The morning times., 1896-12-27
SHOWING OF LOCAL BANKS
Comparative Review Based on
Recent Published Statements.
SAFE BUT LIBERAL COURSE
The Percentage of Loan Business
Was Very Large and Does Not
Signify the Extreme OF Timidity
Practiced In Many Other Cities.
Legal Limit Approached by Many.

Reports of banks and financial institu-
tions generally are now being made for the
year Just closing.
Within the past few days number OF
these for the District of Columbia have
been published in The Times, and they
show "a very satisfactory Condition for the
business here.
washington managers OF finances have
pursued a cautious yet progressive policy
as rule. II results for several years past
are the tcst they have had no share in care
less, slipshod methods and unsafe ventures,
on the one hand, or the closeness and
hardness that produces business paralysis,
on the other. 1t would be incorrect to say,
however, that they have not shared to an
extent the anxiety and depression iii con-
fitence as to the future that have prevailed
in every part OF the country, and even In
all the civilized world.
The figures so far at hand do not indicate
the abandonment by banks generally Of
the tirnld policy pursued for the past three
years and the failure within the FAST
month OF half dozen national banks,
hitherto regarded as solid, one of them
having very heavy assets, shows that the
disease of distrusJ which has Sapped the
business life OF the country for three years
and more, is again spreading from the
banks to the people in general. Prosperity
has not returned, and the seven millions
who voted for Bryan and free silver are
beginning To point out the fact.
Citizens Customers.
The National Bank OF the Republic, by
the figures OF Cashier Charles : Bradley
as attested by the president, Dr. Daniel
b. Clark, ana the directors, A. A. Wilson,
w. j. Sibley, j. NJ Wilson and John f.
Herreu, carries total business, in round
numbers, Of million and half dollars.
or this amoln5, cioSe ~ To the largest han
died by any Washington bank, S626,49l
came into its hands "a deposits, mainly OF
citizens of Washington. SS4 ,666 as de-
posits of tine government, S20o,0OO as
money paid in by stockholders, S204.e6S
as profits on its business and SlT6,25O
as notes issued for its use by the govern
ment upon United States bonds deposited
by it.
These large funds have been used by its
officials 10 make loans TO customers, main
ly citizens of Washington, to the amount of
S269,9i to buy government bonds and
other securities to the very large sum Of
$40, ,S54, and to hold as cash to the amount
| of S273, "a. Its realty, furniture and fix
lures are valued a SS3,947.
Quite different from this in the ratio Of
| loans to deposits and OF cash TO deposits
| is the report by Cashier George White for
| the National Metropolitan, which runs a
| total OF over 81 ,nGu, 600, the largest OF
any national. bank. Here the loans and dis
counts, instead OF being little more than
| one third, as In the Republic figures, foot
| up nearly two-thirds OF the total deposits
| The exact figures are $709,5 90 loans out
| OF 81 ,2S2, 1853 deposits. The cash held is
| a little more than the one-fourth reserve
required by law, showing a spirit Of Iber
ality. In the Bank of the Republic the cash
is over 4 u per cent Of the deposits, or nearly
double the legal requirement. The Metro
politan protects its large deposits by a
| surplus of S375.oo in addition to its
| heavy capital OF $500 900. The president
| is ]. W. Thompson: directors, II. 4. Viii
! lard. James E. Fitch, S. H. Kaufman
Nathaniel Wilson, j. Ormond Wilson, VIII
| lam 3. Gurley and George II. B. White.
| A Liberal Policy.
The Columbia National shows by its re-
port from Cashier Clarence COrson, at
tested by President C. C. Duncanson and
| Directors Frank b. NOyes, John JOY Edison,
| W f. Barker, Albert F. Fox, S. W. Wood
ward, ii. X. willard and E. s. Parker, a
policy even more liberal than that OF the
| Metropolitan, having a total of loans ant
discounts of ST32,044 out Of deposits of
| S764, ,309. Its cash reserve is a little larger
in its ratio to its deposits, being S252,64T.
| or nearly one-third 1t protects depOSitors
by capital and surplus of S350,000.
| The Citizens National, by its report from
Cashier Thomas C. Pearsall and President
E S. Johnson, with Directors Thomas
Somerville and Joseph F. Saum, come:
even little nearer than the Columbia Il
loaning out again all its deposits. Its loan!
and discounts foot up S741 ,S19 against de
posits OF STAT ,067, a difference of les
than $1,000 1t carries only S201, La
cash, a little less In ratio to its deposit
than the Metropolitan, but still more thar
the law requires Its depositors have
100000 capital and surplus to depen,
upon should the securities upon which loan
have been made prove unproductive.
Enterprise Is shown.
Cashier A. B. Ruff, under President Clar
| enCc NOrfnent ana DIRECTORS Lew w oOtt
bury, Frank P. May, H. Browning, Edw;ir
Graves, John W. Schaefer, Theodore ]
Mayer and James s. Edwards, reports
for the Central National Bank, S634,
794 loans out of $947 ,941 deposits. II
cash is $2o7,1 and its capital, sur
plus and undivided profits amount to S275
716. Its realty, furniture and fixtures ar
valued at $199, 900. 1t has an excess {
500, 81 due from approved reserve agent
and an excess of $59,502 due from othe
national banks.
The Second National Bank, with thf
Nestor among Washington business mel
Mr.. NJ. G. Emery at its head and Samut
Bieber and NJ. w. Beveridge as director
reports, through Cashier John c. Eckloff
total loans and discounts Of $To4 ,S21
against $7S0,992 deposits, showing coul
age and enterprise. Its cash Is S219,32
an excess of $13 ,072 over the governmeI
requirement. 1t carries no extravagan
surplus, as compared with other institl
tions, though the amount 100000, woul
have been considered in most cities a
generous afew years ago. 1t has the ampI
capital of 1925 900. 1t has undivide
profits to the amount of $17,21
4