The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-11-20

Postmaster-GeneraI Gary's First Re-
port To the President.

port To the President.
Washington, Nov. l5.-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-Gencral Gary has
worked for many months ia the formula
tion or plans 20 present TO the president
and congress. lie says the time Is ripe Tor
their establishment, and that the adoption
OF n wcll-organized system would confer
a great boon upon large number OF people
and ultimately be OF inestimable benefit 20
the whole country. The estimates OF the
revenues and expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1892 are:
Total postal revenue for 1871. $500, f62iS;
add Ave per cent, Sils3,253l3 Estimated
revenue for 1895. Sse,79S, 1886. add seven
per cent, SG075.9l1M Total estimated rev.
enue for 1889. s92S7 i7S7; estimated ex-
penditures for 1895. SOS 922, 200; deficiency
for 1889, estimated. S6.0iS, ll2G3.
Following Is an abstract or the report.
The increase OF the postal deficit for 1897
f. largely reflection OF the depressed busi-
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. Rciterating the injustice
inflicted both upon the postal revenues
and tho people by second-class mall mat
ter carriage regulations the enactment by
congress OF some measure 70 remedy the
wrong, similarly pointed out by past post
master-gcncrals. Ia Urged. As 70 this the
postmaster-general says: III this were
done there would be an end 20 postal dcn-
cts. and the service could be enlarged and
popularizcd by the broad extension or 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 perfectlng the organization
OF the postal service has proved more Cffec-
tive than the consolidation OF post offices.
Legislative restrictions on its development
are 10 be regretted, and a repeal Of the
fve-mlle limit consolidation measure IN the
1896 postal appropriation bill is recon-
mended
The experimental rural free delivery has
seen generously Appreciated few eXpcndi-
lures have conferred greater benefits I'm
proportion. and IL has unquestionably
proved a potent factor IN attaining what
should be a chief aim OF government. the
granting OF the best possible postal facili-
ties TO the farming class
The report reviews In detail the opera
lions 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 secrcted by peo-
pie who have little or no confidence I'm or
binary securities and monetary institutions
ORGANIZED hN private NlllLenA II - Ntha
capital, but IN It's owners could be inspired
with absolute confidence In the security OF
an investment. Il Is altogether probable
that the bulk OF this fund would find its
way into the channels OF trade and COM
mcrce. III the government undertook this
task. the service would undoubtedly be
gladly accepted by the people. Their faith
I'm tho government is unboundcd. Their
little savings. which separately could hard
~ be put out at interest. would amount
In the aggregate 10 n sum that could be
invested 20 their advantage. IL would tend
10 cultivate thrift I'm n large class; realiz-
Ing the advantage OF depositing with the
government instead OF wastefully and USE
lessly cxpendng, it would tend 20 better
relationship. bring into closer relationship
the government and its citizens and de-
yelop practical and enduring patriotism.
This growth or patriotic sentiment and
good citizenship constitutes powerful APP
peal to craftsmanship TO make a way for
these bcnehcent consequences.
The proposition Is an accomplished fact
! nearly every country in Europe, I'm the
British dependencies Of both hemlspheres.
and even IN Hawaii. In Great Britain 7,000.-
900 depositors have upward Of $3.50. geo IN
savings accumulated during SO years, and
Ia ten years fewer than 10000 Hawaiian de-
positors saved nearly Si.0000O0. Deposits IN
Canada In 20 years exceeded $22.000,000
These vast Accommodations have been made
Win AAl' ifdNA INaHlAAt loss u Alf koNtIU-
ments which guarantee their repayment
and with a minimum OF cost TO the millions
% dcpostors More than a thousand pos
tai savings accounts In European offices are
held by minors, and over two-thirds by the
most humble calllngs. IL 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 or money
order offices into savings repositories
would soon afford infinitely more facility
for receiving interest bearing deposits than
the intercst-paying banks do now. The
most aggressive opponents are among tho
private institutions engaged In somewhat
similar enterprises, though associations OF
the larger cities recognize IN Il a valuable
feeder 10 the financial currents OF tho
country Security, and not the rate Of In
terest. Is the primary and essential condi-
ton OF such system; and bonds OF states.
counties ana municipalities and real estate
furnish an illlmitable field.
Comparing other countries. the post
master-general says nearly every country
permits It's most popular coin as the mini
mum amount OF deposit, varying from
i've cents In india 20 one dollar IN Canada.
Maximum deposits vary from $685. I'm France
TO 8, f25 I'm New Zealand. Deposits over the
amount are non-intercst bearing, and I'm
several countries the surplus Is by law In
vested In national bonds. Both deposits
and accounts are usually email. France
made profit In 1896 OF $4,000 In handling
100000 accounts. aEgrcgating Sl43. 900 900
otter paying three per cent interest. Great
Britain earned a surplus Of $50. 900 after pay
ing 2l4 per cent interest on $3.50. coo, 600, made
up or 100000 accounts. The average COM
mission paid 10 postmasters is one per cent
per deposit Any account may be settled
and Withdrawn from any depository I'm the
country. The telegraph Is coming into use
AS means OF Withdrawal
WOODEN mills Close.