The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-17
BUSINESS OF THE BANKERS.
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION PROPOSED.


New scale of Dues TO the AssOcia-
tfOn Decided On.
Atlanta. Ca. oct 16.-The American
Bankers Association discussed proposed
amendments to its constitution to-day and
listened to a single gold standard speech
by Judge George y. Aldredge of Dallas.
Tex Judge Aldredge is the humorist
hnancier of the Lone Star state. He en-
tertained the bankers for two hours with
an address on sound money, and a denun-
citation of silverites.
The session was opened with prayer by
Rev. DR.. Heidi.
A report of the executive council was
submitted by the chairman, Mr. Puilen.
The report contained important amend
ments to the bylaws and constitution OF
the association. The most important
amendment was concerning the taxation
of the state banks, and nearly every del
egate made a speech on the question.
Finally the amendment was referred
back TO the executive council, with in
struetions TO formulate an amendment
that would be acceptable TO the conven-
ton.
proposed was the admission Of delegates
from each state convention on the basis
DELEGATE
This brings the state ASSOCIATIONS mo
closer touch with the national OfBanlza-
ton. A scale of dues was agreed upon
ranging from $ 10 $50, according TO the
caDifal stock Of the banks represented,
instead of the smaller dues heretofore
paid. This amendment was proposed 10
meet the increased expense OF prosecuting
criminals.
Much discussion was provoked by a
proposition to enlarge the authority OF
the executive council in addition 10 that
provided in the new scale of dues.
Then Judge Aldrcdse was introduced.
The following is the opening paragraph
OF his address:
should coin silver for the world, in unllm-
hed amount, at double its market value rs
so repugnant TO the common sense OF
mankind, that ii ought to be unnecessary
TO discuss il: and would be, but Tor the
fact that portion of our people nave peen
misled by appeals TO their prejudice any
by the speciOus reasoning or sophlsts. II
our government were asked to declare
that two quarts equaled gallon, or TO
revise the multiplication table ana enact
that ten times ten equaled two hundred
all men would see the folly, nut Wnen ASK
ed to believe that ten dollars worth OF sill
yer, by being touched by the government
stamp, instantly becomes worth twenty
dollars, many people honestly believe TINS
miracle may be accomplished ana many
others affect to believe it. Tor pracilcal
purposes. In all ages of the world there
have been decisions in reference TO mon
ey and in spite of uniform disastrous re
suits, many are ever ready TO listen 10 the
teachings of any charlatan VINO claims
that he has discovered "A shorter route 10
wealth. They refuse to apply TO money
that hard common sense which they eAef-
else in dealing with the everyday aitalrs
Of life The ignorant have always had SUI
perstition about silver Among the negroes
of the south nothing would XIII a Wltch
but silver bullet
speech the enthusiasm which II occasion
ed was seen in three hearty cheers. me
speech was ordered printed and sent 70
every national state and private bank
in the United States.
one of the Interesting papers read was
that of James Il. HoWensteln on the SUD
iect of ''The Founding of the American
Bankers Association In the course or
his remarks he said:
"A mere banker is a poor creature, and
so is every man whose sole mental an
Xiety is limited 10 any one money max
ing vocation II is enough for the full
development and worthy employment or
an intelligent and active mind, amidst
the opportunities afforded 1t; IL is belit-
Ting for such mind to be wrapped IN
money all the time.
Banking is only a trade to be sure;
but there is more mental exercise required
for its proper understanding, more skill
10 be acquired for its conduct, more sci
enee to be measured for its success, than
in any other pursuit, and quite as much
law and religion as are delved by the great
majority of lawyers and preachers-and
where better are we to go to school than
here? This convention is a school where
where ali confess their sins and forgive
each other; a theater where all are actors
and auditors. 1t Is a garden where you
plant and pluck flowers; an inn where
you are host and guest. 1t is a treasury
where you are paying and receiving tell
er. Everything Is school-master, and in
the truest sense these conventions are
''school-masters abroad" 1t was the de-
parture from a staid and stole course in
which the banker was moving-a depart
ure to be not only a better banker, but to be
more than a banker to be a better man
II has been to the world a revelation OF
the bank mans character.
1T has not been easy for all to fall readi-
ly into line in this onward march of bank
erdOm. Some We're uneasy If not protest
ant in the new livery. They felt out of
their element something like Hans Chris
ian Andersen's Silver Shilling" But ere
long they discovered the fact that 1t had
been their own condition, and not a
theory, that confronted them" This condi-
ton had grown out of line of preiudices
IN relation to their business and the
proprieties of those engaged in
it. 1t is not long since a deep
seated contempt was existent for
the banker who would depart even a
little from the manual, for the exercise
of the mental caliber 1t is remembered
what Sir John Lubbock says of Lord FL
d0n S choice of banker: he selects him nv
a sort OF inverse competitive examination!
ne Sought the stupldest in London, and
declared if he could find stupider he would
move mis- account And we have the story
OF the chief justice Who hearing that the
young banker Rogers had written a poem
on the Pleasures of Memory" said IL
the head of the banking house with which
he was doing business "eVen so much as
says a good thing, let alone writing l will
change my account"
The time has gone when such tenets will
prevails. That a man should look neither
10 the right nor the left of the groove of
banking in which he worms along. is a
discipline long exploded by the American
Bankers Association. Thanks to vour
association, the proceedings of your meet
lngs, covering more than 1900 pages oc-
tavo, are proof positive of the capacitv
of man to go pleasure and mind seeking
on the hills and in the dales of the literat !
or, as well as of nature. and promote good
seed time and harvest in the fields of
money, too.
A new and influential element is here
introduced TO the passions and the priD-
ciples. of the banker. These few DAYS of
association, every year, Of the fellow
craft, away from the hard and exclusive
service OF MammOn. relieved from the
payment of checks on the Bank of Life
devoted to the qualification and building
up Of hearty and whole manhood wine
out the secretions of the worse nature
remove the rusting incidence. and enter
new credits on LIES ledger; like Plato
suppers, they are not the pleasure OF
an evening, but a possession forever III
IS here labor and pleasure, in their ma
lures opposite, are linked together 10