Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
District Bankers Association

Tomorrow night an important meet
ing of the District Bankers Associa-
ton, perhaps for the approval of the
Officers for the ensuing year will be
elected and two matters of vital i'm
portance will come up for considera-
ton, perhaps for the approval of the
members. One-the proposed uniform
note questions certainly desirable
proposition from the standpoint of all
concerned. 1t is proposed to make a
uniform note covering collateral loans
Borrowers desire as short a form as
possible and bankers should be salts
fled with it, provided it gives them all
desired and necessary protection. The
rights of all parties concerned should
be duly considered, and no action be
taken that has not the official o. X. OF
the counsel for the association.
The second question, of more real
financial Importance to bankers. is the
matter of discounting of notes. 1t
has never been the general habit here,
as it is elsewhere, to deduct interest
at the time of making the loan. save
In exceptional cases, and then only on
small amounts. While comparatively
small matter to each borrow, the ag-
Sregate profits to banks " Ill total con-
siderable sums. Banks will probably
enforce this action wherever it is prac-
ticable.
Honor n. n. Mckee.
H. Fl. Mckee of the National Capital
Bank and one of the active members
of the Bankers Association and the
Clearing House Association was hon
ored at the annual convention of the
American Bankers Association by cleo
ton as a member of the executive
council. AT the next convention he
will banquet with the council-perhaps
in another year with the Down and
outers.
Improvement Slow.
While there is better feeling in the
money market. and while business men
are more inclined to take a brighter
view of conditions. the Improvement is
slow and, perforce, very gradual.
American interests are seeking trade
development opportunities in every di-
| rection. but this new business must
necessarily come gradually. Our foreign
exports are. happily, growing, but the
imports. which should further fall off
in the increased consumption of Amer
lean made manufactures, are still too
large.
| The Inauguration of the federal re-
serve banking system will not make
any material change in conditions. 9TH
| er than to further ease the money
market.
| iHere are FOUR reasons why condl-
| tons improve SO slowly. Three are
dominated by the foreign situation
the condition of the cotton market, alb
solute stagnation in security circles
and the decrease in our foreign COM
merce- The fourth may be laid at the
door of whoever will take the respon-
sibility for overregulation and the
consequent condition of American
railroads.
| With these serious problems on hand
| even slight betterments should be well
| come.
New York city is the main sufferer
| but all cities alike suffer. Southern
cotton ports are also severe losers ir
| aggregate trade and commerce..
Last weeks clearings were $780,
ll6.17s. or 31.7 per cent less than fol
the corresponding week of last year.
No nation in the confederation Of
civilized states can maintain norma
prosperity when three-fourths of that
confederation is bent orr destruction
not on construction
New York city clearings lost 40.4 pei
cent compared with the corresponding
! week of 1913 and 1901 per cent al
compared with the iame week in 1912
| when there was more prosperity.
The total of all cities outside New
! York also show marked contraction