Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-01-07

under the laws of FranEe, Consul L
General Frank H. Mason; iof Pariss 4
writes.
In view of the existing financial
conditions in the United States and
the recognized Importance of postal
savings banks in encouraging econ
omy and confidence in the stability
OF the government on the part OF
the large class of small depositors,
1T is believed that the following fact
concerning the long-established and
successful French system, may have
"a timely interest:
The steadiness OF French finances
and the general uniform prosperity
of the people outside of the flood
devasted districts in the south have
recalled attention during the pres
emit financial disturbances in Ameri-
ca to the French monetary banking
systems, and particularly to the i'm
portant and beneficial role which is
pldyeu ny SAVINGS UdhhS Az ShtS
country
The devastated districts in the
the south have recalled attention
during the present financial disturb
ances III America to the French
monetary and banking systems, and
particularly to the important and
/ beneficial role which is played by
savings banks in this country.
The French peasant and artisan
have been known for many genera
tions as the most frugal, industrious
and inte1ligently thrifty of Euro
pean working people. Their patient
industry. their love for the soil and
for their various handicrafts, and
their scrupulous care of their saw
ings form the foundations of the
prosperity OF France. The French
savings-bank system reflects SO ac-
curately these attributes that 1t
forms an instructive object lesson
in time like the present.
I Savings banks in France are of
two classes: (a) Postal or Govern
ment banks. which are established
throughout tho country sand are nm
der the direct management ana con-
troll OF the National Government,
and OBJ municipal and private saw
ings banks, which are controlled by
municipalities and private FIRMS,
= chartered and held accountable ftG
strict laws. similar to those which
} are enforced / in several states In
} America.
ssssn Postal Savings Banks
The postal savings-bank system
/ was created under a. law enacted on
: AWrfi 8. 1884, and the returns q
/ 1882 show that during that. year the
) number OF banks established and II
[ operation was 6.O24. with 211,6st
: deposit accounts remainin 0haR d
( December 81. The average sum o
. these deposits was s43.42, and thu
Z whole amount or deposits, including
3 interest, in all the banks at thu
!. close OF the year was $9.1S7I16.
r The latest complete Sstatistic
: now available are those which re
8 cord the operations Of 1904. at TIL
3 eldsgsof which year the pgmheE a
o postal savings banks in FFance hA'
/. increased to 1883, with 4,S46.44
z depositors and deposits-includin
II interest due to sdepositoys on DeceT
is Der s1--amouneinS to $e2s.15s.2S
). LAS measure NJ the serene prospect
i ity of rural and industrial Francs
t. lit may be stated that these deposit
y have steadily increased. until the
Is reached on October 81, 1907, tn
l. sum of $267.51&S2S. an increase {
$3s,s61,1ss within a period \ {
IS thirtv-four, months.
is The postal savings banks pay II
be terest on deposits at the rate OF p
is per cent (eompounded), and IL
I'd amount ofsSach cash deposit aecoul
e. 70 limited to .Enn francs f$2Sa 90
es When q depositor's account excee'
to that amount the bank VIII purchai
in "Rentes," or national per Gel