Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-08
THE PEOPLES SAVINGS.
Should Have Security of Govern
 ment Behind Them.

I again renew my recommendation ing savings with the security of the government behind them. The object is to encourage thrift and economy in the wage earner and person of mod crate means. In fourteen states the deposits in savings banks as reported to the comptroller of the currency amount to s3,590, ,245, ,402, or 9S.4 per cent of the entire deposits, while in the remaining thirty-two states there are only S70,30S543, or 1.6 per cent, showing conclusively that there are many localities in the United States where sufficient opportunity is not given to the people to deposit their savings. The result is that money is kept in hiding and unemployed. It is believed that in the aggregate vast sums of money would be brought into circulation through the instrumentality of the postal say ings banks. While there are only 1,453 savings banks reporting to the comp troller, there are more than 61,000 postofices 40,00O of which are money order offices. Postal savings banks are now in operation in practically all the great civilized countries with the exception of the United States
 Parcel Post.
 In my last annual message I com mended the postmaster generals rec ommendation for an extension of the parcel post on the rural routes. The establishment of a local parcel post on rural routes would be to the mu- tuaI benefit of the farmer and the country storekseper, and it Is desira be that the routes, serving more than 15,- DO0,0o people. should be utilized to the fullest practicable extent An amend ment was proposed in the senate at the last session st the suggestion of the postmaster general providing that for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of establishing a special local parcel post system on the rural routes throughout the United States the postmaster general be authorized md directed to experiment and report to the congress the result of such ex- pertinent by esta blishing special local parcel post system on rural delivery routes in not to exceed four counties in the United States for packages of fourth class matter originating on A~ ot tho fefv p6ace for delivery by rural carriers. It would seem only proper that such an experiment should be tried in order to demonstrate the practicability of the proposition, especially AS the postmas- ter general estimates that the revenue derived from the operation of such system on all the rural routes would amount to many million dollars.
 Education.
 The share that the national govern ment should take in the broad work of education has not received the atten- tion and the care it rightly desev es. Ehe immediate responsibility for the support and improvement of our edu- cational systems and institutions rests and should always rest with the people of the several states acting through their state and local governments, but the nation has an opportunity in edu catio1aI work which must not be lost and a duty which should no longer be neglected.
 The national bureau of education was established more than forty years ago. Its purpose is to collect and diff fuse such information "as shall aid the people of the United States in the establishment and maintenance of eff cient school systems and otherwise pro mote the cause of education through out the country" This purpose in no way conflicts with the educational work of the states. but may be made of great advantage to the states by giving them tho fullest. most accurate and hence the most helpful informa ti"u and suggestion regarding the best educa atlOnal systems. The nation, through its broader field of activities, its wider opportunity for obtaining in formation from all the states and from foreign countries. is ahln to do that which not rvan be richest states can do and with ,Ar distinct additional ad- vantage thaj thc Information thus ot- taiued is used fnr inc immediate ben e.ii of all "Hr l--rPle
 With ihe 5i-uifcd ueans hitherto pro vIded the i,l.eau Uf education has ren-