Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-26
SEES JOKER IN PLANK
Meyer Criticises Democratic
View of Postal Savings Bank.
IGNORANCE OR MENDACITY
Postmaster General Declares Scheme
Would Not Curtail Circulation,
NATIONS CREDIT GUARANTEE
Committee to Consider Pneumatic
Tube Service at Session in Wash
ington on September 1:

'"The democratic party in its platform
has either made a gross error or a de-
liberate Misrepresentation in it's insinu-
alton that the postal savings bank sys-
tenn advocated by this department and
indorsed in the republican platform is
intended to or possibly can withdraw
money from general circulation and
lock 1t up in favored national banks
said Postmaster General Meyer after
reading that plank in the democratic
platform which indorses postal savings
banks and then gives a sort of black
eye to the Endorsement by condemning
a system which would tend to curtail
the circulation of money.
1t was suggested that perhaps that
plank had been introduced in order to
provide means for condemning Wall
street. The Postmaster General smil-
ing, nodded an assent.
No Excuse for Ignorance.
Had they read the bill which has
been introduced and favorably reported
to the Senate by Il unanimous vote, -
Mr.. Meyer continued, there would have
been no possible excuse for the intro
duction of that condemnation
section II Of the bill specifically pro-
vides that deposits shall be made in
national banks in the states and terri
tories In which the funds are received,
and. as far as practicable. in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the places (which
funds are So received And this he
added. ENSURES the circulation of the
money by the banks in the localities
where it is deposited.
There is not the danger. in time of
panic. that there would be in having
the money in banks. whose interest it
might be to hold on to it. For de-
pOsitOrs can take their books and with
draw their savings at will"
Asked if the section which gave the
Postmaster General the power to make
regulations respecting the withdrawal
of deposits would not enable him at
such n time to require depositors to
give thirty or sixty days notice of their
Postmaster General responded that such
a condition could not exist for the SIM
pie reason that such a regulation would
Immediately be reflection on the
credit of the Treasury. which guaran-
tees, under the bill. every deposit and
would furnish the money when called
for by the depositor if the banks in
which it had been redeposited did not
do SO.
mo Postmaster General" he said.
would hurt the governments credit in
that way
The Postmaster General is an ardent
advocate of the postal savings bank,
and the bill which has been favorably
reported to the Senate was in large
measure drawn by him. Senator Carter
and the committee on post offices and
post roads put 1T in shape. and as it
now stands the Postmaster General
feels that every objection to the meas
ure has been removed and it ought to
and will be passed by the next Con-
greSS.
Left Taft in Good Fettle.
The Postmaster General arrived in the
city yesterday from Hot Springs, Va,
where. he said. he left 1.-The next Presi-
dent brown as berry and the picture OF
good health
MIR. Taft" he said, will remain at
Hot Springs until the latter part of the
month. when he goes to a fishing club on
Lake Erie for a few days sport and then
on to Cincinnati. where he will probably
remain until after election.
Il have appointed a committee, consist
ing Of Postmasters Campbell of Chicago,
Mansfield of Boston. Roberts of Brooklyn
and Wyman of ST. Louis, with James
Stewart, superintendent of railway ad-
justment: Supt. V. J. Bradley and AS
sistant Supt. Masten Of the railway mail
service, E. NJ. Norris of the salaries and
allowance division and A. b. Fry. a
Treasury engineer expert, to look into
the matter of pneumatic tube service.
'They will not meet until September l
and then in Washington. So, of course,
they have as yet done nothing as a whole,
although they are probably looking into
the question individually"
There is tube service in Boston. New
Philadelphia. 1t is the purpose of the
Postmaster General to have an ideal sys-
TEN here if his plans and recommends
lions pan out satisfactorily.