op-
erations of the various branches of the
department The portion on the sub
ject Of postal savings, in brief, fol-
lows:
Many millions of dollars. are undoubtedly
secreted by people who have little or no con
fdence in ordinary securities and monetary
institutions organized by private citizens. 1t
is dead capital. but if its owners could be in
spired with absolute confidence in the Sc
curity of an investment, 1t is altogether prob
able that the bulk of this fund would find it's
way into the channels of trade and commerce.
If the government undertook this task the
service would undoubtedly be gladly accepted
by the people. Their faith in the government
is unbounded. Their little savings, which
separately could hardly be put out at interest,
would amount. in the aggregate, to a sum
that could be invested to their advantage.
1t would tend to cultivate thrift in a large
class realizing the advantage of depositing
with the government instead of wastefully
and uselessly expanding; it would tend 10
better relationship; bring into closer relation
ship the government and its citizens and de-
veloping practical and enduring patriotism.
This growth of patriotic sentiment and good
citizenship constitute powerful appeal to
craftsmanship to make way for these benef-
cent consequences The proposition is an ac-
Europe, in the British dependencies of both
hemispheres and even in Hawaii In Great
Britain 100000 depositors have upward of
S550, 900 000 in savings accumulated during
thirty-ive years, and in ten years fewer than
0000 Hawaiian depositors saved nearly
81 coo coo. Deposits in Canada in twenty years
exceeded 100000 These vast accumula-
tions have been made with the least possible
loss to the governments which guarantee their
repayment and with a minimum of cost to
the millions of depositors. More than a thou
sand postal savings accounts in European Of
fees are held by minors and over two-thirds
by the most humble eallings. 1t is essentially
the bank of this class. Postal savings would
not conflict with those savings banks, but
would encourage savings rather than accumu-
latiens. The conversion of money order Of
ices into savings repositories would soon af-
ford indefinitely more facility for receiving
interest-bearing deposits than the interest
paying banks do now. The most aggressive
opponents are among the private institutions
engaged in somewhat similar enterprises
though associations of the larger cities recog-
nize In it a valuable feedG to the financial