The Washington times., 1911-10-08

I from any source; II Is on the deposits
that they accumulate profits. In the
steady growth Of the savings banks,
| even when other fiscal institutions are
losing in deposits, is the evidence Of
| count.
postoffices, and 1t is believed that $1,000
viii be named as postal savings banks
| 1t Is also estimated that by the first
| Of July, 1912, there will be about S20e,-
100000 of deposits In these offices. On
| the bulk of these millions the banks
will have to pay the Government 21z
per cent, and the Government will pay
the people per cent.
In order to pay interest bank must
make use Of the cash to the best
ability and the account must be OF suf-
ficient importance to warrant the Incl
dental bookkeeping, etc, connected
Herewith. Dormant accounts ought to
receive larger returns than the active,
or where the daily balances are small
and the accounts barely worth the
carrying.
1t goes against the grain Of the
banker to pay interest on accounts that
he has long controlled without the cost
of q penny, other than incident to gep-
eral expenses in banking, but the sooner
the banks meet the interest question
the more permanent Will be the de-
posits.
washington banks have the situa-
liOH "ch III
The postal savings system is going to
be a great educator of the public on
the question OF the value Of interest and
the case with which 1t may be obtained.
In the midst of much pessimisIn there
is bright light. The number Of Idle
cars in the yards Of the railroad COM
year. And the decrease is in all kinds
of freight carrying cars. The number
of idle cars reported is 5000; de-
crease of over 400 since the last show
ing and $4,000 since August 1c, and 1S.-
90 since August 2. The greatest reduc-
ton Is in box cars. where 1000 have
recently been added to the effective
equipment.
There is encouragement in the grow
ing freight business In the movement Of
crops and coal.
There is encouragement IN the
knowledge that consumption has re-
duced stocks of everything and un-
certainty has citus5G the retailers and
wholesalers to go slow and buy only
as necessities require, SO that the pres
ent scale of production by industry will
have to be maintaIred and any change
will proba bly, be In the direction Of in
crease, rather than decrease. The idle
car report is a barometer Of no un-
certain quality.
The manner in which small iE-
OepenOentS IN Ine ICDaN CO anu cigar
business are obJecting to certain phases
Of the reorganization plans OF the
Tobacco trust, indicates another great
difficulty in the trust reorganization
field.
This week will witness the gathering
at Atlantic City Of the representatives
of the street railways of the United
States. 1t will be a gathering OF inter
ests that have not suffered from de-
preston as have most Of the industries
of the country. Only occasionally has
a street railroad corporation complained
of poor business. The price of L street
car ticket does not enter greatly into
the question of economies. But the
prosperity Of the street railways, so
general the country over, ought to sug-
gest to the managers thereof, Il duty 10
the people who contribute TO this sue
cess-ought to suggest economical nian-
agement and the giving of the largest
service considerate with the rights Of
those whose funds are invested in their
securities
Washington street railroads have en-
joYed an excellent year. None Of the
companies has failed to much more
than earn fixed charges and pay hand
some dividends. Some new economies
nave been introduced, and it may be
that the way Is being made for tha
introduction of universal transfers.