The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-26

Postmaster General Gary Says HIS
Savings Bank Scheme Is
Popular.
Has Received a Great My Let.
tiers and Suggestions
About It.
Two Principal Objections to tie
Scheme Which Have Been
Raised.

Raised.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Postmaster
General Gary is receiving many letters
regarding the postal savings bank prop.
osition strongly urged by him in his
annual report. Many people throughout
the country have written him com.
menting on this projected radical ex-
tension of the postal service, aud have
submitted some suggestions calculated
IN their opinion to make the scheme
more feasible. As whole. the CORE.
spondence indicates q rather general
commentator. Some we'll known
economists and financiers numbered
among the postmaster generals friends,
and who have heretofore opposed meas.
ures Of this character, have, in letters
just received, given u qualified endorse.
ment. Postmaster General Gary expects
some legislotion by congress on this
subject. possibly at the next session.
and believes that the extensive discus
sion which has been given it through.
out the country will render material
assistance to this end.
Some Comments Answered.
In the course of an interview Mr..
Gary made an answer to some of the
comments that have been made on the
subject. He said: II am very much
interested and not little gratifled, at
the public criticisms as reflected by the
newspapers, Of my recommendations in
respect to postal savings repositories.
] find, of course, that the great major
ity Of the papers are favorable to the
project. but lam no less pleased with
these which have taken adverse ground.
No one disputes that the project is be.
set by good many difficulties, and it
is only by discussion full and general,
tnat they can be overcome and re.
moved.
GAS far as have been able to dis
cover only two objections have been
seriously urged against postal savings
system. The first, which never fails to
turn up, is the old contention
that the government sought not to go
into the business" Of collecting and
taking care Of the savings of the peo-
pie. think this is an objection which
may properly to be left to congress to
answer. The other objection is based
upon the generally admitted difficulty
OF finding safe and proper methods of
putting the
Money Accommodations to Profitable Use.
81 deliberately abstained from setting
forth definite plan for the disposition
OF the savings, for the reason that it is
problem which deserves in its solu-
ton the benefit of the widest experience
and highest wisdom. I contented my.
self for the time with outlining briefly
a number of suggestions, repeatedly
made by my predecessors in Office, and
by others, and thereby inviting, as 1
believed, that critical and helpful
discussion by the public which has be.
gun already. Perhaps none of those
suggestions, nor oil of them put to.
gether, will prove equal to the task of
absorbing probably the collections of a
postal savings system, but am con.
WINGED that the national debt as it ex.
lists today, offers temporary solution
of this difficulty. In the meantime, I
have no doubt, safe and satisfactory
plan will be developed.
The People Want It.
eft is agreed on all sides that il prac.
ticable postal savings system would
be most desirable. This means great
deal towards the success of the project.
1t is being demonstrated, too, daily,
that the people want it; and it has been
my experience that what the people
want very much is usually pretty nearly
right and is also very likely to be real.
lied sooner or later.
II have received good many letters
since the publication Of my report from
private individuals, from bankers, mer-
chants, manufacturers, professional
men and others. value these
personal communications very highly
and hope to get many more. The prop.
osition needs discussion and am con.
fident that it will bear discussion. I
trust that the newspapers, which by
the way treated my psstai savings rec
concentrations handsomely, giving it
full aud extensive CIRCULATION, win keep
up tneir criticisms and that the people
will take it up. think about it, write
abou, 1t, it and not forget to
SEM lne the results of their thinx-
ing. II we all put our heads together
the right plan can be devised, and that
is what the country wants"