The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-21
WHEN CONGRESS SAYS "eo.n

Postmaster General Gary appeared
before the subcommittee of the house
committee on postoffices and post roads
one day last week as an advocate of a
law for the establishment of postal saw
ings banks and for the purpose of re-
plying to any questions which the mem
bers of the committee might desire to
ask The argument in behalf of the
measure made by the postmaster gen
eral is probably the strongest and most
complete of any that has yet been put
forward.
He assured the committee that all the
machinery is in readiness to put the
system into operation just as soon as
congress says the word. Mr.. Gary said:
I'VE have all the machinery ready
and waiting to be used. All we want is
authority from congress. 1t would only
take a few weeks time for the depart
ment to make the arrangements for the
installation of the system. In fact,
many of the officials have given SO
much study to this question, realizing
that it will sooner or later be adopted
by this country, and dare say the
rules and administrative work could be
completed so as to put the system into
operation Immediately"
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Gage
said:
There are 900. 600 communities in
than ]. goo savings banks. 5000 building
and loan associations, and fewer than
10000 banks of all kinds in the country
Only two states in the Union have ade-
quate savings bank facilities-Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island. The form
er has 100000 inhabitants and more
than 1900, 600 depositOrs. The latter has
14O, 900 depositOrs among a population
OF 400. 600. These depOsitOrS have ac-
cumulated nearly $500, 0O0, 00O-abOut
$500 a head in Massachusetts and $50 in
d T-Ta =
strate what the people will do when
they are supplied with safe facilities.
When every other man, woman and
child of a community owns a savings
bank book it may be said that the habit
of saving has become general. This is
a great achievement-in the whole his
tory Of popular savings there is no
greater-but it took so years of private
enterprise to bring it about.
Postal savings repositories can
measurably bring about such results
throughout the whole country. There
Is no other instrument or human agen-
cy that can do it The necessity for do
ing it is disputed by none. The means
for doing it are at hand. 1t is needful
only that they should be applied. Be
fore the system could be reasonably
put into effect there will be 10000 money
order pOstOf1Ces distributed with geo
graphical exactness throughout the
country an average of ten to each coun-
ty. It remains for congress to say the
word and this mighty agency for the
collection and saving of the peoples
money will be put to work practically
upon the instant.
THE common people have more faith
in their government than in private in
dividuals but the principal reason for
the preference is found in two great
facts. First, the government system
affords the very best security; second
", the postal system furnishes the bet
ter facilities"
There seems to be little in the way
Of the passage of a postal banks bill
except that Speaker Reed is reported to
be opposed to it. The speaker may have
exercised his power over the house to
good purpose at times, but if he should
carry it to the extent of preventing the
passage of so worthy a measure it will
be time for a revolt on the part of his
marty as well as the naonla