POSTAL IMPROVEMENTS

Mr. George von L. Meyer '79, Postmaster General of the United States, delivered a very interesting and instructive lecture in the Living Room of the Union last evening. He advocated the extension of a general parcel post as necessary for our farmers, and a system of postal savings banks that would keep our money from being sent out of the country by ignorant immigrants.

Mr. Meyer first described the growth of the post office department from the time of Benjamin Franklin, when it contained 45 offices, to its present vast expense with 63,000 offices in ever part of the country. The expenses in 1907 were $178,000,000.00 and they are increasing each year. The rural postal system was first established in 1896 and has increased immensely in the last ten years. Due to this, the vast bulk of the people have become better informed on daily topics.

Mr. Meyer then turned to his special subject, by stating that we should have a parcel post system in the United States. We must now pay more to send a package from New York to Boston than to ship it to Europe; whereas four pounds is the limit weight for this country, packages weighing eleven pounds can be sent to Europe. If this system were brought up-to-date, it would be of immense value to the farmer, who could order all his goods by mail and thus save time and expense.

The value of a postal savings bank was shown during the recent panic, when foreigners bought $8,000,000 worth of money orders drawn to themselves, rather than trust to the banks. All European countries have adopted this system, so that the ignorant foreigner, accustomed to have the security of the government at home, is totally at a loss in this country. As a result he sends his money home, to Europe. This loss could easily be stopped by the establishment of these postal savings banks. The farmer, who hoards his savings, would also entrust them to a safe and convenient institution.

A Senate Committee has passed a resolution in favor of such banks. It is hoped that Congress will pass a bill to that effect, at its next session. The plan advocated is a simple one. The money entrusted to the postal savings banks will be turned over to the national banks in the neighborhood, so that it will be easily accessible. All people over ten years of age will be allowed to open accounts. Interest, amounting to 2 per cent. will be paid on all deposits not exceeding five hundred dollars.