The San Francisco call., 1897-02-19
Letters From the People.
A CITY'S SAVINGS BANKS.
Rotc Parts Provides for the Wants of
Her PrODLe.

Hot0 Parts Prortdes for tho Wants of
Her People.
To the Editor of the San Francisco Cdll-SIR:
nave tried to show. how Paris as city gov
vernment provides shelter, food and even
clothes, to some extent, for her dependent
poor; also how the city has provided pawn
shops, which have been established over q
hundred years to loan money on goods and
chattels at low rate of interest to unfortu-
nate citizens in the time of their misfortune
or distress, both as a matter of municipal hu-
manity and prudent business. now invite
attention TO her munic ipal savings banks in
the br1efest manner possible.
My authority for the information presented
Is the same that have frequently cited of late,
Municlpal Government In Continental Eu-
rope" by Albert Shaw. l take the liberty OF
transcribing paragraph. "a good system of
savings banks is much more than Convent
ence to the prudent and economical OF a CON-
munlty. 1t is powerful promoter of thrift
anu constant enemy OF extravagance and
lmproVldence. The multiple ton OF savings
banks throughout France-municipal and pri-
Vate systems as well as the branches OF the
national posta! system-is factor of prime
Importance IN the conservation of the national
wealth. Paris is elaborately served by a series
oil branches belonging to the national system !;
Out II mas also distinct municipal system OF
earlier date and OF still greater local impor-
tance."
Some details must be given. There is great
cehtraI pank ana II has IN all forty branches
The number OF Individual depositors in 1890
WAS 5S2,O0O, which had increased in 1893 10
o3o'ooO. Thus one person in every four for
the population was q depositor in 1898. In
that year the total amount of the deposits was
160, ,O00, 900 francs or $32, 100000, and nearly
malt the deposit tors had less than 20 francs, or
70, their deposits being about million and a
half of the total $32, 100000 of deposits. In
1897, ten years alter the establishment OF the
national postal savings banks, which are kept
IN the branch postot1ces, the Paris depositors
had 10 their credit in these banks 6S, 100000
francs, though the average credit was much
smaller than in the municipal banks.
The primary schools OF Paris also have school
savings banks which are branches of the
municipal system aud are established mainly
Tor educational purposes; and yet these school
banks annually collect about 10000 francs
from the small school children. The funds OF
all these savings banks are invested chiefly in
public bonds OF various kinds, municipal and
SO per cent interest on their savings.
When we read that Paris advances rent
money to her distressed citizens; that the mu-
nlclPaHty loans money as pawnbroker to
people In financial straits at per cent as a
business affair and finds ii profitable; that
municipal employment agencies find work for
the unemployed free of cost as an economic
measure; that the city has lodging-houses in
which 10 shelter aud feed destitute men and
women while seeking employment; that poor
children are clothed, fed, sheltered and edu-
them on leaving school; that skill full phy-
sicians are sent to the homes of the destitute
SICK, ana medicines and nurses are
supplied gratis by the city: that
the city provides slaughter houses.
lnspects the meat and protects the people
against infection and extortion; that citv
dairies supply pure milk to the poor at the
lowest price which returns small profit: that
in word, the municipality assumes the care
OF the less fortunate of the population in the
traternal spirit of "a big brother" who cares
for his own and is able to do it, because he
cannot afford to have members of his family
In dis tress or sick and dying for the want of a
helping hand; and that all these humane
things are done by such wise business methods
that the municipality not only saves money by
preventing crime and breeding criminals but
actually ''makes 1t pay" and at the same time
Is elevating ana enlightening the whole sub
stratum OF society, we in San Francisco NAV
Wei pause and do little rational thinking .
While the unemployed are parading our
streets to the number OF 50O who have turned
out In the face of the reluctance all men feel
to make show of their misfortunes. and
when they appeal in plain good English and
a patient spirit for an opportunity to work il
a time OF peace if the State shall expect TO call
upon them in war to lay down their lives If
need be Tor their country and its institu-
lions, and that appeal is met in futter Of
nelplessness by the municipal government, it
does seem to me that it is high time for US to
learn how they manage these things which
are done SO much better in Paris, Glasgow and
the English cities.
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON, IL Essex street.
February Is, 1897.