The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-13
FCKbIS 10 UE BANK BbS.
The Comptroller Of Tho Currency fsvors
the Best Bolinr.

BALTIMORE MD, oct. 12.-The CEN
trail and lil-absorbng feature in the pro-
ceedings of the American bankers CON
ventiOn yesterday was the address OF the
Comptroller Of the Currency. James n.
Eckels. There was also manifested
among the bankers in general deep
interest in the currency plan of the
Baltimore Clearing House Association.
presented to the convention yesterday
and published in the newspapers TINS
closely following the opening prayer,
by Rev. Arthur Chiffon Powell, r es'ueAt
White. in neat and Highly compimel 4
tary little speech, INTRODUCED conn
troller Eckels. who responded as Iol-
lows: .
when it was su-ge ted that I shou d
prepare a paper for this occasion, / re-
piled that, having had the honor at the
last annual convent n Ct addressing tn
Bankers Association at some lsngth, L
would upon this occasion conilne my
self 10 a few eXtemporans Gus remarks
/ felt l should like TO meet those here
present because the great majority are
i'm the system over which / have the
honor to preside That system. sprlnglng
out o. necessities caused by great war,
has grown to include 3 so national banks,
scattered throughout the United St1tes'
with a capital Of $1,000 900 Those banks
are possessed Of assets amounting to
more than $3,00JO00OD and whose reia-
lions extend not only over this great
continent of ours, but reach every place
on the globe where commerce is car
ried on.
1T has been a successful system. 1t
has done much 10 uplift and Simplify the
business transactions OF the world. 1t
has given currency which at least has
been sound in the fact that every blll
which has been issued by it Is OF the
value which it puTports to carry. whether
that system, now that changes are coming
upon the people, Will meet the req IRE
ments Of daily transactions in the mat
ter Of the issue Of currency, Is queS-
ton which IL open to discussion. Wheth-
cT or not any system of issuing currency
founded upon the deposit Of securities
has that other equal requisite qulcN
response to the needs of the people in
business as well as safety to the holder
is a question which can be scussed
with profit at such a gathering as this
"The currency question is not a ques-
ton for political debate. In and Of itself
II is simply a business question, ana
as such deserves the thoughtful attcn-
ton Of not only bankers. but If all who
are engaged in the various channels Of
business life and Of the iabOrng class,
but above all Of those, who, honOred with
the suffrages IF the people, are charged
with the duties Of formulating into laws
such legislation as Will affect the ques-
ton. Therefore, II is a source OF gratiii-
cation that an intelligent body of men,
brought from all sections of the country,
nave tblilt lDSttItI III AllSt pllf VI llit
most conservative cities I'm the Union q,
one whose very name is known at home
and abroad as a city Of financial s'rengtl,
of financial inteerity-a city which can
boast Of the fact that for more than
half a century not a failure has been
known among its banking institutions
(Applause)
There is nothing so deserving of at
tention, there is nothing so deserving
of candid thought and intelligent stud =
nc, . h.. tf,y, Of in eff o,
touches not alone our people, but those
of every country that are carrying on
financial transactions However friend
ly we may feel to any particular kind
of money, unless it is evidenced by facts
instead of theories that this particular
money will meet the obligations of the
people of this country both at home
and abroad, this country cannot aft ri
TO enter upon the use Of ii. CApIlause)
II trust that the outcome OF the dis
cussion on currency, which ! undersan
will be handled to-day. may be profitable
TO the whole people