The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-08
Meyer Pleads for Saving
Banks and Parcel Post
1T Banquet.
PLAN FOR SMALL MERCHANT
Head Of U. 5. Mail Department Ex-
plains How Both Projects Would
Promote Prosperity.

Chicago. Nov. s.-Two vast exten.
sions in the work OF the postoffce de-
partment-postal savings banks and
parcel posts-will become fact within
a year II congress acts upon the recon-
mendations OF Postmaster General
George Won L. Meyer.
The postmaster general. in an ad-
dress before the Industrial club last
evening in the Congress hotel banquet
hall. advocated the addition of these
extensions TO the governments postal
service. and promised he would ask
congress to pass the necessary laws
TO permit the government TO embark
in these businesses
He outlined in detail tho work and
the limitations OF the proposed extern
sions TO the service. declaring they
would work injury TO no body. would
not compete with the established saw
ings banks. and would open up new
field TO many small business men in ag-
ricultural districts.
Competition 10 he Avoided.
To prevent competition with the es-
tablished savings banks the postmas-
ter general expects to have incorpor-
ated in the law under which the gov
ernment will go into the banking
business a clause under which but
per cent interest viii be paid upon
savings and a limitation viii be placed
upon the amount Of deposits that viii
be accepted under one name-perhaps
$500
! The stock objection to the parcel
post on the part OF the retail merchant
and small dealer-that the merchants
in the big cities would take advantages
OF the new service and steal their
trade-was overcome by the postmas-
ter general by a simple device. Mr.
Meyer said he would recommend that
4 "a speciaksate be mfade on ali pnresIs
originating and delivered on one rural
route. This he suggested. should be
cents for the first pound and cents
for each additional pound up to eleven
pounds. This would give the neigh
borhood center-the county seat. for
example, proper advantage over the
distant city.
Personal Plea To Members.
After he had outlined the plan for
each Of the extensions Mr.. Meyer made
a strong personal plea to the members
of the club for their support ana as
sistance in securing the necessary Leg
islation. without which the postal de-
partment cannot undertake these inn
provements.
Il want you gentlemen TO take these
matters which ! have discussed into
consideration. and l believe that you
cannot but approve OF the plan" he
said. Never before has there been a
better opportunity for installing theae
two new branches Of the service.
First, the rural deliveries have been
extended to points where there are few
banks and little or no express SER
vice Residents in these districts can
depend only upon the government foi
q assistance.
If you gentlemen favor the piar
: make your ideas known. II you iooA
with favor upon the idea your con
2 gresham will favor it. If your con
= gressman favors the idea the MATES
5 of securing necessary legislation vii
: be but a simple matter. The paree
post and postal savings bank VIII soor
be a fact"
S Then Mr. Meyer called attention Z
e the fact that of the legal tender money
Q In the country s1.50o.00O.000 could no
G be accounted for in any Of the regula
g channels Of business. From this h
deduced that much OF this money wa
$ being held in the peculiar places 0
o safety" found by timid investors an
: women-under mattresses and in stock
Y iurs