The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-30
BANKERS IN SESSION.
The Attendance at the Meeting
Today Is Light.
Bank Commissioner BreidenthaI
Makes an Address.
Discusses Ways and Means to Pre-
vent So Many Bank Failures.

The second days session of the ninth
annual convention of the Kansas State
Bankers association opened this morn
ing at 10 o'clock in Library hall. Only
about twenty-five visiting bankers were
present, but several others are expect
ed this afternoon.
President Moore announced that the
report of the committee appointed after
the discussion on the Express Money
Order" at yesterdays meeting would
be heard first. G.. w. Mcknight of
Junction City. chairman of the com
mittee, presented the following resoIu-
ton as the report Of the committee
and moved it's adoption:
Whereas, The express companies are
pushing and extending their money or
der business in direct competition with
the Legitimate business of the banks,
and
Whereas, They have little or no
money invested in the business, but de-
pend largely upon the banks to cash
their orders at par, which is unreasOn-
able and unjust; then be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention that the bankers, by united
action in their respective towns, shall
discourage the use of this irregular
| class of exchange by declining to cash
| it or receive it on deposit except upon
the payment of a reasonable compen-
satiOn for the trouble of handling it.
The resolution was unanimously
| adopted.
John w. Breidenthal, state bank com
| missioner, was then introduced by Pres
| ident Moore and made an interesting
| address lasting over an hour. In COM
mencing his address Mr.. Breidenthal
| said:
L am at a loss to know what sub
| ject to talk upon, from the fact that
| there are so many subjects of interest
! to the bankers of this state which
! should be discussed. have concluded
! however, to call your attention to the
bank failures in this state during the
| past twelve months and ask your con
! sideratiOn of ways and means to pre-
| vent such failures.
In my Investigations have found
| that the majority Of failures are due
| to mismanagement or rascality on the
| part of the officers"
Mr.. Breidenthal then spoke of a num-
| Der of failures which occurred during
! the past year. and stated the reasons
for the failures as he found them on in
vestigatiOn. In speaking of the Fort
Scott bank failure, caused by the ras-
cality of Cashier Colleen, Mr.. Breid-
enthal said that he had been censured
by the Kansas City press as being in
part responsible for the failure of the
bank from the fact that the condition
of the bank was not known to the de-
partment. He said that he had per
formed his duty by the annual exam
inatiOn of the bank some months pre-
vious and that the failure was in re-
atty due to negligence on the part of
the directors In reference to this neg
Iigence on the part of the directors, Mr..
Bretdenthal said:
Il hold that some day the stockhold-
ers in banks which have failed will go
after the directors as responsible for
their losses, and firmly believe that
the law will uphold them in this
The morning session was concluded
with the report of delegates to the
American Bankers association by F.
G. Willard, P. L. BOnebrake and Grant
HOrnaday.
The following programme was car
ried out at the afternoon session:
Discussion-"Our Chattel Mortgage
Law" Led by Geo. H. Burr, St. John:
J. E. Morse PhiIlipsburg; Ell Browne,
Kansas City.
This law in Kansas permits a man
to mortgage chattels and then dispose
of them at the risk only of a INSIDE
meanOr It is conceded that this stat
ute should be amended to make such
an act (for value, over $20) felony,
punishable by imprisonment. Do you
Adress-Albert Watkins, attorney.
What is the Law on this Question in
Other States
Discussion-"Days of Grace Leaders
J. W. FOgler, LeavenwOrth; Frank
Hageman, Salina; A G. Jobes, Wich-
tia.
states have abolished days of grace. We |
should. too. Do you think SOP
Discussion-''P Published Statements
r. A Park, Jr., Atchison; Ell. Browne, |
n
National banks are required to pub
fish their calls but once, state banks |
four times. Would you like that made |
uniform?
The election of officers for the ensu-
ing year at tomorrow's session viii
close the convention. The following is |
the programme for the day:
Discussion-'Our Mortgage Law" |
Leaders, E. A. Kelly, Leavenworth; J. !
A Swenson, LindsbOrg; 7. B. Sweet, |
Topeka
Should the redemption clause, as it
now is be amended
DiscussiOn-"Our Collection Laws"
J. r. Mulvane. Topeka; J. Z. Morse,
PhiIlipsburg; c. F. Drake, Fort Scott. |
Can they be simplified?
Discusion-''H Holidays P. I. Bone
brake Topeka; Lee Clark, Kansas City. |
Missouri Illinois and other states, |
have made, by law, every Saturday a |
half holiday for banks in cities of first |
and second class. Do we want that?
Opening of question box.
Miscellaneous business.
Report of committees.
Election of officers
The visiting bankers who arrived this |
morning are:
G. A Guild, Junction City; S. NJ. |
Pierce, Junction City; G. F. PlOwman, |
Howard; E. H. Bun, st. John; E. S.