Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-19

Question which 10 vexing Banksrs and
Which the Controller Cannot Decide.
Is the 2lst day Of October bank holiday In
the District?
This is q question which l. worrying the
national banks Of the District and is Q source
OF anxiety to holders Of negotiable paper fall
ing due on that date.
The banks ere uncertain what action to take
in the case Of notes which mature October q
whether payment should be demanded the day
previous-as when note falls due ON Sunday
or whether payment can be made on the day
itself
A number Of inquiries have been addressed
to the controller of the currency upon the sub
1ect, but that officer cannot decide the question
for the banks.
At the Treasury Department STAR reporter
was directed to the law upon the subject by
which the banks will be compelled to guide
themselves.
WHAT THE Law SAYS.
Section sss Of the Revised Statutes, relating
exclusively to the District Of Columbia, says:
1.-THE following days, namely, the first day Of
January, commonly called New Year day, the
fourth day Of July, the twenty dry
OF December, commonly called Christmas
day, and any day appointed or recommended
as day Of public fast or Thanksgiving, shall be
holidays. within the District, and shall, for all
purposes Of presenting for payment or accept
ance, for the maturity and protest, and
giving notice Of the dishonor Of bills Of
exchange, bank checks and promissory
cial paper, be treated and considered
as Is the first day Of the week, commonly called
Sunday, and all notes, drafts, checks, or other
commercial or negotiable paper falling due or
maturing on either of said holidays shall be
deemed as having matured on the day pre-
vious."
This act was subsequently amended by max
ing legal holidays OF washington's birthday,
Inauguration day and Decoration day, and by
STIMULATING that when such holiday falls upon
Sunday the following Monday shall be cole
brated as such, but that negotiable paper ma
lures on the previous Saturday.
Therefore 1t appears that the question of
whether October 81 Is legal holiday hinges
upon that portion Of section 993 which saysi
And any day appointed OF recommended by
the President Of the United States as day Of
public fast or thanksgiving"
The question is, does the Presidents proc
lamation set apart this day as "a day of public
fast or Thanksgiving"
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.
The Presidents proclamation appoints "Fri-
day, October al, 1892 the four hundredth ami
versary Of the discovery Of America as a gen.
erai holiday for the people of the United
states" and among other things lays the fol-
lowing injunction upon the people, which, it Ia
claimed, makes the day one Of Thanksgiving.
"In the churches and in the other places Of
assembly Of the people let there be expressions
Of gratitude to Divine Providence for the devout
faith Of the discoverer and for the divine care
and guidance which has directed our history
and SO abundantly blessed our people,"
The controllers Office will not make any de-
c!sion upon the question. 1t will be left for the
banks to decide for themselves, the controllers
office not interfering in one way or another. 1t
Is informally suggested, however, that each
bank take the proper steps to look out for its
own paper maturing October 81.
Inquiries have been received from banks in
other cities to the same effect, but the control
ler's Office has invariably declined to rule upon
the question upon the ground that the con-
troller is not q law officer.