The record-union., 1898-01-17
Weather Forecast.
Northern California-Cloudy Monday
with rain; fresh southerly wind
POSTAL BANKS AND GOOD HIGH
WAYS
The Minneapolis Times says:

The Minnea polls Times" says:
Considerable pressure has been
brought TO bear upon the General Gov
eminent to aid the building of wagon
roads. There are serious objections to
this, but the plan proposed by General
Roy Stone of the Agricultural Depart
ment permits the Government in this
way to aid the country districts in Sc
curing money at low rate of interest
without cost or danger of loss on the
part Of the Government. and at the
same time relieves the postal savings
bank scheme of its most Objectionable
feature
This refers to the proposition Of the
Government engineer named that in
vestment of postal savings be made by
The purchase of district, town and coun-
ty bonds issued for the purpose of good
road building. the only proviso being
that the money shall be used for the
construction of high-class roads, and
not squandered on RECONSTRUCTED high
ways, those impermanent and not ap-
proved by the advance Of road en-
gineering.
The interest being low the investment
safe and the payment of interest and
principal being by the people TO them
selves practically. the scheme furnishes
what would seem to be a most wise
method of investing the funds Of de-
positors, If the postal savings banks
are established, and of securing at the
same time the third requisite which
the successful establishment of strong
and well-founded nation, namely,
easy and rapid means of communica-
ton and transportation between the
people Thus the scheme proposed
becomes an argument for the establish
ment Of the postal savings plan, and
as it answers the objection made here
tofore that investment could not be
found for these savings, and that the
banks proposed would withdraw from
circulation vast sums Of money to pub
lie distress. Upon this subject Judge
A B. Choate Of Minnesota, a distin-
guished publicist, says-and we COM
mend his words to all who are giving
the subject attention
The plan solves two important but
entirely distinct problems which have
been before the people for some time.
First-One Of the chief objections to
the postal savings bank is that the
theory of our Government does not con-
template a perpetual public debt as in
the case Of some European countries.
This plan practically removes this OBJ
lection and makes the Government
merely an agent Of small money loaners
TO invest their united savings in a man
ner safe for both them and the Gov
eminent, but which it would be impos-
sible for these owners to do alone.
Second-The other question which the
plan solves is the one Of Government
aid for building wagon roads. To all
plans heretofore proposed for this there
have been serious objections, either
to their principle or to the difficulty of
securing their adoption, but the popu-
lar1ty OF State aid is creating a demand
upon the part Of the country districts
for money to put with the State funds.
The plan provides a safe and simple
means OF furnishing the money to the
country districts at low rate OF IN
terest.
The Legislature OF Minnesota has
proposed an amendment to our Consti
tuition, providing for State aid, which,
if adopted. will Immediately put Min
nesota in line as an absorber OF postal
savings funds. The details can be
worked out by proper authorities, am
sure, In an entirely satisfactory and
practical manner, and 1 sincerely hope
the matter will be taken up in earnest.