Evening star., 1913-11-27
The Postal Service.
W.-Postal Savings Banks
Abroad.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

The use of the post Office as q place
where the people Of small means could
deposit their money for safe-seeping was
! first suggested in England in 1907, when
a member of parliament introduced bill
to encourage saving among the small
wage earners. His proposition was prac-
tically ridiculed out of existence, and the
idea did not receive serious considera-
ton until 1860 when Charles Skies.
bank bookkeeper Of Yorkshire. drafted a
plan and presented 1t to Gladstone, who
was then the chancellor of the excheauer.
In doing so he pointed out that existing
financial institutions were unable, even
| IL willing, to reach the working classes,
while the post ONCE. with an office in
every community. came into daily con-
| tact with them.
| The idea appealed to the great British
| statesman, and he Immediately lent it
all the powerful force Of his leadership
and enthusiasm. The result was that in
bank came into being under appropriate
parliamentary legislation. And before
| Gladstone laid down the cares of states
manship. In summary OF the things
announced that he considered the post
| Office savings bank the most important
| institution that had been created In the
half century under review. for the WEI
fare Of the people and of the state; and
he declared. further, that he regarded
the act creating the post Office savings
banks the most useful and fruitful of his
long career.
The British have a way of fittingly
honoring those who perform a notable
service for the
Skies Tittingly people -as wit
Honored for IG2; - ans IN .ne natar,a st
covery of aseptic surgery. and to Jenner.
who discovered the principle Of vaccina-
ton. And the case or Skies was no ex-
ceptton. He was knighted in 1881, given
high government position, and was tn
recipient of valuable public ties im1nia
of appreciation Of his services to Eng
land In devisins so wholesome an en-
gine OF finance for the wage earners
From the day the British Post Office
Savings Bank opened it's doors down to
the present 1t has been a success, grow
ing from year to year, being copied by
other nations. and standing today with
totai deposit account of not far from
81 .O0O. 100000. and an average deposit of
Seventy-Odd dollars for each of the r.
OD0lO or more depositors.
the litish idea Is very simple one.
Any person over the age of seven years
may deposit his savings In the post Of
ice. get interest on them while there and
draw them out whenever he needs them
aimed to encourage thrift, special facili-
ties are provided for children. Depositors
also have special opportunities for MAX
ing investments In government stock Tor
purchasing annuities and 70: obtaining
IKE insurance Deposits may be made in
the name of child. en- under seven years
old, but they cannot be withdrawn until
the child reaches the age of seven, and
then by his own signature only.
In opening accounts the full name of
the depositor, his occupation and his
place of resi-
Married Women May denee must be
Keep Own Accounts. mvst x,vsH' ana asom ne
that he is not party to any other in
oividual account. Married women may
Keep their accounts without any control
OF their husbands. ANY sum from a shill-
.ng upwa q may be deposited subject to
2 limit OF 800 in any one year and $1,000
an toio. Exceptions to these limits are
made In favor OF Charitable and CO
opeT ative institutions. Children who can
hA penny being equivalent to our one
cent pieee-may buy stamps and paste
tnem on forms provided by the post of
nee, and when they have shillings
We. ~ SuC POSI Omce opens an account
ana issues pass book.
The deposition does not have to 20 tn his
own post office to get his money when ne
needs IT, II he happens to. be in Dublin,
while his account Is with HIS own post Of
nee at Maiden. he can get his money
there. Notice Of intention to withdraw
has to be given for ali sums of s5 and
upward however. This may be given on
the day Of withdrawal by teleg aph. the
deposit0r paying the cost OF the teIe-
gram, while longer notice Is carried fee
IN the mails. All accounts are kept secret
oy the government and are not subject
10 attachment. ALI correspondence he
tween depositors and the government
with reference to savings bank business
- car feo free In the mails Liberal in
terest ID paid on the deposits.
The French postal savings bank system
Is somewhat woven in with the ordinary
How the French ings bank es.
System Is Worked. taolishment 1t
minister Of posts and telegraphs. The
MINIMUM deposit accepted Is one franc.
approximately 20 cents. although the
stamp card iOrms used in England ara