Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-02


ter General James A. Gary TO the pres
ident is strong in its advocacy of pos
tai savings repositories as a scheme
over which Postmaster General Gary
has worked for many months in the
| formulation of plans to present to the
president and congress. He says the
time is ripe for their establishment,
ard that the adoption of a well organ
lied system would confer a great boon
upon a large number of people and
ultimately be Of inestimable benefit
to the whole country.
| The estimates OF the revenues and
expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1897, are: Total postal rev.
enue for 1897, $82 ,665, 462. 70; add per
cent, 81 1873 ,273,13; estimated revenue
for 1898, $3.50 ,798, 1885, add 7 per cent,
| SCOTS ,911 81; total estimated revenue
for 1899, 500, 874 ,64737; estimated ex-
penditures for 1898, 1922 100; de-
ficiency for 1899, estimated, $6,04S,-
1888.
The increase Of the postal deficit for
1897 is largely reflection of the de-
pressed business conditions which pre-
vailed all over the United States dur
ing the first three-quarters of that
period. There has been no extrava-
gance Of expenditure save that obi
gated by law. Reiterating the injus-
tice inflicted both upon the postal
class mail matter carriage regulations,
the enactment by congress of some
measure to remedy the wrong. similar
~ pointed out by past postmasters
general Is made. As to this, Post
master General Gary says: of this
were done there would be an end to
postal deficits and the service could
be enlarged and popularized by a
broad extension of free delivery
without infringement upon the gen
eral resources of the government and
eventually result in the much desired
reduction of letter postage of one
cent per ounce"
NO method of perfecting the organ
lZalion of the postal service has nrovad
more effective than the consolidation
OF postolilces Legislative restrictions
on It's development are to be regretted
ana a repeal of the one mile limit
consolidation measure in the 1896
postal appropriation bill is recon-
mehded The experimental rural free
delivery has been generously appreci-
ated; few expenditures have conferred
| greater benefits in proportion and it
mas unquestionably proved potent
factor in attaining what should be n
chlef aim of government, the granting
or The best possible postal facilities
! to the farming class.
The report reviews in detail the
operation of the various branches of
the department. The report on the
subject OF postal savings, in brief fol
lows:
Many millions of dollars is I'M
doubleday boarded by people who have
little or no experience in ordinary
securities and monetary institutions
, organized by private citizens which is
dead capital, but if its owners have
been inspired with absolute confidence
In the security of an investment, it is
altogether probable that the bulk o.
this fund would find its way into the
channels of trade and commerce. II
the government undertook this task
the service would undoubtedly be
gladly accepted by the people. Their
faith i'll the government Is unbound
ed. Their little savings which sepa-
rately could hardly be put out at inter-
est, would amount in the aggregate, to
Il sum that could be invested to their
advantage. 1t would tend TO cult
waite thrift in a large class; realizing
the advantage of depositing with the
government instead Of wastefully and
uselessly expanding, it would tend to
better relationship, bring into closer
relationship the governemnt and its
citizens and developing practical and
enduring patriotism. This growth of
patriotic sentiment and good citizen
ship constitute n powerful appeal 10
SldlNSlldHSnlp TO make Il way lOt
these heneiicent consequences. The
proposition is an accomplished fact in
nearly every country in Europe, in the
British dependencies Of both hemis-
pheres, and even in Hawaii. In
Great Britain seven million deposi-
tories have upward of $3.50 900 goo in
savings accumulated during thirty
five years and in ten years
saved nearly 100000 Deposits in
Canada in 20 years exceeded so 600,
600 These vast accumulations have
been made with the least possible loss
to the governments which guarantee
their repayment and with minimum
Of cost TO the millions of depositors.
More than thousand postal savings
accounts in European offices are held
by minors and over two. thirds by the
most humble callings, 1t Is essential
~ tho bank Of this class. Postal say
ings would not conflict with those
savings hanks, but would encourage
savings rather than accommodations.
The conversion OF money order offices