River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-11-18
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
Po.tm sster-Genersl Gary's First Rc'
port TO the President.


port TO the President.
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE first annual
report Of Postmaster-General James A.
Gary TO the president Is made public. It's
feature is the strong advocacy OF postal
savings repositories, as scheme over
which Postmaster-General Gary mas
worked for many months in the formula
ton OF plans TO present 10 the president
and congress. He says the time is ripe for
their establishment, and that the adoption
Of a weli-organized system would CONFER
a great boon upon q large number Of people
and ultimately be Of inestinable benefit 10
the whole country. The estimates Of the
revenues and expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1899. are:
Total postal revenue for 1897, So. Cos 4e2.Ts;
add five per cent. N.l3s.273.l2 Estimated
revenue for 1898. $50. 79s. 1856; add seven
per cent, s. 075.9liS. Total estimated rev.
enue for 1899. $s2 ,e47s7; estimated ex-
penditures for 1ses, s9S .922 go; deficiency
for 1899, estimated. ss.04s.il
Following is an abstract OF the report:
The increase Of the postal deficit for 1897
IL Largely reflection OF the depressed busl-
ness conditions 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. Reiterating the injustice
inflicted both upon the postal revenues
and the people by second-class mail mat
ter carriage regulations. the enactment by
congress OF some measure to remedy the
wrong, similarly pointed out by past post
master-generals, is urged As 10 this the
postmaster-general says: II this were
done there would be an end TO postal def
cts. and the service could be enlarged and
pcpularized by the broad extension of free
delivery without infringement upon the
general resources OF the government, and
eventually result IN the much-desired re-
duction OF letter postage 10 one cent per
ounce"
No method Of perfecting the organization
OF the postal service has proved more effec-
tive than the consolidation OF post offices.
Legislative restrictions on its development
are 70 be regretted, and a repeal OF the
fve-mile limit consolidation measure in the
1895 postal appropriation bill is recon-
mended.
The experimental rural free delivery has
been generously appreciated; few expendi-
lures have conferred greater benefits in
proportion, and IL has unquestionsbly
proved a potent factor In attaining what
should be chief aim OF government. the
granting of the best possible postal facili-
ties TO the farming class.
The report reviews in detail the opera
tons of the various branches OF the depart
ment. The portion on the subject of postal
savings, in brief follows; Many millions
OF dollars are undoubtedly secreted by peo-
pie who have little or no confidence In or
binary securities and monetary institutions
organized by private citizens. II is dead
capital, but II it's owners could be inspired
with absolute confidence in the security OF
an Investment. II is altogether probable
that the bulk or this fund would find its
way into the channels of trade and COM
merce. II 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 hard
~ be put out at interest. would amount
in the aggregate to q sum that could be
invested TO their advantage. 1t would tend
to cultivate thrift In large class realiz-
ing the advantage of deposlting with the
government instead OF wastefuly and USE
lessly expending. II would tend to better
relationship. bring into closer relationship
the government and its citizens and de-
velop practical and enduring patriotism.
This growth of patriotic sentiment and
peal to craftsmanship to make a way for
these beneficent consequences.
The proposition Is an accomplished fact
in nearly every country in Europe, in the
British dependencies OF both hemlspheres,
and even In Hawaii. In Great Britain 1900
200 depositors have upward OF 1856, 100000 in
savings accumulated during IS years, and
ia ten years fewer than 10000 Hawaiian de-
positors saved nearly 81 000. 600 Deposits in
Canada in 20 years exceeded s22. coo.
These vast denominations have been made
with the least possible loss to the govern
ments which guarantee their repayment
and with a minimum of cost TO the millions
OF deposltors. More than a thousand pos
tel savings accounts in European offices are
held by minors, and over two-thirds by the
most humble callings. 1t Is essentially the
bank Of this class. Postal savings would
not conflict with those savings banks but
would encourage savings rather than ac-
cumulations. The conversion OF money
order offices into savings repositories
would soon afford Infinitely more facility
for receiving Understanding 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 recognize in IL a valuable
feeder 10 the financial currents If the
country. Security. and not the rate of In
terest. is the primary and essential condi-
ton OF such system; and bonds of states.
counties and municipalities and real estate
furnish an illimitable field.
Comparing other countries, the post
master-general says nearly every country
permits Its most popular coin as the mini
mum amount of deposit. varying from
Ave cents in India to one dollar in Canada
Maximum deposits vary from s2S5 In France
to S2435 In New Zealand. Deposits over the
amount are non-interest bearing, and In
several countries the surplus is by law in
vested I'm national bonds. Both deposits
and accounts are usually small. France
made profit in 1926 OF $780, 900 in handling
100000 accounts, aggreRating $143. 0o0, 900
after paying three per cent. interest. Great
Britain earned surplus of $50, 600 after pay
ing 21z per cent. interest on $3.50 000. 0e0 made
up Of $500. 900 accounts. The average COM
mission paid to postmasters is one per cent.
per deposit. Any account may be settled
and withdrawn from any depository in the
country. The telegraph is coming into use
as a means OF Withdrawal