The San Francisco call., 1898-06-17
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.

POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS. A MONO the important acts of legislation ex- / \ pected of Congress at this session, which have been postponed account of the war, is that of establishing postal savings banks. At the begin ming of the session every aspect of the situation promising to the measure. The Postmaster General recommended it, eminent leaders in each house of Congress supported it, the press and the people ia vored it, bill providing for the establishment of the banks was promptly introduced, and the outlook for a speedy enactment of the measure was good.
 The distracted the attention of the country from the measure and the energies of Congress were sarily directed to other affairs of greater urgency. As result the postal bill went over indefinitely, and there is little chance that 1t will be taken up at this session. if it should be dealt with all by this Congress. One result of the delay has been to encourage opposition to the measure, and while the friends of the bill have been less silent in regard to it for time past the oppo- nents have been busy in putting their objections be- fore the public
 One of the most notable arguments against the measure was recently made at the meeting of the Saving Banks Association of the State of New York by Myron T. Herrck, president of the Society for Savings, of Cleveland, Ohio The New York Com mercal and Financial World in reporting and com
 
 problem in a nutshell in the statement:
 This scheme is not consistent with the spirit of our form of government With nations abroad the tendency and policy Is to make the people subservent to the government Our theory looks to making the government subservient to the people The spirit of individual independence runs through whole governmental system and should be fostered rather than discouraged.
 If the Commercial and Financial World is right in asserting this to be the main objection to the measure the opposition might we'll abandon the field of argument. It does not appear that the establishment of postal savings banks would render the people any more subservient to the Government than they are now As matter of fact it would render the Gov ernment serviceabe to the people by enlarging the scope of its work for the general good The spirit of individual independence is not going to be weakened by provision to encourage thrift and saving Such assertions are not likely to have weight with any who is not biased by prejudice or trade interests against the proposed banks. The attack made on the postal bank scheme before such association as that addressed by Mr. Herrck is matter of interest, however without respect to the quality of the argument used. It shows there will be strong opposition to the measure The friends of the bll therefore must be on guard and ready to make united fight when the time comes for Congress to deal with the subject
 Spain IS alarmed at the prospects of visit from an American fleet There was a time when few people in this country felt the same way at the thought that Spanish fleet might call on our coast. This was, however, before the fact had developed that the Spanish fleet is designed principally for finding bottle and sailing into the neck of the same.
 The more John Sherman talks the frmer grows the impression that among his distinguished services to his country that of retiring from office was not the least.
 Blanco's soldiers said to be deserting to the enemy. In this may show their w;sdon, bur does not create the impression that they afe good soldiers.
 Naturally, the hanging of Frank Belew recalls the circumstance that the occasion Of his arrest The Call was the only paper in the world to give the news
 The soldiers who have thus far been left behind have no occasion to fret They will go to Manila soon enough to be homesick for San Francisco
 Professor Norton goes too far when he says Amer jeans have honor. We object to this thng of being called Nortons.