The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-03
EXTEND WELCOME
TO THE BANKERS
Continued from Fifth Page,

ElEned by a large D3Dk clerks
in two principal cities asking the COM
snittee to take up the matter of the for
Enation OF an institute.
There is no question mat the fc, nation
OF a chain of Bank Clerks Associations
throughout the United States is perfectly
feasible, and that, conducted on proper
zines, 1t viii do a vast amount of good,
that after the first year or so il can BIO
made entirely self-supporting. and that.
df It is not done by some sudl body as
The American Bankers Association. the
work viii so on as in Minneapolis. spon-
saneously, but IN spots, and no such gem
crai and Immediate good results can De
accomplished as by complete organiza-
Sion-
TO properly organize such an insti-
tutdon would necessi:ate the employment
of a man of first-class abilities, who
could devote his entire time to The work
as Secretary OF the Committee.
PLAN OF STUDY.
The work would be the preparation of
a plan OF study and meetings for the
winter This would be gotten out ID
consultation with practical bankers ana
educators. The secretary would theh
start in to organize one at time me
Bank Clerks Associations in every CITY.
In a given city at a certain time, ana IN
cooperation with the bank officers %
that city, q meeting of the clerks %ohtp
be called at which the committees secfs-
taTy would be present and the organization
In that city perfected. officers elected ana
plans adopted.
The plan would include monthly meet
tngs of the association Of that city, at
which the various subjects under study
would be discussed. papers read. debates
carried on, or lectures delivered from time
to time by local or outside talent. At the
end OF the season In the spring examine
lions would be held, and certificates OF
proficiency delivered To those members
entitled to them.
The course of study would be of the
most practical character connected with
everyday transactions of banking bust
ness, and for the first year would be essen
tally primary. The course could end, II
so decided, by d banquet tend Ted by the
local bankers TO the associated Clerks
Aside from every other consideration,
Ehe fraternal feeling which would be
fosteTed among the clerks and the esprit
and devotion engendered between emp oy-
ed and their employers should be Of great
advantage in carrying on business
Here then is a work Of the most prac-
Heal character squarels in line with the
aims of the American Bankers [AsSocia-
ton, entirely feasible, involving no large
outlay OF money, and calculated. if sue
cessfully conducted. TO do an amount Of
good which csInot he measured and which
will influence favorably the lives and for
runes Of hundreds OF young men who are
growing up in our banks They them
selves have appealed TO yon through your
committee for encourag Erle1t and g'u!d-
ance. II is a cry out Of Macedonia-wili
This great association, with its ample
means and its vast influence. take up this
work which means so much for the future
Success OF the bank clerks Of the country,
means so much for Improvement in the
work Of that splendid staff of young men
S.ffp
successful conduct of cur business?
These are the men behind The guns. VIII
you train them as they ask, so that their
work may be douI1y effective? Or viii
you neglect them. abandon them TO their
OWE efforts. and let the service drift along
half disciplined and yourselves take the
consequences of continuing to conduct
your campaign with an unframed army?
AJLTDES TO TOPEKA JOE.
The report of the Protecfiv.s Committee
sgas quite an exhaustive affair, showing
that more than $21.tT0 had been expended
during the past year IN efforts TO appre-
hend burglars, forgers and swindlers OF
banks in the ssociation. The report
makes the following reference to the cap
tu1,e and escape Of Joseph Rapley. alas
''Topeka joe"
Joseph Rapiey. alias Topeka Joe
one of the Burglars implicated in the
robbery OF the Peninsula Bank at WI
li61nSDlI-- NdS Ildtf-fi i,A ~ II t+lI IhiS
scene Of the robbery to Baltimore, Nd,
thence TO New York and thence 10 Port
land, Ore. where H. was arrested on
July o. 1869 by a. representative of our
Portland office, aided by the Portland.
Ore. Police Departral mt, and was returned
by lis TO williamsburg, where he was
fully identified as one of the men con-
cerned in this burglary. and was tal1 n
to Richmond for safe-keepinS. We re-
sgret to report that on September ,, 1900,
RapleS made his escape from the jail at
Richmond, where he was being held
pending trial. We are making all posi-
BILE efforts 10 recapture him.
-.Rapaey, although a young man, is
Skilled mechanic, and one OF the few
men IN the East who had sufficient ability
TO force his WHY into a so-called burglar
proof safe
UNIFORM LAWS.
The Committee on Uniform Laws sub
United 2 most Important report. II dealt
with matters OF discount and banking
charges. The following are extracts from
The report:
Senator Henderson, president OF the
American Bar Association, at its recent
annual meeting, delivered an address
which was a comprehensive review OF
many legal, legislative and political ques-
lions. He laia much emphasis upon the
necessity OF uniformity of law il the
the fact that in the year 1899 there Were
enacted four thousand eight hundred and
IhirIy-tour general, ana nine thousand
ahre., hundred and twenty-five SPECIAL or
private laws IN The States alone. Thou
sands of bills Tor laws We're introduced
which were not enacted. In such profuse
legislation Is there any wonder that there
should be q cry set up for a halt, and that
more attention be gwen TO coaifying tie
laws OF the different States so as 10
promote unifo.1n!ty
In 1886 the Committee. on Commercial
Law, instructed to that effect by the con-
ference of 1885, caused TO be grated an
Arericanizea form of the British act on
bills and notes, passed IN England in
ls2- This was done by Mr.. John ]. Craw'-
ford. of The New York CITY Bar who
published the first draft. with notes and
references, and along with the English
act. This draft was sent 10 all the COM
missioners on uniform laws and 10 many
of he authors and experts on that sub
ject. inviting criticisms and suggestions.
After receiving such criticisms and srs-
ppStiDnS. the on Commercial