The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-28
BANKING LAWS OF THE STATE.
GOV. ATKINSON APPOINTS CON-
MISSION TO EXAMINE THEM.

The Commissioners to submit Re-
port Recommending Such NOdia-
cations rs VIII Make Them BETTER
suited 10 the Business Interests OF
the state-H. 4. Crane, W. :. WI
than and Representatives Calvin
and Swift and senator t. ID. stew
art the Gentlemen Selected for
Commissioners.
Atlanta, Dec. 27.-Acting under the pro-
visions of the Calvin resolution passed at
the recent session of the legislature, Gov.
Atkinson to-day appointed a commission
of five well-known citizens of the state 10
examine into the condition of the banking
laws with view TO having them so modi-
fed as TO make them better suited to the
business interests OF the state.
The commission was first suggested by
the governor in his annual message in con-
sequence of the repeated complaints
against existing laws. Pursuant to his
suggestion Mr. Calvin of Richmond intro
duced the resolution which provided for a
commission of five, two members of the
last House, one member of the Senate, and
two practical bankers. The gentlemen nam
ed by the governor from the legislature are
Representatives Calvin OF Augusta and
Swift of Elberton, and Senator T. D.
Stewart. The bankers named are II. a.
Crane of Savannah and ". S. Witham of
Atlanta
All five are practical business men and
will bring TO the task in hand wide eX
perence in banking and commerce. 1t
will be their duty to examine all the laws
bearing upon the subject of banking and
to investigate their practical application
to the banks. and then formulate a re-
port to be presented to the legislature al
its next meeting.
Those who are i'm a position to be wei
posted say that there is no question that
some radical changes are necessary in the
banking laws. and they look upon the
work of the commission named to-day
with deep interest. Last summer there
was a good deal of shakiness felt among
banks all over the state, with the eXcep-
ton of those in Savannah, which were
highly complimented by him, on account
of certain disclosures made by the inves-
legations of the state bank examiner. His
discoveries, if prompt cooperation had not
been given him, might have brought on a
disastrous panic. Examiner Speer, now
ever, recognized the fault was more with
the laws than with the management of
the banks affected and he accordingly set
making some valuable recommends lions
in his annual report and further placing
the situation before the governor, who act
ed by making suggestions which led 20
the creation of the commission named to-
Gay.
When Mr.. Crane was asked about his |
appointment by the governor on the com
mission by a representative of the Morn |
ing News he was greatly surprised. It
was the first he had heard of it,
Il must say the appointment is a great |
surprise to me-" Mr.. Crane said. Il never |
expected anything of the kind. I was |
a member of the committee from the |
Georgia State Bankers Association, which |
called upon the governor and asked him |
10 appoint a commission for the purpose !
Of looking after the banking laws of the |
state, as stated, but nothing was ever |
farther from my mind than the idea OF |
being appointed myself a member of that |
commission.
"No, cannot say what l shall do about |
it yet. I have had no official notice of |
the appointment and have. as yet, had |
no chance to give the matter any consid-
Grafton. / cannot tell, therefore, whether
will be able to undertake the work"