Evening star., 1922-01-05
GREAT HOPES ON
ECONOMIC PARLEY
Local Banker Expresses
Views on Regaining Ameri-
can Trade.

| trade prestige. prominent local
] banker said today: 1.-The reasons for
| the decline in our export trade are
j familiar enough-the indifference of
| manufacturers to export markets
| during 1919-1920. when temporary
| shortage of goods at home offered a
| ready outlet for our surplus capaci-
| ties; the decline of foreign cur
rencies in our exchange market.
| which had the effect of adding a
heavy surcharge to our already high
| export prices: our, inability to launch
a constructive system for extending
credits to foreign buyers, due to the
general distrust in this country of
the stability of currencies and con-
ditions abroad; the invasion of world
markets by countries whose currency
depreciation enabled them to under
sell us; and, finally, the continued
high prices of our manufactured
goods because of the infieXibility of
our labor costs.
, This, of course. is all retrospect.
, For the future great hopes are being
built on the conference on limitation
of armament. or rather on the econ
omic conference which is expected to
follow, and on the effect it will have
on the balancing of budgets abroad.
on the adjustment of international
debts and on the stabiliZation of for
eign exchange.
Meanwhile the American manu-
facturer, with an excess capacity on
his hands, is again probing foreign
trade possibilities with an earnest
ness which suggests the ultimate res
toration of our outgoing commerce
| to place in more fitting sequel TO
| the commanding position which it
| held in the world trade at the end
| of the war"
! Forum Meetings to Start.
| Following the practice of chapters
in the larger cities of the country.
| the Washington Chapter of the Amer
lean Institute of Banking will inau-
gurate a series of forum meetings
to be held monthly, according to an
! announcement made today, by W. j
| Waller Of the American National
/ Bank. president of the local organi-
| ia ton.
The first of these meetings will be
held at the Harrington Hotel next
| Thursday evening at els o'clock. when
| around the dipner table graduates of the
chapter and officers of local banks will
discuss changes of income tax as af
fecting financial Institutions
Mr.. Waller said that owing b limited
| space only forty seats will be procur-
a BILE, and that those wishing TO secure
accommodations should communicate
! with Francis G. Addison. jr.. vice presi-
| dent of the Security Savings and Com
| mercal Bank. 9th and G. streets, before
| Tuesday of next week.
| Personal.
George o. Watson, president Of the
| Liberty National Bank, is spending a
few days in New York city.
! Lecture Today.
According to the schedule arranged
| for the second school Of application. sup
ply officers, Navy Department. Stanton
! c. Peelle, will lecture before the class
take as his theme Special Law Prob
lems.''
Tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock
| George NJ. Mckee OF the Riggs National
| Bank will address the class on "For-
| eign Exchange-Letters of Credit and
| Travellers Checks
DoiIines Party Leave.
| A delegation of Washington members
| of the r. L. Dollings Company, invest
| ment brokers of Philadelphia, and other
| large cities. headed by Charles H.
| Pietsch. District of Columbia manager.
| left today for indianapolis TO attend the
annual Century Club meeting OF the or
| ganiZatioa.
The company's statesmen from all
T, parts of the country will attend the
| meeting. The 1928 meeting of the
club is to be held here. according to
L
Included in the party were r. J.
| Quinn. G. A. Birch. p r. Waters. G.
! W. Etchison. Charles f. Beane and
| Frank L. Hurd.
A. !. B. Banquet.
| Plans for the annual banquet of the
| local chapter of the American Insti-
! tute of Banking, to be held at the
New Willard Hotel, February 25, are
already beginning to be formulated,
| according to officials of the organi-
zation.
/ w A. Dexter, vice president of the
| local chapter. has been designated to
! the dinner committee, and, according
I to him, the attendance is expected to
4 be in excess of 500.
Others to have active part in the
| arrangements are: c. Fl. Taylor. Riggs
| National Bank chairman of the en-
| tertainment committee; Harry V.
\ HAYNES president of the Farmers and
| Mechanics National Bank of George
| town chairman of committee on
/ speakers: Norman E. Towson. Wash
| ington Loan and Trust Company. will
! supervise the decorating. and Fran
els G. Addison. jr. vice president OF
| the Security, Savings and Commerclal
| Bank will act as chairman OF the
seating committee.
! w. II. Burnside of the Farmers and
Mechanics Bank will serve as secre-
| tary to the dinner committee, while
! J. {. Chaney of the Commercial Ma
| tional Bank will act as treasurer.