Evening star., 1908-01-13
POSTAL BANK SYSTEM
SUBJECT OF DEBATE By
GEORGETOWN Law STUDENTS.

That Congress should establish = postal
savings bank system was the suoJ.ct dis
cussed at the first term public debate
OF the representatives of the senior and
junior societies of the school of law.
Georgetown University. held last Saturday
evening in CASTOR Hall. At the close the
verdict of the judges was in favor Of the
Affirmative, upheld by the seniors. repre-
sented by NJ. Lambert Igoe sof Illinois
and Erwin r. Effier of Ohio Charles
A. Lethert of Minneso and John F.
Sullivan of Massachusetts of the junior
society spoke for the negative side.
Daniel P. ]. McKenna of the class of
'O1 presided and introduced the speakers.
Mr.. Igoe, who is a member OF the class
OF 'os. made the opening address. He
declared that the postal savings bank
Is greatly needed ih this country. be-
cause when it is established the masses
will know that the United States govern
ment IS behind the organization. and that
their deposits are safe. He declared that
at present one-half the wealth of the
country is being boarded. and that the
funds far from the avenues of circula-
ton. Attention was directed to recent
bank suspensions. and the speaker de-
clared the closing of the doors of the
institutions of finance calls for the es-
tablishment Of a postal bank system
where the new arrival from foreign lands
will place his funds with the feeling that
the great government of the United States
stands behind the banking system and
guarantees his deposit.
Other Addresses.
Mr.. Iethert was the first speaker for
the negative. He pointed out that no bet
ter reason could be given against the
establishment of the postal bank system
than the fact that successive Congresses
of the United States since 1873 had per-
sistently refused to consider the question.
The speaker declared 1t is preposterous
to place any sort of banking system
under what he termed "the most inef-
f1cient department of our government"
Office Department has been run at a
loss of late years.
Mr. Ef1er followed Mr.. Lethert He
SAID the history of postal savings
banks in different parts of the world
has been one of progress. and that money
Is placed in circulation through their
agencies which would never reach the
avenues of commerce otherwise.
John F. Sullivan of Massachusetts,
closed the debate. He referred to the
failure of the Freedmen's Bank establish
ed at the close of the civil war. and the
fact that 3S per cent OF the funds have
never been repaid to the depositoys. He
argued against the postal commission
to be created under the proposed law to
have charge of the system.
At the close of Mr.. Sullivan's remarks
each speaker was allowed five minutes in
rebuttal, and then the judges, three men,
bers of the faculty OF the law school
Rev. John A. Conway, s. j., professor of
natural and canon law; Michael ]. Col
bert. professor of the law of personal
property and partnership. and Clarence
r. Wilson, professor of the law of
agency-retired. After an interval of ten
minutes the judges returned, and Rev.
Father Conway, In short address. an
nounced the decision in favor of the af
frmative.
Personnel Of Committees.
The committee in charge of the debate
was composed of Charles E. Roach of the
faculty. chairman; E. McHenry GaIlaher
O8. Maryland: John T. Buckley. 'Os New
York. of the Senior Society: James Spiller.
90, Texas. and Thomas F. O'Mara, 10,
Indiana, of the Junior Society.
The reception committee was as fol-
lows: Henry C. McKenna. chairman; Ben
jamin F. L. Heron, William A. Kroll,
Henry Lee, Eugene A. Waters James w.
Burns. John L. Gafney. Edward A. La
Bossiere, Don c.. Ellis, Carl c.. Mueller,
Benjamin A. Bowles, Walter E. Kelly,
Charles E. Ruffner, Robert F. Mcguire.
Norman 8. Bowles, Frank H. Carrot. /.
Isadore Bernstein, Hugh s. Pettis. s. Ed
ward Beach, John c. Cudahy and Geary