Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
FOR POSTAL SAVINGS
Bill the Special Order in Sen
ate December ID.
WILL STAND BY PLATFORM
Taft Favors Passage as Much as
Does Roosevelt.
MEASURE OF ADMINISTRATION
Belief That Senator Carter's Pro-
posed Law Will Attract Gen
eral Attention.
OF ADMINISTRATION

The republican party in Congress will
have its first opportunity to stand by one
of the planks of the platform of the re-
cent campaign almost Immediately after
the short session begins next Monday.
Senator Carter's postal savings bank bill. |
which proposes to afford the people OPP
portunity to give their money for safe
keeping into the hands of Unc'e Sam. |
and to make that kind old gentleman pay
interest on it. too is down on the Senate |!
calendar the special order Of business
for consideration Monday. December II.
1t Is the measure which is advocated
By the administration. and especially by
Postmaster General Meyer
1t is generally believed that Mr.. Taft is |
just as much in favor Of the passage
Of the bill as is Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t seems
certain that Mr.. Meyer will remain in
the new cabinet, and it is not regarded
AS likely that he will forget his pet.
Real Test in the House.
1t is hoped by the Montana senator
and other particular friends of the bill
that the upper branch of Congress VIII
pass 1t before the holidays. IT will then
so to the House. and the real test of its
Provisions will be in Represent alive Over
streets committee on post offices and
post roads. and later on the floor 1t is
known that Senator Carter anticipates
that his measure will strike snag or two
at the House end of the Capitol. but he is
nevertheless pretty hopeful of seeing the
measure signed by President Roosevelt
Here's the way the thing looks to SEN
ator Garter and the administration: All
durinSe the campaign the postal savings
bank was pushed to the front the real
thing in compa -ison to the guaranty OF
bank deposits which MIR. Bryan used as
a vote-winning text on every occasion.
Il was a plank OF the republican par;y's
platform that was stood upon With both
feet and upon which spellhinders took
delight in dancing up and down TO DEM
onstrate its soltdi.y
Now, wouldn't it be fin. way of treat
ing the people to let this first chance o.
carrying out party pledge go by tie
board? II certainly would in the opinion
Of the administration legislators.
Another View of the Matter.
Another view of it is taken by the
friends of the savings banks There are
| conceded to be a. good many of them in
Congress, too Why. besides depriving
the savings banks Of lot of legitimate
business. such plan will put premium
on rascalhy. the bankers urge. for doesn't
the Carter-Meyer bill provide that the
postal savings funds. when deposited In
local banks. shall be free from legal pro-
cess. as other government funds on de-
post? Furthermore. there are those who
believe that it's not right on general prin-
clples for the government 10 go into bust
ness to the extent Of running savings in
situations for the people. It's mighty
bad precedent to set. many democrats
who are afraid of too much centraiiza-
ton Of power In the national government
say
So far the postal savings ship has had
easy sailing. 1t was started on its way by
Mi. Meyer, who began to advocate it as
soon as he became member of the cabi-
net Then Senator Carter of Montana
Senator Burkett OF Nebraska and Senator
Knox Of Pennsylvania introduced bills
embodying the plan. The post Offices and
post roads committee of the Senate held
hearings on the three measures and finally
amended the Carter bill by putting in
some of the good features of the other
two.
Up to that time the Knox bill! had been
generally considered as the administration
measure. After that it was the Carter, or.
in reality, the committee bill that had the
right of way. 1t was the only one re-
ported to the Senate That happened
April II last.
Adoption of Special Order Easy
The Montana senator announced that he
would deliver speech in favor of the
passage of the bill. In a few days he
did SO. 1t was a very long effort. and
not particularly interesting to anybody at
that time. although it may become more
SO this winter. A few democratic sena-
tors and fewer republicans asked Senator
Carter a few questions apiece about the
measure. and then let it go at that.
Nobody tried to prevent the adoption of
the special order to take up the bill for |
consideration the 14th of the next Deem |
Der. That would be after election. and |
in April everybody was worrying about |
prediction doings
Mr.. Carter is prepared TO say good
many more things about his bill when
the opportunity is presented this month. |
He is somewhat curious to know how his
colleagues will line up on the proposition
when ii actually comes TO question of
voting on it.
Views of Aldrich Unknown
There is suspicion around the Capitol
that Senator Alarirh Of Rhode Island.
who is chairman OF the finance committee.
and incidentally has good deal to say
about what goes ON in that body. is not
| enthusiastically in favor of the measure.
If that's the case. perhaps Senator Hale
Of Maine may not like il very much.
However the dope may be wrong
Everybody agrees on one thing, how
ever. which is that on account Of the fact
that there was plank regarding it in
the republican platform. also because II is
favored by the present and next admins
ira tions. but chiefly because 1t is a
measure that will reach out and touch
everybody in the country. the debates on
it are going to be watched with interest.
II may furnish the sensation of the first
few weeks OF Congress, and certainly will
beat the tariff In getting actually before
the legislative gentlemen.
Election Decision for Kettering.
ARTINSRI-RG " Va Decenhsr 1