The age-herald., 1897-08-17
A WONDERFUL INCREASE
In Membership Indicates the Gathering
 to Be Unusually Large.
INTERESTING PAPERS TO BE READ
Embracing One From Comptroller of the Cur rency, James H. EckeIs, and Another From John p. Branch, of Richmond
 -Banquetted Last Night.

-Banquetted Last Night.
 Detroit, Mich, Aug. 16.-The twenty third annual meeting of the American Bankers association which opens in this city tomorrow promises to be the largest attended in the history of that body. More than 100 delegates have already ar rived and Secretary Branch estimates that 1000 or more will be present at the opening session. The membership of the association is now 2,1S2. it having in- creased nearly 100 per cent in the last year. There will be several important papers read. John P. Branch, president of the Merchants National Bank, Rich mond, Va, will read a paper on "What change is needed with respect to the cur rency?"
 Interesting discussions will follow as the time is most opportune.
 Hon. James H. Eckles. comptroller of the currency, will deliver an address on a practical banking topic. Myron T. Herrick, of Cleveland, will open the dis cussion on savings banks
 At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the bankers will assemble at the Detroit Opera House.
 Governor Pingree will welcome them on the part of the state and George H. Russell will present the welcome of the clearing house committee of Detroit. President Lowry will respond to all these programme for the day is as follows:
 Annual report by Secretary James R. Branch and Treasurer William R. Por- ter.
 Report of auditing and protective com missioner.
 Report of executive council.
 Report of executive committee on uni- form laws and the common bureau of education.
 Meeting of delegates from the states and territories to choose a list of names from which the nominating committee shall be selected by the president.
 At 8 o'clock D. m. reception will be rendered the visiting bankers and their wives at the Detroit club.
 The executive committee of the asso- citation was dined at the Detroit club to- night by George H. Russell, president of the State Savings bank, of this city. Those present included: Robert J. Low yy lanta. Ga.; Joseph Hendy, New York; Alva H. Trowbridge, chairman of the ex- ecutive committee, New York; William H. Porter, vice-president, New York James B. Branch, secretary, New York, and about fifteen or twenty others.
 At a late hour tonight the meeting which followed the banquet was still in session and no information was avail able. It Is understood that two amend ments to the constitution submitted by Hon. Bradford Rhodes. publisher of the Bankers Magazine. New York, were under discussion.
 One of them provides for larger rep resentation of the State Bankers asso- ciations in the national executive com mittee of the national union.
 There is now provisions for the election of such members each year. while the proposed amendment is for five. The other proposed amendment is to provide for the nomination of the officers of the association in the manner usually ob- served in representative bodies. At pres ent the president, appoints nominating committee of five or seven delegates to select candidate for presidena one for