The Montgomery tribune., 1907-11-15
POSTAL EXTENSION
IS ADVOCATED
Postmaster-Ge Pleads
for Savings Banks and
Parcel Post
He TALKS At CLUB BANQUET
Explains How Both Projects
Would Promote Pros
perity in u. S.

perity in U. s.
Two vast extensions in the work
of the postoffioe department, pos
tal savings banks and parce l
posts, will become fact within q
year If Congress acts upon the
recommendations of Postm aster
General George Won L. Meyer.
The Postmaster General, in an ad-
dress before the Industrial Club in
the Congress Hotel banquet hall,
advocated the addition of these
extensions to the goveFnmente
postal service on Thursday even
ing, Nov. 7th and promised that
he would ask Congress when it
convened to pass the necessary
laws to permit the government
to embark in these business
es. Mr.. Meyer, in beginning
took but little time with suoh light
matters as Introductory remarks,
plunging into the heart of his sub
ject at once, he said In part as
follows:
"This evening am going to ad-
dress you briefly on some of the
more important postal improve
ments which shall recommend in
my annual report to Congress.
First of all I desire to lay before
you my plan for postal savings
banks, for the introduction of
which In this country l belle We
this to be the psychological mo-
ment. I am further impressed
with the necessity of such in sti-
tutions on account of the number
of immigrants coming to this
country, who prejudiced against
private concerns, are buying
money orders payable TO them
selves. good for year. On this
money they not only do not OBJ
tain interest but are required to
pay a small fee for the orders, tn .
money being tied up unused in
the treasury Of the United States.
The auditor Of the postoface
department finds that money or
ders aggresating moro than
800, 900. became invalid durin g
the last fiscal year in the five west
ern States of Colorado, Kansas /,
Nebraska, Oregon and Washin g.
ton, and on further investigation
itldevelops that they are payable
to the buyer, showing that they
were purchased for savings pur-
poses. Consequently, as 500, 900.
In money orders became invalid
in those Ave States in a single
year. 1t is only reasonable to sup
pose that an enormous amount
was purchased for similar pur.
poses for shorter period through.
out the United States and with
drawn during the same peri cd.
In the South the postofice av-
srages thirty three miles in die
tance from the savings banks an {
west of the Rockies the averag'
. is fifty Ave miles. In order to &C
commodate large class of people
, who have not the proper facilitie'
is the reason that I believe the
, postal savings banks should b.
r established. As an evidence tha
!, it Is not the desire or intention Q
the government to compete wit
: the private savings banks in oh
tanning the deposits Of the peopl
. shall advocate q rate of 2 percer
: per annum and limit deposits I
II $500. by any person.
Now in order TO get this none
back into the channels Of trade,
. propose to ask Congress for auth
q ority to plsoo the savings In tt
q National banks, which are go,
:. ernment repositories in the dil
"a trict where the money is deposite'
"a have taken the precaution
- consult number of bank pres
!. dents In different districts and the
have assured me that on speoi
deposits of this sort from the pos
Office department they will allo
~ from 2 to "a percent.