The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1906-01-24

| even by the illlterate. Eight thousand
depOsitOrs carry ordinary checking ac-
counts with the bank, which has this
advantage over the ordinary bank
that checks may be cashed at any
pOst-Office in the kingdom. Payments
made by one depOsitor to another
through the bank are settled by
mere ledger transfer of debit and
credit, as in an American clearing
house, and thus cumbersome cash pay
mentS are avoided.
VII
No charge is made for transfer or
for deposits, and a merely nominal
charge is made for caShing checks on
accounts exceeding in amount a fixed
minimum sum. The government uses
the bank to pay the salaries of its
smaller officials throughout the en-
pire. An Austrian may pay his taxes
into the savings bank, and ordinary
household obills, like gas, coal, etc, are
paid through the bank. One may de-
post an unlimited amount of money,
and there is absolutely no red tape to
delay Withdrawals.
VIII
The post-office also serves as a bill
collecting agency. If a Vienna grocer
wants to collect bill from a customer
in Budapest, he sends the bill to the
pOst-Otfice there, which transmits it
to Budapest, where the pOStman pre-
sents it to the debtor and RENTS the
money to Vienna, where a pOstman
delivers it to the grocer. If payment
is refused, the grocer is notified quick
ly. Millions of dollars are collected
annually in this way by the pOstmen.
a proposition to turn the government
banking, parcel post or telegraph sys
tenn over to capitalists for their private
profit would create riot.
TX
Apparently the reason that Congress
does not take up this matter and pass
law giving this country a parcel
post and Postal Savings Bank, is that
there exist two or three powerful,
monOpolizing express companies,
whose business would be interfered
with; also several thousand banks
that fear loss of business should the
Savings Bank be established. Some
Of these corporations, by reason of
large campaign contributions before
election, and powerful lObbieS in the
outskirts of Congress after election,
have SO far succeeded in SmOthering
every attempt to pass laws establish
ing these beneficial institutions, and
their adverse influence is likely to be
potent the coming winter. The time
will come, however, when there will
be such a demand for these reforms
that they will go through in spite of
all opposition.
The problem of more and better
help Oh the farm will be nearer SOlu-
ton when hired men can safely in
vest their money instead of spending
it i'll the saloon, where much of it
now goes. 1t is incOnceivable how
much Postal Savings Banks would
benefit rural populations in encourag-
ing thrift, and in lettering speculation
in schemes that have no merit what
ever; and if farmers in remote places
could sell direct to the city consumer,
and deliver their products by parcel
post, it would be great blessing to
them.
Now, farmers, and farmers wives,
be vigilant, and watch out for legiS-
latiOn in your state on the automobile
question. Look out for bills to give
the gasoline engine men liberty to go
as fast as they wish ON the public
roads, and otherwise do as they please,
and Oh ScOf-freo with ma ltrV fines