The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-14
RlDGELY TO BANKERS.
Says the Aldrich Bill as Finally
Amended Is Crude

Kansas City. May 14-"The Aldrich
Dill, as finally amended and patched
up, is a crude attempt to add an emer-
gency circulation to the present bond
secured notes"
William B. Ridgely, former comptrol-
Ter of the currency under the present
Roosevelt administration; now presi-
dent of the National Bank of Com
merce in Kansas City, offered this
criticism Of the Aldrich measure in an
address before the Kansas bankers at
their annua! convention in Kansas
City, Kan. He was speaking on 1.-The
Central Bank Idea" s-s..-..-.s.-
Mr.. Ridgely was a prominent figure
in the sessions Of the Kansas conven-
ton, and while many questions of
finance and banking were under con-
sideration, he was often called to his
feet to answer question or to explain
something to an inquisitive banker.
Mr.. Ridgely's address was one of the
important features of the convention,
because of the fact that it touched
upon live subject. 1t was listened to
by an audience that filled the auditor
ium.
I'm the attempts to find legislative
remedy for existing conditions, two
bills have been brought forward to
congress- he said at the outset. He
referred to the Aldrich bill, reported by
the house committee on banking and
currency. He declared that the Aldrich
bill had been urged as a necessary
emergency measure, which would bring
about a return of confidence and sat-
isfy the demand of the people that
something should be done. s-e
After further explanation of its pro-
! visions, he said that it was expected
that the Vreeland bill finally will in
clude provision for a commission to
consider the whole banking and cur
rency question. "Such a commission
IaiG
study the question, and there is GER
tainly good ground for hope that, after
the general discussion we have had, the
result of the deliberations of such a
commission will be general revision
and great Improvement of our whole
| system on a scientific and sound basis.
This is a matter of more Importance
to the people at large and business men
in general than it is to the banker.
The American people are entitled to
the best system of finance which can
be devised, and should never be con-
tented until such system is adopted. y
Home Made Currency was the title
Of paper in which p. I. Bonebrake,
vice president of the Central National
Bank of Topeka, discussed the success
Of the clearing house certificates used
during the financial trouble. Judge
Charles E. Lobdell of Larned spoke on
Financial Parodies," Thomas Cooke
treasurer of the Fidelity Trust COM
pany in Kansas City, talked of the ex-
press money order and Harold T.
Chase Of Topeka spoke on Publicity
i the Plutocrats and the Panic" "a
Study in Bank Investments" was the
subject of a quiz under the leadership
| of c.. L. Brokaw of Kansas City. Kan
Other addresses were made by w. A
Johnston, associate justice of the Kan
sas supreme court, and James T. Brad
| ley, national bank examiner.
| A reception to the Kansas bankers
and their wives was held in the audi
| forum after the convention program
| The Kansas board Of trade also gave 6
| smoker for visiting bankers at its
| headquarters.