i68 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



sue such a course in a department of the Government which reaches 

 and interests so much all classes of the people. The popular inter- 

 est in its being well managed would be greatly increased if large 

 numbers of the people were in the habit of intrusting their small sav- 

 ings to it for safe-keeping. The new duties and responsibilities would 

 make the demand for the appointment of honest and capable officials 

 even greater than it is at present, and would, therefore, promote the 

 cause of civil-service reform. The additions to our civil-service list 

 required by reason of such an addition to the functions of the Govern- 

 ment would be comparatively few. The Post-Office Department, by 

 means of money-orders and postal-notes, now transmits large amounts 

 of money from office to office. Postmasters and clerks are, therefore, 

 in the habit of receiving and paying out many small sums of money, 

 of keeping detailed accounts, and of making frequent reports. No 

 very great modification of the machinery now in use would be needed 

 for conducting a system of savings depositories in connection with the 

 money-order offices. Occasionally a little more office-room, and another 

 clerk or two, would be needed, but the additions would be compara- 

 tively insignificant. The new business would require the same sort of 

 talent and skill as that needed for the issue and payment of money- 

 orders and postal-notes. We might afford to run the risk of whatever 

 danger may come from such an enlargement of the functions and pa- 

 tronage of the Government if postal savings-banks would really prove 

 a great boon to the masses of our people. 



Post-office savings-banks would probably not seriously interfere 

 with private banking institutions unless a very high rate of interest 

 were paid and large sums were taken from single depositors. While 

 occasionally deposits would be withdrawn from the ordinary banks and 

 left with the Government, it would probably happen more frequently 

 that poor people who now have no bank accounts would be induced 

 to save some of their earnings, and would in time become capitalists 

 and patrons of national or private banks. In 1873 Mr. Creswell 

 strongly urged that a system of postal savings depositories would not 

 only strengthen our national finances, by bringing large sums into 

 circulation, but would indirectly afford our monetary and banking in- 

 stitutions "the very relief" of "which they stood in need." 



It goes without saying that many American working-men are frugal 

 and save considerable portions of their earnings. Evidences of their 

 economy and thrift are seen in the large numbers of capitalists who 

 began life as laborers, and in the thousands of comfortable working- 

 men's homes which the owners have built or bought with their savings. 

 It is evident, however, that great numbers who might live comfortably, 

 and at the same time save enough to make them independent in sick- 

 ness or old age, and to give their children a fair start in life, spend all 

 their earnings, and are never far from want. The average American 

 laborer is apt to be too generous and open-handed, spending his hard- 



