Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-12-06

ana increase Lne cost ana lenBtncn Lno
time of completing the canal
President Recommends
Postal Savings Banks.
II commend to the favorable consid-
GRAFTON of the congress a postal saw
ings bank system. as recommended by
the postmaster general. The primary
object is to encourage among our peo-
pie economy and thrift and by the use
of postal savings banks to give them
an opportunity to husband their re-
sources particularly those who have
not the facilities at hand for depositing
their money in savings banks. Viewed,
however, from the experience of the
past few weeks 1t is evident that the
advantages of such an institution are
still more far-reaching. Timid depos-
itors have withdrawn their savings for
the time being from national banks; in
| dividuals have boarded their cash and
| the workinEmen their earnings; all
| of which money has been Withdrawn
| and kept in hiding or in the safe de-
| posit box to the detriment of pros
| perity. Through the agency of the pos
| tai savings banks such money would be
| restored to the channels of trade, to
| the mutual benefit of capital and labor.
Il further commend to the congress
| the consideration of the postmaster
| generals recommendation for an ex-
tension of the parcel post, especially on
| the rural routes. There are now 3S,-
| 215 rural routes serving nearly 15,000,-
| 900 people who do not have the ad-
| vantages OF the Inhabitants of cities In
| obtaining their supplies. These recon-
| mendations have been drawn up to
| benefit the farmer and the country
storekeeper; otherwise. 1 should not
| favor them, for / believe that 1t is coed
| policy for cur government to do every
| thing possible to aid the small town
and the country district. 1t is desirable
| that the country merchant should not
| be crushed out.
| "The fourth class postmasters' con-
| vention has passed very strong reso-
| luton in favor of placing the fourth
class postmasters under the civil-serv-
| Ice law. The administration has al
| ready put into effect the policy of re-
fusins to remove any fourth-class post
| masters save for reasons connected
| with the good of the service; and it Is
| endeavoring so far as possible to re-
| move them from the domain of partisan
| politics. 1t would be a most desirable
thing to put the fourth class postmas-
| ters in the classified service"
He renews his recommendations of
| last year in regard to Alaska; calls at
tention to the admission of Oklahoma
as a state; urges the Importance of pro-
viding shipping relief for Hawaii; asks
for citizenship for Porto Ricans, and
| promises submission of Secretary
Taft's report on Philippines when that
official returns.
He asks for the creation of a bureau
of mines; recommends the providing of
funds for preserving The Hermitage,
| the home of Andrew Jackson; and the
erection of naval monument at
Vicksburg.
| Corporation Contributions
to COmpaign Expenses.
"Under our form of government voting
is not merely a right but a duty, and,
| M n da aFnnn nfnl and nrty
duty If a man is to be good citizen.
1t is we'll to provide that corporations
shall not contribute to presidential or
national campaigns, and Furthermore to
provide for the publication of both con-
tributions and expenditures. There is,
| however, always danger in laws of this
kind, which from their very nature are
difficult of enforcement the danger being
lest they be obeyed only by the honest,
and disobeyed by the INSCRIPTIONS, SO
as to act only as penalty upon honest
men. Moreover, no such law would ham,
per an INSCRIPTIONS man of unlimited
means from buying his own way into Of
flee. There is very radical measure
which would, 1 believe, work a substan-
tial improvement in our system of con-
ducting campaign, although / am well
aware that 1t will take some time for
people to so familiarize themselves with
such a proposal as to be willing to con-
slider its adoption. The need for collect
ing large campaign funds would vanish II
congress provided an appropriation for
the proper and legitimate expenses of
each of the great national parties, an ap-
preparation ample enough to meet the
necessity for thorough organization and
machinery, which requires a large eX-
penditure of money. Then the stpula-
ton should be made that no party re-
ceiving campaign funds from the treasury
should accept more than a fixed amount
from any individual subscriber or donor;
and the necessary publicity for receipts
and expenditures could without difficulty
be provided"
Wants Improvement In the
Ocean Mail Service.
1T call your especial attention to the un-
satisfactory condition of our foreign mai
service, which, because of the lack OF
American steamship lines. Is now largely
done through foreign lines, and which
particularly SO far as South and Central
America are concerned, is done in a man.
ner which constitutes a serious barrier
to the extensions of our commerce
''The time has come, in my judgment
to set to work seriously to make oui
ocean mail service correspond more
closely with eur recent commercial anG
political development A beginning was
made by the ocean mail act of March 3
1891 but even at that time the act was
known to be inadequate in various par.
ticulars. Since that time events have
moved rapidly in eur history. We hav,
acquired Hawaii. the Philippines. ant
lesser islands in the Pacific. We are
steadily prosecuting the great work OF
uniting at the Isthmus the waters of the
Atlantic and the Pacific. To q greater
extent than seemed probably even {
dozen years ago We may look to al
American future on the sea worthy o.
the tradition of our past. AS the frs
step in that direction, and the step mos
feasible at the present time. recommenC
the extension of tho ocean mail act o
1891. That act has stood for some years
free from successful criticism of its prn
ciple and purpose. It was based on theo
ries of the obligations of great mari
time nation, undisputed in our own lant
and followed by other nations since th
beginning of steam navigation. Brief!
those theories are. that 1t is the duty o
q first-class power 80 far as practicable
to carry its ocean malls under its owl
nag; that the fast ocean steamships ant
their crews, required for such mail serv
ice ara valuab auxiliarleA 10 the sai