The Washington times., 1912-08-04


The man who works by hits wits. to
whom honest toll does not bring suf-
ficient recompense, IL abroad in the
land seeking whom he may hold up.
Washington has received much of his
attention In the last few months, so
much. that there should be no more
con games put over on any banker,
merchant or broker In the Capital for
years to come. Every day the bank
official Is tempted to be lenient, to be
accommodating. in a matter that would
be an accommodation, but that might
prove to be a loss to his bank or to
himself.
The better rule for the bank empioye
to adopt would be to accommodate no
one unless everything connected with
the transaction was open and above
board, square and known as such by
the official.
In banks, but the depositor stands in
the gap between the bank and the
maker of the check; the indorser has
the amount to make good.
Cashing checks and drafts for a
| stranger is taking chance, and
chances are not to be taken in, the
banking business. This should be rule
lnv1Olate.
One Of the latest schemes to get the
butter OF a bank official was what might
be termed the fraternity dodge.
| A draft was presented and identified
| tion asked. Telephone communication
with two United States Senator's who
] happened to be out of town, did not
| furnish the necessary introduction and
guarantee, and then the fraternity, the
brotherhood of man, worked. A few
signs of the order, and brothers clasped
| n worthless
draft was paid and charged to the ac-
| count of an old, venerable and re-
spected order.
When James B. Forgan came to the
head of the First National Bank OF
! Chicago he at once instituted plan of
knowing something about every de-
positor of the institution. He obtained
| all information possible, and thereafter
| when a new account was opened, unless
| the record was quickly ascertained by
various methods of looking up the de-
positor. the place Of business, the busi-
| ness transacted, etc, SO that II plans
were being laid for cleanup he would
know Il before the matter was brought
| to a head and was ready to head 1t off.
The depositors' file Is bulky. but y
contains much of fact. and the card
system used gave the bank all informa-
tion as to standing, recommendation
! business, resources, not depending or
personal statements entirely.
| Clothes, appearance. insignia Of secret
! orders, address, etc, are necessary 1r
the shark who would get your money
by hook or crook. The other kind Of g
man Is looking for 1t with jimmy or al
! hand-out.
Merited promotion came to Z. Harvey
Dyer, for nearly seven years discount
| clerk of the American National Bank
when he was made assistant cashier
succeeding Z. 8. Wolfe. who Is now
| cashier OF the District National Mr.
Dyer's superiors speak In the highest
terms Of the services and loyalty of the
young man.
There will be a shortage of 6 $4,000
tons in the anthracite coal production
this year. Canada Is having trouble
filling orders and orders have been for
| warded to Wales for Welch anthracite
The shut down in April and May causet
the shortage. And the washington GA
Company will benefit by having 900
tons on hand ready for use.
The Fidelity Savings Compa n,
which recently opened on the corner
of Twelfth and G streets northwest
has met with excellent success, in in
The directors of the corporation arr
Henry p. Blair. George M. Bowers
Frank S. Bright. Henry B. Byrd, jr.
w. g. Carter. Arthur J. Morris. til,
founder of the system. Nathan B
Scott. Ellie Sheetz, William NJ. Sprigg
James Trimble. Luke c. Strider, Soutl
Trimble, and Pates Warren. H. II