The Washington herald., 1912-10-20
Nv I. A. FLEMING.

By i. A. FLEMING.
: The National Savings and Trust Com.
pany, owners OF the Lehman Bufiding,
adjoining their bank structure on the
east. have decided to raise nifty feet OF
the Lehman Building and to erect on the
site thereof a modern addition to their
bank building.
will be required to make the improve
uaents contemplated. The general style
OF architecture Of the new structure will
be in keeping with that Of the present
bank building. one Of the landmarks OF
that financial center.
1t Is not intended that the present
main entrance to the bank ofhces VIII
be changed in any way. but the en-
trance to the new building will be by
way of Fifteenth Street.
The plans contemplate taking sum
Client space from the two remaining stores
and on up. of the east fifty feet OF the
Lehman Building to make an entrance.
&C., into that structure entirely sepa-
rate from the bank building. This prop
erty will be held by the National Saw
ings and Trust Company until such time
as a suitable offer. meeting the corpora
tion's idea of the value of the site and
building, has been received.
This important building improvement
will not only give the National Savings
and Trust Company added room for the
transaction Of its business. but 1t offers
an opportunity to the various financial
associations and organizations to obtain
a home in the very heart Of the finan-
cial district. across the road from the
Treasury Department. Of easy access to
and where the Real Estate DIalers' or
ganization, the Chamber Of Commerce
and the Board of Trade might find
quarters in the heart Of their member
ship.
The Treasury Department, Commercial
National Bank, District National Bank.
American Security and Trust Company.
Citizens Savings Bank. Metropolitan
National Bank. Riggs National. Union
Trust Company. United States Trust
Company Washington and Southern
Bank. and Continental Trust Company
are all within a square Of the corner
of New York Avenue and Fifteenth
Street. as well as the Union Savings and
the National Savings and Trust Com
pany.
1t is an ideal location and one that
the committee representing the various
financial organizations ought to seriously
consider.
The banker in the small town is looked
up to as one OF the prominent people
of the community and is introduced as
"our bank president" He has to walk
straight, else he endangers the success
of his bank.
In the city, in the large town. the bank
er Is looked up to as man among men.
That he is entrusted with the funds OF
hundreds of people is a tribute to his
past record. man with a blasted
record could not establish himself in the
banking business with assurance of sue
cess.
Such being the case. the reputation of
a bank official is his greatest asset,
counting for the future, and the future
is but the measure of reward for the
past.
The bank official is regarded by the
investor, either the man with money
or the widow and the orphan. as a spe-
cial friend to whom they may go for
advice on business matters. 1t, there
fore. behooves the banker to be de-
cidedly careful that in advising invest
ments that he act with judgment and
with the same caution as if the money
being placed In this or that security
were his own.
A young lady in the employ of one
CT the trust companies-one of the two
business women in fiscal lines in the
District-says: Il have women coming in
investment to them. I am certain that
the real estate note. trust deed, or other
security that l recommend is safe and
sound. just the kind Of an investment
that / would make for my own mother,
and in this way I am building up
good business
This young woman has not been in
business as long as any one Of our
bankers. but she has the right idea and
Is intrusted by her superiOrs because
Of her inherent principles Of right
In these days many investors are ask
ing questions of the banking fraternity
Would il not be a good rule, a golden
rule. to follow this example; good for
your conscience and good for the future
building for the future?
The bank messengers scare turned
out to be a case of kitter or two
trying to protect a check en- route to
dishonor.
As the cashier Of the Metropolitan Ma
tional Bank says: There are a few peo-
PIE in Washington who think that a
check dishonored hurts their credit"
Yes; a few. but there are some that
fold opposite views.
Messrs. Cole & Swasey, expert bank
ers and auditors OF New York City, have
lust COmpleted an examination of tho