The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-05
BRANCHES OF BANKS
WILL BE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO
BANKERS CONVENTION.
CONGRESSMAN WILL SPEAK.
HILL OF CONNECTICUT AND row.
LER OF NEW JERSEY.

Distinguished Financiers of Con-
Sress Have Been Secured as Speak
ers for the COnventiOn-Congre
man Fowler Is Chairman of the
Committee on Banking and Cur
rency-Bankers VIII Be Asked to
Come to Savannah in Advance of
the Convention for a Discussion of
a System of Branch Bnnks-Savan-
nah Bankers Not in Favor of
Branch Banks.
Hon. Ebenezer ]. Hill, congressman
from Connecticut, and Hon. Charles
N. Fowler, congressman from New
Jersey, will address the interstate con-
Vention of bankers that will assemble
in Savannah on June II. Both of these
distinguished gentlemen are profound
students and magnetic orators. Their
addresses will be very instructive and
will afford rare enjoyment to the as
Sembled bankers.
Mr.. Fowler and Mr.. Hill are both on
the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency, the former being the chairman.
He is well known as an advocate of a
system of branch banking, and both
he and Mr. Hill have achieved reputa-
lions as financiers.
1t is expected that both Mr.. Fowler
and Mr.. Hill will arrive here prior
to the convention. Notices to this eff
feet will be sent out among the mem
bers of the bankers associations of
Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia,
which are to join in the interstate
convention. The object of the notices
will be to secure the attendance of
the members the day before the con-
vention opens, in order that the con-
gressmen may then discuss banking
and financial matters with them.
One subject that will be discussed
with interest is that of branch banks.
There has not, as yet, been very mucn
talk among Savannah bankers of this
system, and they are not as familiar
with it as they would like to be. The
same is probably true of the bankers
throughout the three states that are
to combine for the convention, and the
opportunity to "Sit at the feet of Ga
4AiciACA Win Tic COllS CSolllC11 III tic
role of the Biblical character, will
doubtless be welcomed.
Savannah bankers" said Capt. Hen
ry Blum, president of the Germania
Bank, yesterday, do not know very
much about branch banking. They will
be glad to hear Mr.. Fowler discuss it.
My knowledge of the subject is very
limited, but what little I do know does
not make me an advocate of the sys-
tenn. 1 do not consider that it is quite
possible
Mr.. H. A. Crane, vice president of
the Southern Bank, was another who
admitted that he was not altogether
familiar with the subject of branch
banking. ut is a question" said Mr.
Crane, that has not been very wide
ly discussed in Savannah. I expect
that the bankers would very gladly
listen to such an exposition of the
scheme as Mr. Fowler is able to make
1 scarcely think. however, that it is a
system that would appeal to Savannah
banks, for they would be put out of
business, as 1 take it, by the estab-
lishment of New York banks. Savan-
nah banks could not afford to lend
money upon rates as low as the New
York banks. so it is apparent that our
banks could not cope with those of
the North"
Minister WI Ting Fang was invited
to attend the convention and address
the bankers, but declined with regret,
owing to other engagements interfer
ing. This was feared, but it was,
nevertheless, a poignant regret for the
committee that had invited him. The
distinguished Chinaman is always well
coined, and any assembly upon which
he is in attendance receives wide adj
vertisement and has its sessions given
additional popularity.
Subcommittee of the Savannah
Clearing Association are perfecting the
arrangements for the convention,
which will be held at the theater. The
Morning News has already published
the programme. 1t is expected that
there will be about 300 bankers in at
tendance.