The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-17
GOVERNMENTAL BANKING.

In view of the fact that government
al banking is being advocated for this
country, through the esta blishment of
a central bank to control chiefly the
currency issue of the nation, and also
through the establishment of postal
savings banks. it is interesting to learn
of the governmental banking that Is
INDUCED in by other nations. Per-
haps governmental banking is widest
in its scope in Belgium, at least as far
as government savings banks are
concerned. Not only is the govern
ment savings bank maintained there
for the purpose Of providing depos-
tory for the peoples fund, but a
special effort is made to give the peo-
pie advantage of the funds so de-
posted Aid is extended through
loans to farmers. Loans are also
made by this governmental bank for
the erection of workmen's homes.
There is also a approximation feat
ure and this bank conducts insurance
and accident departments. A review
of the wide operations Of the Belgian
Government Savings bank is present.
ed in a recent Daily Consular report
by Consul w. P. Atwell of Client. 1t
follows in part:
During the year 1908 the Belgian
Government Savings bank registered
4,365,19S deposits, representing a to-
tai value of $73,S93,477, and made l.
395,520 payments, representing $780,
310,S05. The number of deposit books
on December 81, 1908, was 2,624,991,
with a total value invested of $171,-
044,463, an increase of $8,204, 306
and 96,7S4 deposit books. OF the
2,624,991 deposit books at the end of
1908, total of 2,2SS,00O each repre-
sented 1000 francs ($193) or less;
francs to 1000 francs; and 10000
books showed more. In 1899 there
existed 1 savings book to every in
habitants; in 1900, 1 book to every 4
inhabitants; and in 1907, 1 book to
every 8 inhabitants.
The law of 1894 authorizes the gov
eminent to use a portion of the dis
possible funds as loans to cooperative
societies for agricultural purposes.
However, the general committee in
1906 decided that the savings bank
could only make loans to societies
that had been approved by the COM
mittee and were acting in association
with some institution which in each
case could be called upon to act as
guaranty for the contracting society.
These institutions must prior to be-
ing accepted as guaranty, submit to
the approval of the government the
statutes of their respective companies.
They must also when acting as guar
antics transmit periodically to the
general savings and superannuation
committee certain documents that
clearly set forth their financial po-
sitions. The percentage called for on
general loans is 3.25. In 1908, as in
preceding years, the Intervention of
the savings bank has been of relative
ly small Importance principally be-
cause of the fact that the majority of
the country institutions find the neces-
sary capital in their localities and are
consequently not obliged to make ap-
plication to the government. Stats
tics show that the total amount of
loans made to the 400 country institu-
tions during 1908 amounted to ST.
1888. Their savings deposits
amounted to $3,595,105. The agri-
cultural institutions generally come
into direct contact with the farmer
and the country working element.
On December 81, 1907, it was found
that 172 societies for the building of