ß 
38 
POSTAL SAVINGS 
money out of hoards and keep it in circulation. 21 
(2) The power “to regulate commerce . . . 
among the several States” justified the establish 
ment of a postal savings bank system, since these 
banks would assist interstate commerce in a most 
vital way, in bringing money into circulation and 
providing for the people an adequate supply of 
currency. 22 (3) Senator Sutherland contended 
that the power “to establish post offices and post 
roads” had been broadly interpreted and acted 
upon as though it read: “Congress shall have 
power to establish, organize and define the func 
tions of a postal department.” In no other way, 
he said, could the broad powers now exercised by 
the Post Office Department be justified—powers 
such as that of the Postmaster-General to nego 
tiate and conclude postal treaties and conven 
tions with foreign countries, and that of provid 
ing for the issuing of money orders, both foreign 
and domestic. 23 
To these arguments the most effective reply 
was that made by Senator Bailey. No power, 
he maintained, had been conferred upon Con 
gress to establish institutions for the encourage 
ment of economy and thrift, which was the real 
21 Senator Sutherland, Cong. Rec., March 2, 1910, pp. 
2652, 2658. 
22 Ibid., pp. 2658, 2651. 
23 Cong. Rec., March 3, 1910, p. 2655.