The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-10-19
POPULAR WITH WORKINGMEN.
Bank officials Are Almost
Unanimously in Favor
Of It.
THEIR OPINIONS FREELY GIVEN.
Some Object to the Existing Methods
of Civil Service Appoint
ment.
THEIR OPINIONS FREELY GIVEN.

ment,
The question as to whe Their the postal
savings bank system would or would not
be a good thing for the country is one
that has been argued back and forth for
many years, as has ais that of Government
control of railroads. teleGraphic systems,
ETC., and many good arguments have been
advanced both ways.
Those who naturally are strongly inter-
ested in the question are the vast multi.
tude OF bread-winners who strive and toll
day by day, denying themselves of little
Injuries 10 lay by a small sum for the
time when old age will cut off the source
of income. Humid reds OF these have at
times managed to accum ulate a few hun
dred dollars only TO see them swept away
by dishonest officials. This is one of he
arguments advanced by the promoters of
the scheme, for if the Government controls
the banks every penny is safe as long as
the nation exists.
Although the matter is of great i'm
portance to the wageworker, it also APP
plies directly 10 those OF the other half
the bank officials. For this reason The
CALL has sought interviews on this ques-
Il on with officers OF some OF the most
prominent savings banks in the city, who
EXPIRE sed their opinions as follows:
Albert Miller. President San
Francisco Savings Union: with
Il good CIVIL government, such exists
N some parts Of Europe, the postal saw
ings bank would be splendid institution,
but under our present system, whore
officials are changed every four years, |
think it would prove to be failure.
When a man is placed in a responsible
position which he kno VS. he can hold Tor
life by faithfully fulfilling the duties OF
his office he VIII honestly endeavor 10 do
his best, but where the position is a
political one and subject to change on an
average OF once In four years. it only acts
as an incentive to dishonest business
methods and often to downright thievery."
II. y. LiIienthaI. manager of
the APPROPRIATIONS Bank: Il
don't know any reason why the postal
savings bank would not be a good thing.
L believe that there is room in this coun-
try for all OF u.s. l do not believa that it
wall affect the savings banks, for The peo-
pie in the cities will prefer to dc business
with the regularly incorporated banks.
The world is progressing and the postal
savings bank Will soon become a necessity.
Ii can handle the money of the poor peo-
pie Intelligently and safely, and the con-
iidence which it will inspire will be
productive OF much good, tor the working
people in the country will be encouraged
to save their dollars Tor the rainy day. |
am Of the opinion that the postal bank
will be tirst-rate institution"
II. e.. Denicke. president of
the California Mortgage and
Loan Bank Il think a Dostal savings
bank is good institution ana should be
established. twill be fine thing for the
masses OF the people, especially in those
places removed from cities where there
are no banks or representatives of banks,
Tor it will ena bic the people to place their
money safely. L believe postal savings
banks will be just what are needed for the
masses People who live in the country
are a great deal Inconvenience as it is
and the esta blishmen. of sucn system
would enable them to do their banking at
the postotiices. thereby affIrding them
great accom- modation."
II. y. lie Breton, president
Of the French Savings and
Loan institutions: Il have not
studied the question very carefully and,
therefore, do not think my opinion is very
valuable. l have, however, read articles
on the subject from time to time and have
noted the workings of these institutions
in France, where they have been very
successful. depositor can have no bet |
ter guarantee that his money is in a safe
place than the fact that the United States
Government IS responsible for it. On the
other hand, the civil-service system OF
this country seems to be rather farce as
appointments and positions are still
purely III the hands of the dominating
political parties, and bank whose chief
officers secure their positions wholly
through POLITICAL influence and are not
sure of holding them more than four years
could never be success. Ii the VII
rvfN nra cnli hnCf
officials would secure their appointments
through ability only the postal savings
bank would be splendid institution
-. &. BigelOw, president of
the Savings and Loan Society:
Il have not given the matter much
thought. While a postal savings bank
system might be good thing for the
masses, it might not be such fine thing
for Uncle Sam. The Government will
have TO be responsible for all The money
paid III through the postoffices, and YOU
know there have been defauitlng postmas-
tiers. There are thous ands of postmasteis
IN the country, and it seems to me that it
VIII not be such good thing for tho Gov
eminent as it may be for the people. 1t
will De placing great deal of responsible
ity on the Government, but / will not saw
that it will not be all right for the people,"
M. kretchman, secretary of
the California Mortgage and
Loan Hank: "Speakin- as an indi-
vidual and not as an employe of a bank |
VIII say that postal savings bank system
is the best thing in the world for the
masses OF the people, and it is pity that
II was not established long ago. Too
much cannot be said in praise OF a system
that will enable the people outside of the
cities to deposit their savings in a safe
place. A great many country people !
have no confidence in banks, for some
times banks fail. The establishment of
postal savings banks will make the M asses
OF the people more interested in the Gov !
eminent, for the man who has placed his |
savings IN the keeping of Uncle Sam will |
not join n the first cry of dissatisfaction |
that is raised against it by some discon-
tented person. The postal bank system