Evening journal., 1915-07-06
DEMOCRATS AND POSTAL SAVINGS.


THE frequency with which the Post once Depart
makes elaborate announcement of the sue
cess Of the Postal Savings Bank and its efusveness in
laudaton Of that branch Of the service might lead
some people 10 believe that the Democratic party was
the originator Of that aid to small saw
ngs Il will be surprising. therefore, those who are
not familiar with the facts, when the record is brought
forward show that the Postal Savings Bank law was
enacted with almost unanimous opposition on the part
Of Democratic Senators and Representatives
Examination Of the record in this regard is partiou-
larly opportune in view OF the declaration of
President Wilson that the Republican party has net
had a new idea for thirty years The Postal Savings
Bank law, in the form in which it enacted must
certainly have been Republican as distinguished
from Democratic idea. for IL passed by Republic
cans over The protest Of Democrats
This measure enacted in 1910. and signed by
President TAFT Jung25 Of that year It was intro
duood in the Senate BY the late Senator Carter Of
Montana II was reported the Senate by a Republi-
Committee and passed by that body by a vote OF
hfiy twenty-five every affirmative vote except one
being by a Republican, and every adverse vote being
cast by Democrat OF those Senators who we're
paired every Democrat paired against and every
Republican paired in favor Of the bill
similar situation confronted the measure on its
arrival the House It passed that body after con
siderable debate by vote Of 1876 TO lO2. party lines
being very strictly observed
Among those distinguished gentlemen who voted
against the bill we're A. s Bureson the present Post
master General; Champ Clark Of Missouri the then
minority leader and present Speaker Of the House;
Congressman Moon Of Tennessee the then ranking
member Of the House Post ONCE Committee and now
Chairman Of the Committee Representative Fitzgerald
Of New York the present leader OF the Democratic side
Of the House and Oscar W Underwood. the newly
elected Senator from Alabama
Few in that Congress werefought more Bit
tery by the Democrats than the Postal Savings
Bank bill All sorts OF evil in government and finance
predicted result Of the of such a
policy into law.
The principal arguments made against the bill we're
that 1t would lead TO the establishment of a central
bank that money would be drawn from private banks
to be deposited In the Postal Savings Bank and that
money could be drawn from the outlying communities
to the commercial centers. But time and experience
have demonstrated the wisdom of those Republican
leaders wAo framed the legislation pushed it to enact
ment and put Il into operation No small measure Of
their reward is in witnessing the ong-deayed ac-
knowledgement the part of the Democrats that this
legislation wise and beneficial
AS piece of permanent constructive legislation It
will stand testimony to the efficiency of Re
publican Congress and a Republican President Al
though the original act has been amended in some
minor parts 1t still stands the statute books in its
original form and any proposed changes matter Of
detail and not Of fundamental Importance