The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-09-20
FIRST DEPOSIT
IN POSTAL BANK
Reporter SquanderS Whole
Of Ten Cents on Savings
Card

IL was rainy, cold, dlSagreeable,
unlucky Friday morning. To add to
the discomfort of the impecunious
reporter he was financially embarass-
ed, strapped, dead broke, bankrupt.
To make matters still worse, the
ghost wouldn't walk until the NOR
row, and Saturday, worse luck, was
the newspaper mans birthday.
Dull and raw September had fol-
lowed in the wake of a spendthrift
Summer. Winter was coming on
apace. Rainy, not to say snowy, days
were sure to come.
Ha! An idea," breathed the re-
porter, with clenched fist, to him
self. III open a savings account
with the government. I'll never be
able to raise 81 to start an account
with one of the local banks, so I'll
deposit my superfiuous cash with
the government. It's sure to be in
safe hands then"
Horrors! A hasty search of his
pockets revealed nothing but a bunch
of Keys, and pocket of unpaid bills.
What to do? A sudden inspiration.
Iii ask the boss for a dime, trust
ing to luck to raise the ten cents, and
repay him"
Give him ten cents,' the manag-
ing editor obligingly told the short
hand girl.
Equipped with the wherewithal,
one lone dime, dated 1908, and puff
fling a fragrant HAVANA, which he
had received just a few moments be-
fore from one of the thousand and
one Primary candidates, the reporter
breezed along to the Postoffice.
" For how small an amount can |
open an account?' he asked Eben
Keen at the stamp window
For ST." he was told
" Can't | open an account for ten
cents?' despairingly queried the re-
porter.
" You can buy card for ten
cents" said Mr.. Keen. When
you get the card full you deposit it
and get certificate. 1t doesn't open
an account, unless it's a ST."
Thinking that the reporter was
only asking for information, Mr.. |
Keen returned to his onerous du- |
ties of sorting the morning mail.
The Citizen man was patient His
patience was finally rewarded by
Miss Margaret Griffin's coming to the |
stamp window, and asking him what |
he wanted.
To her he confided his burning de-
sire to bank with the government |
She fastened to the rear of the Of |
flee, and returned, in a moment, |
with a printed slip.
Have you one of those informa-
tion slips?" she asked. He hadn't. |
" can give you one" she continued, |
handing him four-page leafiet
Why, l don't know" she re-
sumed. The Banks seem to think
it's detriment to them. We deposit |
it in one of the local banks every |
day. The idea of the Department is |
to get money out that's boarded up, |
don't you know. This will give you
quite little information. Come over
to the other window, please"
The reporter meekly walked over
to the money order window. There |
he found Captain Carroll ]. Kelley,
of the gallant Thirteenth, to whom
he said, Z" want to exchange ten
cents for one of those cards.
Yes, sir" politely acquiesed the
Captain.
Then he explained the ins and outs
OF this new wrinkle. why" he
said, you buy stamps and put them
on there until you get ten. Then you
get certificate of deposit"
guess that's the first one
hhO" OlJ ohlu luG SdpIdln when
asked by the newspaperman whether
others had done as he was going to
do.
How many accounts have been
opened?"
Zone account. Oh it'll take time.
1t may work. In some places it
works. We're not against the banks.
This is after the money the people
have stored away. Lots of people are
afraid of banks. 1t may be a sue
cess and it may not be a success. The
Independent is wrong when it thjAks
we are against the banks.
" can't tell you who the first de-
positor is. You can sell that card
to somebody else if you want to. 1t
isn't redeemable until you have ten
stamps on there.
After you have that full you get
a certificate of deposit. They run
from 81 to 800. You have to give
your age then, your address, occupa-
ton, residence, birth, date of birth,
race or color, fathers name, mothers
Christian or given name, and your
signature.
1t draws two per cent. interest.
Then you can exchange those for
government bonds, by making appli-
cation fifteen days before July / and
January l."
Next, please! Yes. we have spec
ial delivery stamps!!"
Clutching the coveted deposit card
to his breast, the reporter left Uncle
Sans local headquarters, and was
fortunate enough to run across the
first deposltor.
Chester A. Garrett, a rising young
barrister of the Maple City, holds the
proud honor of being the first de-
positor in the Honesdale branch of
the U. s. Government Postal Savings
Bank. He was richer than the re-
porter. He had a dollar. The Gov
ernment has 1t now. But, goodness
tann Cnnkornhnr