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THE dispatches announce the suspension of the Portland, Oregon, Savings Bank, with a list of liabilities of three millions. Strange to say their trouble is alleged to be inability to realize on assets. When any other business fails it is usually credited to poor management or not enough money. Banks always have a sheet anchor out. Inability to realize on assets. To be sure they always know that if their depositors ask for their money in any considerable volume they will be unable to realize fast enough to meet the demand. They know that in proportion to the business transacted they do a greater percentage on borrowed capital than any other institution on earth. Their entire stock is money and practically all of it is borrowed in the form of deposits from the people. True, they do not ask for it. The people some way fall over one another to loan their money, without interest in many cases to a bank. There is a peculiar feeling of confidence on the part of the lender that he can get his money back and in many cases he does. His danger is in the contingency that too many of his associate lenders may desire their money at the same time. Without question this Portland institution was the depository for hundreds, perhaps thousands of the poor. They have lost out. The rich and prosperous depositor will be found to be partially if not wholly protected. The poor devil will lose all he has. Even if the bank is fairly safe, with actual assets to cover its debts, the day of settlement will be put off till some other shylocks can buy up the claims at from 25 to 50 cents on the dollar. Some day we may have postal savings banks. Then the people can have a really safe depository for their money. Until that time really prudent poor people who are striving to lay by a few dollars for their old age will do well to patronize the money order de partment of the postoffice. The cost is small and the safety is worth the price. When an amount