The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-17
DUTIES OF BANK DIRECTORS.
Synopsis Of a Paper Read by Hon
7. M. Henry Before the State
Bankers' Association,

Their Leading and Moral Responsible
ties"
Owing to the fact that the laws of
Mississippi contains SO few safeguards
for the protection Of the banks capital
or its deposits, it becomes important and
necessary that directors exercise tho
more waiehful care aud active, system
attic vigilance over its affairs, and at
least TO be fully and constantly informed
rs TO its general conditions, and particu,
larly whether the officers entrusted with
Its executive management are true to
their trust and are faithfully perform
ing their duty, co~uscientiously and with
an eye single to its general welfare, This
can only be assured when they keep
themselves in close touch with their
bank, its securities and, to a large cx.
tent, with its patrons. These the pat
o N have more than u reasonable right
to expect and to demand.
1t Is well recognized much OF the bust
ness Of the hank--in fact, the greater
portion-comes through the personal in-
iucncc of the directors, individually or
as n whole, and they co~rrespondingly
such patrons a moral duty that is hor.
dcring on criminality to neglect, or to
even perform in II half hearted, perfume
tory manner.
The directors should be the sentinel on
the watch tower, with enough interest in
and knowledge Of tho banks affairs to
at once detect the first approach Of dan.
ger, and with sufficient courage TO
promptly give the warning signal when
II Is seen approaching, or even threatens,
and by extra care and vigilance to pre-
vert even a possible approach, to such
mn extent at least as to endanger the
solvency of the institution. 1t IL u sol.
emn duty, and no one lightly viewing it
should be selected therefor.
Probity Of character and business dual.
iiications above Just criticism should
have more weight in their selection than
any possible amount Of stock directors
mny be willing and able TO subscribe for.
ans prin',pip, even ~neasnfaO'y recos'
",ns" anu h"neSuy hNea up 70, "''l IN
nu's .pr my "'N u satisfactory career
NV ,"r i'7Pv,s a"o 'u"la'''' " She
immunity W't"oui no mst'tullph
ity, and would not deserve it..
The last place for n drone or for a
loose jointcd man of business Is the di.
1tu;.,'",y nm IW' t"''p We ~ IAN.
u,'ns nIs 'niy ms oWn lul'lS, "nu ,hae
y, v",t"B il" as tne e'ss III olhei
anDtu.p'"1' pn' lno'e oi WIDOWS ahi
" r"'"o '"', lu."t' W 1n. 'i'"'t sae'eu
u''"l"''e' "'" oit.n ln'ina'hR ~ they
pySo''s' n'' eannot Nho" 'ney ure non,
u.2 W'''. WV Ju'te'pp'y naniieh
t Mh,'"iHus " r rt na.. isuRe VI u. 'snst
Nv WI" ui,' "esu.'s' Ainohg sn frSt
uut'e' '"oui" w tlst oi uIly m'ornl'hg
htm,'elt, "nu '"olu",V', % h'ep,,hR nun
sen ,ns1'nleas-no r"oNinR en- spe Presi-
~" d" '"''''' "' 'eSp'"7'"'o Jul every
'"t's
@, T,o'ie n'usuS' " VI" ,nltsa
sS"1'' ''e"n'iy peio',s that u poara
y, '.t'oiS Nour, my nan ""y ~ thair
"u'E tn'Is "ou'a po u sPeeuy cnuinR OF
SUN Slnluah anu sensa''ohHi 'aiIufes OF
punNa' 'o'seu ron 'he ihs,ae ny men
w." na'e s.o1l n'sn III 'neir eonillunh'
VI nnu hase ptcn .nonRhI " pc moaeis
~ "opes,y "na rustMo''llnss nL.nls
:, 'o n'Po' u,'e ',uui y elateh VI 'sHu'
iar A"nl,'asiph y row "uch no'r 10 roe
" V'sU,"e u .he to'", "p1eiis' pl suen
ui'ee'o, snou'u Wv what thc name
nnp'i"u9-" uhe'.oI, III ,a1', "hu one VINO
~ "ni,ns 70 w Go1.'o,,eu ny lnc WIZ 81
enr m'"Jyl''y, anu ip' .he Interest % the
MnUm. no S9ouiu y. isast ass'st III con-
',i"g Wy unpe'i"R tne pehet"i anai.s
igrnrart 81 H. con1;,inus yan riaIa
49, ~ " iHi~ih go