The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-15
Postmaster GeseraI Gary RECON-
mesds the New Plan.
HIS REFERENCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES
Would DISCOURAGE the Poor 20 Save,
InJusttce Insiicted by seeond-
Class Matter.

worked for many months IN the formula
\ ton OF plans to he presented to the presi-
| dent and congress. He says the time Is
| ripe for the establishment and that the
adoption OF o. well organized system would
confer a great boon upon large number
OF people. and ultimately be OF inevitable
benefit TO the whole country.
The estimates OF the revenues and ex-
pcnat.ures for the fiscal year ending June
20. 1899. are.
Total postal revenues for 1897 $50 sos. i52 70
Add ; per cent, ............... 4,l33.273 IL
Estimated reyeaue for 1885,. Sc. 79s, T35 So
Add per cent?. .....,... 6,0i5,s1l 81
Total estimated revenue for
1889 ......... ...... ...... 92,Si4,St7 81
Estimated expenditures for
1883 ...... ................. 9S,g22,i 90
Deficiency for 1883, esti-
mated ...-..... ...... ...., G,0iS, liz %
Following is an abstract of the report
The increase OF the postal deficit OF 1897
Is largely reflection OF the depressed
business condition which prevailed all over
the country for the first three quarters OF
that period. There has been no extrava-
ganee OF expenditures, save that obligated
by law. The report reiterates the Injustice
Inflicted both upon the postol revenues and
the people by second class mail matter
carriage regulations and recommends the
enactment by congress Of some measure TO
remedy the wrong such as was similarly
pointed out by past postmastcrs general
AS to this the postmaster general says:
III this were don't there would be an end
70 postal deficits aud the service could be
enlarged and popularizod by broad ex-
tension of free delivery without infringe
ment upon the general resources Of the
government and eventually result In the
much desired reduction OF letter postage
OF cent per ounce.
No method OF perfeotng the organiza-
ton Of the postal service has proved more
effective than the consolidation Of postof-
Fees, Legislative restrictions on its de-
velopment are To be regretted and A repeal
OF the fye mile limit consolidation measure
In tho 1896 postal appropriation bill IL rec
commended
The experimental rural free delivery ex-
perimeut has bseu generally appreciated
rev expenditures have conferred creator
benefits IN proportion aud II has unques-
tlonably proved a potent factor In attain
ing what should be the chief aim of gov
ernmcni. the granting Of the bst rcsslble
postal fneililies to the farming class
inc report reviews IN detail the opera
tons on the various branches of the depart
ment. The portion on the subject OF postal
savings In brief follows;
Many milions OF dollars are undoubtedly
secfeied by people who haYr little or no
confidence tn ordinary securities and none.
taly institutions organized by private citi-
Hens, IL is dead capital but IL It's owners
could be Inspired with absolute confidence
IN the security OF an Investment, IL is al
together probable that the bulk OF ,hls
would md Its way Into the channels OF
trade and commerce. II the government
undertook this task the service would I'M
douotesily be gladly accepted by the peo-
PIE. Their tath In the government Is I'M
pound2d Their little savings which sepa-
,,u could hardly he put out a interest.
that could be invested to their advantage
II would tend to cultivate thrift in n
large class. realizing the oivanage Of de-
pcsitng with the government instead or
Wastefu'ly and uselossly expendng, bring
closer relationship between the govern
mtnt and It's citizens and develop practIcsl
and enduring patriotism.
This growth of patiintic sentiment md
eooi citizenship constitutes n powerful APP
peal 10 statcsmanship 10 make nway for
these bonc1oent consequences,
The proposition Ia an ACCOMPLISHED fae,
IN nearly every country IN Europe. In the
british dependencies of bo.h hemispheres
ana even In Hawaii In Great Britain
t,v"o Wv dcpos'tors have upward OF S55,-
900 600 In savings accumulated during thIr.
ty-live years, and In ten years fewer than
lnooo Hawaiian depositors saved nearly
s'VVoV'ouo' pepositors In ton years OK
cecded $4,000 The vast accumuiaticns
have been made with the least loss 10 the
government and with a minimum Of cosi
Ia the millions of depositors More thnm
a third Of the postal sayings In European
offices are held by minors and every two
thirds by the most humble callnRs. I, ia
essentially the bank OF this class. Postal
SAVINGS would not conflict with the say-
lnrs banks, but would encourage savings
rWher than accumnlatious. The conversion
Of money order offices into SAVINGS ,enosi-
tories would soon afford indefinitely more
facility FOR receiving interest bearing de- |
poslts than the interest paying banks 10 |
now The most aggressive opponents are |
among the private Institutions engaged in |
somewhat similar enterprises, though as |
sociations of the larger cities. recognizing |
IN " an invaluable feeder TO the Gnanclal |
currents Of the country Security and not |
we tate or interest is the priulary aud I
essential condition ~ such A system. ma |
honus OF States. counties and neutrality-suspicious. |
aud real estate furnish an illimitable field |
Comparing other countries, the postmas. |
ter general saws nearly evory country nor
mits It's most popular coin as the mini
mum amount of deposit. varying from { |
cents IN India q, 81 In Canada Maximum
deposits vary from s. So in France TO 50 A
IN New zealand
pepesi's over that amount are non In.
,sres. bearing ana In several countries the
surplus, by law. Is Invested In national
bonds, Both deposits aud accounts are
usually small. France made profit IN
1893 OF $4,000 in handling $500 900 ac
counts, aggregatlng SiI3, 600. Oo0 after pay
nag PER cent interest Great Britain
Earned a eurplus OF $4,000 after paying az
per cent interest on sis,0o0.ooo made I'M
u e,svo,oou accounts, The average com.
mission paid TO the postmasters is cent
per Deposit Any account may be set,iaJ
md withdrawn from any depository in the
country. The telcrraph Is coming into use
Is means OF withdrawal.