The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-17
Postal Savings DepOsitOries.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. A-The
first annual report of Postmaster-General
James A. Gary to the president was made
public tonight Its feature is the strong
advocacy Of postal savings repositories
as a scheme over which Postmaster-Gen-
eral 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, and
that the adoption of well organized sys
tenn would confer great boon upon
large number of people and ultimately be
Of inestmable benefit to the whole country.
The estimates Of the revenues and eX-
penditures for the fiscal year ending June
90, 1897, are: Total postal revenue for 1897,
$S2, ,665, 462.73; add per cent. $4,133, ,273. 10;
estimated revenue for 1898, $50, 79S, 1856; add
Z per cent $6075, ,911.51 total estimated
revenue for 1899, 1872 S74, ,647.37; estimated ex-
penditures for 1898, $9S, ,922 760; deficiency for
1899, estimated, $6,04S, 1928.
Following is an abstract of the report:
The increase of the postal deficit for 1897
is largely reflection of the depressed
business 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. Reterating the in
justice inflicted both upon the postal reve-
| nues and the people by second class mail
matter carriage regulations, the enactment
by congress Of some measure to remedy
the wrong, similarly pointed out by past
pOStmaSters-generali is made. AS to this,
PostmasterGeneral Gary says:
AS TO SECOND CLASS MATTER.
"1f 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 infringe
| ment upon the general resources of the
government and eventually result in the
much dsired reduction of letter postage of
one cent per ounce
No method of perfecting the organization
Of the postal service has proved more ef-
fective than the consolidation of pCstoff1ces.
Legislative restrictions on it's development
are to be regretted and a repeal of the
five mile limit consolidation measure in the
1896 postal appropriation bill is recommend
ed The experimental rural free delivery
has been generously appreciated; few ex-
penditures have conferred greater benefits
in proportion, and it has unQeustionably
proved potent factor in attaining what
should be a chief aim of government, the
granting of the best possible postal facilities
to the farming class.
The report reviews in detail the opera
tions of the various branches of the depart
ment. The report the subject of postal
savings, in brief follows
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS
MANY millions of dollars is undoubtedly
secreted by people who have little or no
confidence in ordinary securities and none
tary institutions organized by private citi-
zens. 1t is dead capital, but if its owners
could be inspired with absolute confidence
in the security Of an investment, it is alto
gether probable that the bulk Of this fund
would find its way into the channels of
trade and commerce. If the government un-
dertook this task. the service would un-
doubtedly 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
large class; realizing the advantage of de-
posting with the government instead of
wastefully and uselessly expending, it would
| tend to better relationship; bring into closer
and developing practical and enduring pa
triotism. This growth of patriotic senti-
ment and good citizenship constitute a pow
erful appeal to craftsmanship to make q
way for these benefcient consequences.
THE proposition is an accomplished fact
in nearly every country in Europe in the
British dependencies of both hemispheres,
and even in Hawaii. In Great Britain seven
million depOsitors have upward of $780,
1900 in savings accumulated during IS
years and in 10 years fewer than 10000
Hawaiian depositOrs saved nearly 81, 900 OOO
Deposits in Canada in 20 years exceeded
$22, 900 600. These vast accumulations have
been made with the least possible loss to
| the governments which guarantee their re-
payment and with a minimum of cost to
| the millions of depositors. More than q
/ thousand postal savings accounts in Eu-