30 
POSTAL SAVINGS 
pense by local postmasters. A high degree of 
centralization in such matters is much more diffi 
cult in a country of great distances like the 
United States than in a country like England. 
Even in England, moreover, the extreme central 
ization of the postal savings bank system is break 
ing down. Since 1905 it has been possible in 
England to withdraw on demand from the local 
office sums not exceeding one pound. 12 
The second controversial question with refer 
ence to deposits and withdrawals, which is closely 
related to the first, was the question of the form 
in which the depositor’s account should be kept— 
whether by pass book or by some kind of certifi 
cate of deposit. In all other countries, so far as 
the writer knows, the depositor’s account is evi 
denced to him in the form of a pass book, in 
which debits and credits are entered and balances 
struck. This method was proposed for adoption 
in the majority of the postal savings bank 
schemes which received the serious attention of 
Congress. It was proposed in the hill which be 
came law, as this hill originally passed the Senate. 
The other plan, that of evidencing the account 
by some sort of certificate of deposit, was urged 
for the United States on the ground that it would 
be simpler, easier and more economical of admin- 
12 Sen. Doc. No. 658, 61 Cong., 3 Sess., p. 25.