Evening star., 1897-07-28
LEAGUE OF HOME BUILDERS
What Has Been Accomplished by Building
Associations Past Year.
President Says It Was q MOrtea9e
Creating Rather Than Home
building Period.

DETROIT, Mich, July S.-The United
States League of Building and Loan Asso-
Citations opened its fifth annual meeting to-
day in the city council chamber, with q
fair attendance. representing all the states,
about twenty In number. which have state
leagues of local building associations. Presi-
dent Michael j. Brown of Phiiad adelphia call
ed the delegates to order and introduced
Mayor Maybury. who welcomed the league
to the city, and acclaimed Detroit as city
of beautiful homes, more of which, he said,
were owned by their occupants than in any
other city in the country. "a mans home
indicates his character" said he. whether
it be a palace or hut. Men are led into
habits of thrift and influenced to build and
own their homes by the system which your
league represents"
President Brown appointed committee
on credentials, with Irving B. Fich of
Michigan, chairman. and a committee on
resolutions, with Judge Seymour Dexter OF
New York. chairman. President Brown
then delivered his annual address.
President Browns Address.
President Brown alluded to the organiZa-
tion of the league a year prior to the
worlds congress of building and loan asso-
Citations at Chicago, in '93, and rec allied the
motto then suggested by President Dexter:
The American home, the safeguard Of
American liberties" which motto had been
adopted by all the leagues of the United
States. The president quoted statement
of VIM. George Jordan, that Uncle Sans
people have II, ,4S3318 dwelling houses,
which would make a double avenue reach
ing round the globe, with considerable to
spare.
President Brown gave lengthy review
of the more salient features connected with
Of I,,ill md lnan neia
tions from their inception ana of the mu-
tual benefits derived from their operations.
Referring to the question of u central bu-
reau of information as discussed at the
last annual meeting in Philadelphia, the
president said that tn, difficulty of secur-
ing necessary financial support would rem
der the scheme impracticable.
Mortgage Creating Period.
He said that the past year had not been
a home building, but rather a mortgage
creating period. in which nearly all the
people had a hard struggle. Wage earn
ers of the land had sacrificed during the
last few years 5000, 600 900, or ten times as
much as the assets Of all the building So
cieties of the United States. I'VE have
lived" said he, 'off of those who had saw
ings to spend and homes to mortgage. and
the government has gone in debt by issu-
ing bonds to raise money, all of which is
charged against the account of the people
to be raid gradually.
my advice to any young man desiring
to enter trade would be to urge him to en-
bark in a business that low tariffs and
free trade can injure only indirectly, to
enter a trade that enjoys natural protec-
ton and tf at is not dependent upon writ
ten law for protection. I believe that times
will improve rapidly as Americans Sc
cure the work at home that is now being
done abroad.
The president urged that building asso-
.iot A,Nnn nnlxy eli nj a
tive and economical methods, and aid In
all matters calculated to help the wage
Garner in saving money and purchasing
homes.
Report Of the Secretary.
The secretary H. F. Cellarius of Cincin
natl, presented a comprehensive annual re-
port. 1t showed that the total assets of
the local building and loan associations of
the United States now amount to $685.
3SS Cos, an increase of SIS, s,760 $50 during the
past year. The total number Of local asso-
Citations in the several states is 4, ,776 their
membership numbers 61O, 800; an increase
of 65,171 members during the year. The
highest proportionate gains were made in
the eastern and central states. where build
iIg association interests are greatest, and
the states showing a loss in assets all
located west of the Mississippi river. ex-
cepting the states Of Illinois and Tennes-
see.
for securing exemption for building asso-
Citations from the provision of the new
tariff bill, which proposed federal tax of
) cents on each 800 share of stock issued
by any corporation, with an additional tax
of 2 cents for each share transferred.
Speeches were made by j. Warren Bailey
Of Somervine, Mass, and Addison B. Burk
of the Philadelphia Public Register.
The delegates then listened fe few re-
marks from United States Senator Foraker
of Ohio. WHO was escorted into the hall
and introduced an able friend CT the
building and Ian interests III the Senate
where he succeeded in having building
associations exempted from the PROPOSE
ton for stamp tax upon stock Of cor
porations.
Senator Foraker spoke of building as
s4clatiens as prominent factors in bringing
about the prosperity that everybody Is ex-
pecting. They come closer to the people,
fort to save. He closed with a prediction
Of the speedy return of prosperity under
the operation Of the new tariff bill Sena-
tor Foraker was heartily appla uded.
Were Bricks Brought From EnRlands
To the Ell,or of The Evening Star:
/ desire to obtain some Information from
those among your great army of readers
who arc moro or less interested In local
history.
The facts are thus: In almost every
hamlet and town. all along tlde-water Eir-
ginia AMI Maryland the curious deliver
into the things OF the past will find an
ancient brick structure or two built ac-