The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-01-31
POSTAL BANKS
ARE VERY POPULAR
Officials Of Department Gratiiied
at Interest Shown During
First Week Of Test.

WASHINGTON, January TO- - Re-
ports to Postmaster General Hitchcock
from postmasters &C the new postal saw
ings bank Offices, Il is said, are gem
orally satisfactory and show that tho
new system is fairly launched. Many
people yet fail to understand tho regu-
lations, or wish to have them modified.
Some genuine "knoekers" have shown
up as well. But on the whole the peo-
pie are taking kindly to the new insti-
buttons provided by the government and
backed by the credit of the United
States for the safekeeping of their
savings.
Bad weather in the Northwest and
rains in the South ami East have been
instrumental in keeping away many
who are expected to become depositors.
The department realizes, too, that the
fact that interest will not begin to run
on deposits until February l has de-
TERED others, who will come in with
their savings later in the MONTH Many
inquiries are being received from all
other the country from people who want
to know more Of the new savings insti-
buttons. Many suggestions, as we'll, are
being received, some of which will be
given careful consideration.
Literature for Schools.
Among them was one from southern
postmaster, that the department provide
/ special literature, easily understood by
children, describing the operations and
rules governing the banks for distri.
tuition to the school children Many
school teachers have made detailed in
quiries, with the object of informing
and instructing their scholars.
: As a rule, the postmasters selected
to inaugurate the new postal savings
/ system are quite enthusiastic. Some of
] them are not so much so, but that is
believed to be due to the fact that the
number of early depositors did not quite
come up to their expectations.
1t was explained at the department
yesterday that the authorities have not
looked for any sensational develop
ments, either in the number of deposit
! ors or the amounts of the deposits.
They feel that the system is as vet
only in an experimental stage. Many
changes, they say, win doubtless have
to be made before perfection is at.
tanned. But, in the meanwhile, the PEG
lple VIII become educated in the new
institutions and their rules, and when
the system is we'll launched there need
be no approximations as to its success.
Recently the department has had
many visits and inquiries from men
who act as interpreters to foreign work.
men on railroads and elsewhere through.
out the country. Many of these men
have come to Washington to personally
investigate the published statements as
to the banks, that they may enlighter
the foreigners who do not understand
the English language MS to the fact.
concerning them. 1t is believed many
deposits will result from their visits
Brought Savings TO Deposit.
Yesterday morning well.dressed
man walked into the department with
his savings to make a deposit Friday
an elderly woman, with "A big, fat
pocketbook, containing her savings for
twenty-five years, called at the depart.
ment. She said she lost confidence in
the banks quarter of century age
after bank failure in the Southwest
but now that the government was will
ing to guarantee the safety of heI
money she was willing to deposit it il
Uncle Sam IS savings bank. She seemed
distressed at not being able to do so
About the same time two farmers
called. Each had heavy coin bags, con
tanning about $1,000 which they wanted
to put in for safekeeping. They, too
left disappointed.
The postmaster at Pekin, ILL.,, report
ed yesterday that woman came into
his Office with $50 in dimes, represent
ing her savings for the year. She wa,
furnished proper certificate for heI
deposit and left apparently happy.
AT Brunswick, Ga, the postmaster
reports that he has received an unusla
number of requests to accept deposits
for children under ten years of age
Ten years is the age limit for de
positors.
AT ManitOwOc, Wis, the postmaster
reports that number of showD PEG
pie, sailors and commercial travellers
offered deposits on condition that they
be permitted to draw against them al
any other postOffice. AS that is against
the regulations, they had to be denied
Many of the postmasters where thu
new banks are located are receiving
deposits by mail from people who livt
beyond the delivery of their Offices, bu
who are attracted by the government
guarantee behind the postal savings
bank.
Holds Sessions Daily.
The departmental committee which
prepared the plans and regulations fol
the new savings banks holds sessions
daily for the consideration of question,
arising during the experimental stage
of the system. The result of it's DELHI
erations are finally submitted to the
board of trustees, which is composed OF
the postmaster-general, the secretary
/ Of the treasury and the attorneY