Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-24
ASKS FOR UNIFORM SYSTEM
Comptroller Eckels Desires State Banks Ia
Pull Together
STATE BANK STATISTICS HARD TO GET
Addresses n Communication on the
subject to the Governors of
the Various Stntcs-TcNt
of the Letter.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Mr. Eckels, the
comptroller OF the currency, has sent the fol-
lowing letter to the governors of all the
states, relative to state banks: 'I have the
honor to direct your attention to the act Of
congress passed in 1878 incorporated into
the revised statutes of the United States
as section 33, authorizing the comptroller Of
the currency to incorporate in his annual
report to congress in addition to specific In
formation relative to national banks state
ment exhibiting under appropriate heads the
resources and liabilities and condition of the
banks banking companies and savings banks
organized under the law of the several
states and territories. such information to be
obtained by the comptroller from the re-
ports by such banks banking companies and
savings banks to the legislatures or officers
OF the different states ana territories, and
where such reports can not ne obtained the
deficiency to be supplied from such other
authentic sources as may be available.
Since that date and in compliance with
this provision of law reports issued from this
bureau have contained all possible informa-
tiOn obtalnable in respect or the condition
OF banks and banking institutions. As you are
DOUBTLESS aware, there is no other officer of
the United States charged by law with the
duty OF collecting and publishing banking
statistics and Ii is therefore necessary thar
the comptroller shall have the required in
formation, and in order that the most salts
Iactoy results may be obtained that the
data may be compiled approximately. AT
least, from the reports of the same date Al
present there are a number of states which
make no provision for the submission of re-
ports of the banks of the state to any pub
llc officer; others which provide merely for
an annual report of resources and liabilities
OF incorporated banking institutions: ana
sun others which provide for the compila.
tion and publication of quite complete re-
turns, but too late In the year for use by
this bureau in the current report. cnrse
quently in such instances the information is
not available until about year after its
receipt
In order that uniformity in time and
manner OF reporting may be secured | have
the honor to suggest that the attention
of the legislature of your state be called
to the subject and that it be requested to
enact such legislation as will result in the
submission to designated public official
OF inc state OF reports OF condition by all
banks, banking institutions and private
banks doing business in your state at
the same dates on which national banks
are required to make their reports to the
comptroller Of the currency Provision
should also be made for the prompt tabula-
tion and publication of these returns
Il enclose for your information forms
for reports of condition and of dividends
and earnings, furnished to national banks
by this bureau, and suggest that similar
forms be adopted and used by state bal. rs
and bankers. copy of my last report
to congress, containing compilation of the
national bank act and digest of national
bank decisions together with other in
formation regarding foreign and domestic
systems of banking, has been addressed to
you.
II trust that at the earliest practicable
date you will give this matter careful CON
and make such specific recon-
to your legislature on the sub
ject as will result in the enactment of laws
the comptroller of the currency
may fully comply with the act of congress
hereinbefore quoted"