The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-23
SAVANNAH THE PLACE FOR IT.
GROUNDS FOR ESTABLISHING 4 SUB
TREASURY HERE.

Charleston Wants It. Too-Savan-
nah's Banking Capital Nearly
Double That Of CharIeston-Mayor
Myers Corrects a Statement 10 the
COntrary-Savannah stands Third
on the Clearing House List for
Southern CitIes-Continued Effort
Necessary TO Obtain the Prize.
Mayor Myers is the only member ~ the
Savannah delegation which appeared before
the ways and means committee Of con-
gress in behalf OF sub-treasury az Sa-
vannah. who was in the city yesterday.
Capt. ". vs.. Williamson and AR r. +.
Burden are expected back this morning.
Capt. d. g. Purse has Eone GA 10 Chicago,
where he is attending the meeting of the
National Manufacturers Association,
which is discussing the extension Of west
ern trade with the south and with the
South American states. The association
will be in session three days.
The ways and means committee was
evidently favorably impressed with our
arguments" Mayor Myers says. and II
that was all that is necessary we should
have the sub-treasury tomorrow. There
are so many things, however. demanding
the attention Of the ways and means COM
mittee and so many varied interests de-
manding government favors for the diff
ferent sections Of the country that unless
the matter is kept before the committee
IL is likely to be lost sight Of There is no
doubt that Col. Lester will do his full
dutytin the matter. Savannah has two
strong friends on the committee in Messrs.
Crisp and Turner, whose influence will
count for great deal. They have as
sured US of their hearty support. They
Will be actuated not only by friendship
10 Savannah, but also by the interests Of
their respective districts. The districts
represented by these gentlemen are both
penetrated by rail lines leading directly
from Savannah, so that the benefits result
ing from the establishment of a sub-treas-
ury here would accrue directly to them.
We have also received offers of help from
many sources. and / have little doubt that
We shall be successful in our effort. We
cannot afford to take this for granted,
however, but must continue to urge the
matter in every way possible"
As has been announced, Charleston has
also gone into the fight for a sub-treas-
ury. There was "A sub-trcaSury in Charles
ton once, but il was discontinued twenty
years ago. Because they had a sub-treas-
ury once the CharlestOnians seem TO
one is to be established in this section.
and they are not going TO let Savannah
get II, If they can help themselves. Fol-
lowing the cue set them by Savannah, they
have also sent a delegation on to Wash
ingtOn TO appear before the ways and
means committee. The hearing was
granted at the request Of Congressman
McLaurin Of South Carolina, who was
present at the hearing given the Savau-
nah delegation, and who was inclined to
Savannahians.
THE Charleston News and Courier OF
yesterday contained lengthy article on
this subject, in which any direct allusiOn
TO Savannah's effort was carefully avoid
ed. The only mention of Savannah Is
contained in the assertion that Charles
ton for one thing has nearly twice as
large a banking capital as Savannah. +"
1t would have been better for Charles
ton If that statement had not been made
The attention Of Mayor Myers was called
TO It, and he at once proceeded TO look
up the figures. The American banker an
undoubted authority in commercial cir
Charleston banks to be 81, 7S5. 900, and their
surplus S726 900. The same authority shows
that the total capital of the Savannah
banks to be S2S41,50O, and the surplus 1925,
COO This doesn't look as if Charleston
had twice the banking capital of Savan-
nah, but Just the opposite. The Charles
ton total includes several savings banks
while Savannah has only two of this
class
Charleston has no clearing house, and
ness transacted by the two cities can
be made. Savannah stands third on the
list of southern cities in the clearing
house reports, Baltimore being first and
New Orleans second. The total clearings
by the Savannah clearing house for the
year lS94-s5, ending September last. We're
S1l8 lS, 10, an increase from S102 0S7 115 81
for the previous year. which was an in
crease from $S3,99l 622.2S for the year be-
fore.
THE clearing house figures are the best
indications of the amount of business
transacted in a city" said Mayor Myers
If Charleston cannot produce these let
her produce the figures of her business
in commercial lines. We will compare
with her That is the real point at issue
The city which can show the largest
amount of commercial business is the one
which is entitled to the sub-treasury."
The News and Courier makes the state
ment that the Charleston sub-treasury
was discontinued in 1876, not because of
a lack of business, but because the South
Carolina congressman of that day did
not see to 1t that the proper appropria-
tions were made for its maintenance. The
Savannah delegation intimated otherwise
when this question was put to them be-
fore the ways and means committee.