Left to themselves, the leading Savings Bank authorities in the House--viz., Mr. Estcourt, Sir H. Willoughby, and Mr. Ayrton--obtained leave, on the 11th of March, 1862, to bring in a bill "to Amend the Laws relating to the Security and Management of Savings Banks."[110] The points sought by the bill were, briefly, (1) to enforce upon all local banks the regulations of the well-managed ones; (2) to repeal the Act of 1844; (3) to force an auditor upon every bank and define his duties; and, lastly, to provide for the security of the depositors, by enacting that no transactions should take place except at the office, during office hours, and in the presence and with the signature of more than one person. Mr. Estcourt, who briefly explained the drift of the bill, intimated that they were not desirous of altering the relation in which Government stood to Savings Banks, or of interfering in any way as to the disposition of the money. Mr. Gladstone, after stating how completely Government had been baffled in their attempts to alter the law regulating Savings Banks, expressed approval of the bill, though he reserved the right of Government to take any steps they chose at any subsequent stage.[111] On the 20th of May this bill shared the fate of all preceding attempts to place these institutions on a sound basis, by being withdrawn. Savings Bank managers had again interfered, and this time they went against their devoted friends. _Mr. Estcourt_, on withdrawing the bill, said he had received numerous representations from managers that his measure was "inapplicable" to them; and "only that day an influential body of managers of great experience, and fully to be depended upon," had waited upon him, requesting him to withdraw it; and if he would consent to this course, _they_ would endeavour to devise some scheme which should meet the requirements of the various establishments. Mr. Estcourt's measure was unquestionably a good one, but it involved too much trouble and risk to trustees: hence its defeat. _Mr. Gladstone_ thought it was high time that those gentlemen should take their turn in devising a scheme. If they proposed a real improvement, Government would make no objection. Referring to the Post Office Banks, Mr. Gladstone said: "Undoubtedly, however, the main question had been disposed of; they were now able to say to the people of England who were disposed to lay by their savings, with a moderate interest and with a perfect security, the Government had provided some 3,000 places where these savings would be received." _Mr. Henley_ was much discouraged with the difficulties everybody found in the way of legislation. He was "disposed to think that the well-managed banks might go on as usual," but rather than "tinker" at the others, "the very small banks under the old system, which would not afford the proper machinery for perfect management, ought to be urged to hand over their business to the Post Office Banks." _Mr. D. Griffith_ "for