The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-12
REPORT OF SECRETARY
E. J. BUCK MAKES STATEMENT IT.
 BANKERS,
Membership of the Association Has Increased Fifty Per Cent and Finances Are in Good
 Condition.

The annual report of E. J. Buck. of Mobile. Secretary and Treasurer of the Alabama Bankers Association submitted at the session yesterday afternoon show ed the organization to be in fine condi- ton.
 The membership Is growing and there is . comfortable balance in the treasury.
 The report of the Secretary and Treasu- Ter was as follows:
 To the President and Members of the Alabama Bankers Association: Gentlemen-I beg to submit herewith report as Secretary of your Association The meeting of the Alabama Bankers' Association at Birmingham last May was one of the most successful. in attend ance and enthusiasm that we have ever had. and the increase of membership dur ing the past year. of more than 50 per cent. is one of the direct results of that enthusiasm and renewed interest on the part of the bankers throughout the | State. 4~f As near as I can arrive at the statistics. there gre 2i5 banks and banking institu- tons, under which head include Nation al Banks. State Banks. Trust Companies and Private Banks and Bankers. Of this number, ilfty-three are National Banks, and l62 State and private institu- | tions. At Our last meeting we had a | membership of seventy. there being twenty-two national banks and forty | eight State and private banks It Is | with much pleasure that have reported | as much increased membership at the present time. The Alabama Bankers | Association is l08 strong. thirty-one | national banks and seventy-seven State | banks and private bankers. This is e l growth of over 30 per cent from our mem | bership last year. All have paid their | dues except five. Three of the live be- | ing lost by consolidation with other in- | stitutions, and two having gone out of l business This makes net growth of | new members of forty-three. Continued effort on the part of officers and all | other members will add still further to l the membership of the Association and l its influence and benefit in every way. A handsome Autographed certificate of | membership was sent each member of the Association upon payment of their dues. and 1t is urged that these be framed and placed in prominent place in each l bank.
 The value of membership in this Asso- ciation should be made more patent to all bankers, so as to keep our present mem | bers, and get new ones. To this end would submit for your careful attention 6 few suggestions.
 A directory, giving the names of all the members of the Association. should bs prepared and copy sent each member and they asked to give other members preference in matters of business in theiI respective territories.
 Another suggestion is, that any bank that has the misfortune @d,ave fraudu- lent checks. forgeries, etc, passed through tFieir bank. should promptly re- I ~~l.ra description of the parties and the nature of their 'conhdence game" so that each member throughout the State can be promptly advised and thus be saved from like experience. and add to the chances of arresting the forgers. My observa- ton leads me to believe that outside of losses on loans. which the Association, of course, cannot be of any assistance in preventing. the next danger to the bank lies in bogus checks and draft swindlers, and banks dealing with such people with out sufficient Identification. If the fact is brought home to them by the notice that some other members in the State have been imposed on, It will make them more careful. Eternal vigilance" Is the | price of safety fin this respect.
 At our last meeting there was some discussion among members in regard to the bank money order proposition for the individual State Association. but that matter having been taken up by the American Bankers Association. and they having adopted plan, I deem 1t. that fhis has passed out of the hands of the | State Association.
 During our last Legislature several members of our Association did splendid work, and gave unstintingly and with | out compensation. their time and atten- ton to all the legislation proposed affect | ing banking interests and their work as- sisted in preventing measures detrimental to banking interests being passed
 The requirements of the constitution, that banking department be establish- ed, was carried into effect and A con servative. vet thorough banking depart | ment law is now on our statute books and we trust that its workings will be | a benefit to the entire banking interests. Tn conclusion, I beg to sta te that l feel that have not done my duty in re- gard to the Association, nor done the | work that should in keeping up the life and interest that is so necessary to make 1 the Association success My banking duties have increased so. that feel that | cannot give 1t as much attention as the Association demands. and respect fully ask that some one he selected who can devote more time. and do the work better than I. appreciate the compli- | mept corfered upon me in my reelection at the last meeting. and wish that could feel differently in I'd to this matter. Respectfully submitted.
 E. T Buck Secretary As treasurer Mfr. Buck made this financial statement:
 l Receipts.
 By cash on hand from last report 57098 1 By annual dues. as shown by list
 hereto attached (10s members). 7s0 co ' Total receipts.... .. e. Q. .. ....$3 $50. ss