Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1918 — Peace Day Methods of Conserving Resources and Eliminating Waste. [ARTICLE]

Peace Day Methods of Conserving Resources and Eliminating Waste.

By S. W. STRAUSS.

President of American Society of Thrift

It must be assumed that after the war thrift will be just as necessary as it is now. It is not too early at this time to begin planning for our peace day methods of conserving resources and eliminating waste. We might to advantage adopt some of the methods that were utilized by the Belgians before the days of the German invasion. Generally speaking/ Belgium in her happy prewar days was a nation of independents—a country in which pauperism was unknown. Everybody practiced thrift. The government had popular devices not unlike our present War Savings stamps, and, in fact, there was provision even for saving the pennies and investing them with the government. The post offices, the government savings banks and the branches of the government national bank all received deposits as low as one franc. When deposits were made in small amounts the received an adhesive stamp similar to our thrift stamp. These were posted in a book, which was given an official number and delivered to the owner without expense. This book contained the record of all transactions, with the depositor, including the addition of the interest, which was computed annually. Correspondence concerning these transactions was carried through mails without charge. In order to encourage school children and the very poor, postage stamps could be purchased and used as savings stamps. All letter carriers were provided with an equipment of stationery and stamps to supply those who wished to make these little investments. Another form of practical thrift fostered by the Belgian government was the life annuity* which could be contracted for at any place where government savings were accepted, and at the offices of the tax collectors as well. By this system payments varying from one to twelve hundred francs could be paid. When the person ip whose favor the annuity was issued became fifty years old he began participating in the disbursements and received a sum at the end of each completed year thereafter. Special attention was given to teaching thrift to the children of Belgium, for it was recognized that only in this way would the ijaiibn remain thrifty. As the result the Belgians were a happy apd prosperous nation notwithstanding their exceedingly overcrowded domain and their powerful conpnercial competitors. And when the hour of their great sorrow came they stood like a nation of steel before the invading hosts. Overwhelming physical power alone crushed them. But the spirit of the Belgian nation never has been broken, for in their thrifty lives they learned the lessons of fortitude. Some day, am long, the thrifty.,Belgians will again sing in the land of thgjr fathers.