Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1889 — BANK THIEVES. [ARTICLE]

BANK THIEVES.

A lew weeks ago we chronicled in our news columns two audacious bank robberies in the West. Last week in the same columns was given the report of the suspension of a Pennsylvania bank and the discovery that the cashier was short many thousands of dollars. Here are two distinct types of robbery. One, the tMef enters the bank with drawn revolver and the cashier in fear of his life surrenders the funds in hand. The .other is where the cashier is placed in a responsible position, and by the cultivation of graces gains the confidence ot poor and rich alike, then suffers himself to rob those who have honored him with their deposits, in as heartless a manner as if he had forced his demands at the point of a revolver. The first is styled robbery, the second, embezzlement. The one, if captured, is cast into a cell and is a fit subject for punishment by a mob. The other, if apprehended at ail is tenderly cared for by the officials,given a room that will in no way endanger his valuabhle health, and re gated with flowere and condiments. This is where the administration of justice is partial. There ought to be no distinction between these tpyes of robbery, or if there is, it ought to be in favor of the man with the revolver. The one is following a vocation in which he is schooled by association, and robs of those, he thinks, who can afford to lose. The other is well educated, intelligent, and by every association unworthy of a dishonest thought, and yet he deliberately robs those whom he knows cannot afford to lose and whose funds would not be in his care had he not gained their confidence by an apparently upright life i The embezzlement type of bank thief is becoming entirely too common. The public is ehtitled to greater protection than it receives from the bank’s officers, even wnen they are not in collusion with the cashier. We ought to learn, first, that the one style of bank robbery is on the same plane as the other, and that the thief with the suave manner and oily tongue, though he have a smattering of Greek, French and the dead languages, is no better in any sense than the thief who robs his victim by force. Second, our laws ought to be strengthened on this point. It ought to be provided so that the State, as well as the Federal Government, could have jurisdiction over the administration of the banking business, with power to examine the cash, accounts, books and investments at pleasure. "With such a provision and with some unpurchasable man or men. in each county to act for the ,-State in their county, we imagine would be fewer 80-called embezzlements than there have been for a year jtwo past. As against this suggestion. ■ it" will, be urged that the Federal is amply able to perform tbi® important function of alministrationv , readily be Been, however, that Jhese embezzlements occur despite the watchfulness of that great power. The adding of the influence of the State, and through it the close alliance of the county itself, would increase the safe-

guards and prevent many, if not all the embezzlements that take place. The %nen appointed by each countv are on the field constantly, and would at once be apprised of any rumors that might be in circulation, and who would note the dispositions and habits of the bank’s officers. Would this not be, also, an invaluable aid to federal authority? A bank is a public institution though conducted with private funds. It is intended to afiord security for the accumulated funds of a community. There should be absolute reliance upon that security. Should the bank fail, on account of dishonesty or for other reasons, the whole community is disastrously affected. There ought, there? fore, to be no bank failures and no embezzlements, and every precaution onght to be taken that they may not occur. The interest manifested recentiy by the French Government in the Panama Canal enterprise is probably a sort of partisan device, such as is familiar to the people of all countries possessing representative institutions. A canvass will be begun in France before manv months more elapse in which the republican governmental syßtem will be fighting for its life. If the authorities can placate, for the time being, the 800,000 persons whose money is in the canal, and who are vitally interested in that project, it will be aided at the polls. Gan. Boulanger has been posing as the champion of these persons, and this is one of the discontented elements which constitute that demagogue’s strength and the Government’s weakness. Two weeks ago the Indiana Odd Fellows met in semi-annal convention; last week the F. and A. Masons met in annual session, and this week the Knights of Pythias are also in annual convention. Statistics of the last two organizations have not been given out at this writing but we have before ns the Grand Secretary’s report for the Odd Fellows, which as to relief bestowed in the six months ending December Slat, makes a remarkable showing for that

I order. The total amount disbursed for relief in the six months named was $53,06441 or $106,128,82 per year. This amounts to $8,844.07 per month; $2,040.94 per week; $391.56 par day, or $12.12 for evfry hour of every -day in the year. l As we stated this is a remarkable showing, and coupled with the relief afforded by other fraternal organizations, would make an exhibit almost beyond belief. It might be suggested, in this connection, that , this enormous sum paid out in this way adds to the business prosperity just that amount and in many instances, when the recipient would become a subject of public support, reduces taxation to a considerable extent.