Evening star., 1924-05-04
BY L. A. FLEMING.

BY L. A. FLEMING.
Local business conditions, as report
sd by special committees of the District
BANKERS Association, are not only
fs-irly encouraging from the volume of
trade, but they also seem to indicate
rlore or less Improvement III business
methods where changes were apparent
y necessary.
In no line of commercial effort has
there been greater change than III
the automotive industry, where the used
car problem. heretofore the bane Of the
trade, has been handled without gloves
and with results that promise well for
he future.
A committee headed by James H.
Baden, vice president OF the CONNER
cial National Bank, gives the "im-
proved handling used car question" i"
with the unreasonable weather as a rca-
son for a slowing UP in the automobile
business.
1t is pointed out that some dealers
will not consider the value Of used
ears in the purchase of new automo-
5fles, bur win undertake 70 obtain the
best price possible therefor for their
..tccs. b1t on more conservative basis
'.ot finding it profitable 10 do business
With ho2vy overhead expenses. wGcrc
the net gains are restricted through
.oSScs Oh used machines.
Real Estate and Building.
Howard Moran. vice president OF the
American Security and Trust Com
gany headed the special committee in
yestigatfng real estate and building
conditions.
His committee reported business for
1924 on par with 1923 and general
construction of apartments ano also in
small houses and stores both in the
city and in outlying sections.
Attention was called Ia the fact that
there is practically no vacant ground in
the city proper on which u build res
idences. hence all operations il this
line will go to the suburbs.
The attention of bankers was d:-
rected to the rapid development of
business centers at 18th street and Co
lumbia road and also AT 18th street and
Park road.
In closing its report the committee
said:
Ethics OF rca, estate men and build
ers have greatly improved said Mr.
Moran, and he also paid high corIpli-
,nent to the secretary OF the real estate.
board, who ''iS working strenuous!y ana
with evident success to build up this
organizat tiUn."
The committee promises that. in sub
Tnitting its final report OF the associa-
cion at its annual convention, that it
would submit statistics of rates charged
for loans in 1922 and 1923, that will re
futG Criticism that WaS cast again st
banks, individuals ana other o-ganiza-
lions as luaniLs agents Who we-e
more than liberal in their leans on real
estate
Retail Trade Srti<factory
John Poole IS chairman of the COM
mittce assigner to report on retail
t. trade. IN LcTdte1 reports retail trade
has been Of the most SatiStactUr, char
acter." There have been sorl.. lapscs.
due - climatic conditions. hu. iJ6oers
nave enjoyed Il most Successful season
and the situation il tn" retail trade has
reflected i steady, helpful growth, for
There has been an active demand
Tor building materials. wearables and
ioodStufiS.
Loans and discounts Of local banks
nov wcre stated as $4,000. .00C
greater than on April 3. 1929. and
$l,000.0O0 higher than on December
Bills payable and notes rediscount-
ed as of April 5, 1924, as compared
with December 81, 1923, show a re-
duction of 100000.
FurcticniEg SpIendidIy.
The District Bankers Association is
functloning these days as never be-
fore. Last Monday evenings meeting
vas the largest from the standpoint
of attendance ever held. Committees
assigned to duties made reports that
there is more harmony between banks
ard their officials. more close assO-
citation Of the personnel of banks. than
ever before.
Much OF the uncalled for Jealousy
between bankers has been eliminated
and they now are working together
for their mutual welfare.
The annual conventions, Of which
Eve have been held and the sixth is
scheduled for June As. have been
largely responsible for the more cor
dial relationship.
Before these gatherings bankers
knew each other in business relation
ship, and. unless this was unusually
close, they rarely met socially. The
conventions have brought new rela-
tionship, a large part of the time be-
ing given over at each convention to
the social amenities.
Under the presidency of Harry V.
Haynes, president of the Farmers
and Mechanics National Bank, the
fiscal year OF the association, now
nearing its close, has been especially
valuable to bankers.
Exchange OF Information.
Nearly every bank in the city has
Joined in an effort TO eliminate the
returned check evil. or at least to
reduce il to less serious proportions.
washington has always been noted
as Il return check city, partially for
the reason that the number of bank
depositors is so large compared with
he population and so many members
OF family, or at least relatives, may
be influenced by the elimination of
non-paying account.
Hundreds of checks are returned
20 merchants and others every day
FOR some reason or other. with mot
sufficient funds as the chief cause.
Then again there are thousands OF
checks presented through the clear
ing house, drawn on banks and re-
turned with mo deposit account in
this bank" These checks are always
dangerous, because they are repeated
again and again by the non.oepoSi-
tors until finally eliminated by pub
licity.
Bankers became so much impressed
with the necessity for putting STOP
20 these fraudulent checks That tneN
adopted n method OF exchanging IN
formation between pankS Teta' u'i'S
the makers of these documents.
Tbev very generally agreed 10 give
Tho information connected theTewllh
is to maker, endorser, etc:' anu " .ts ~. !
one bank receives one or tneSe uu
euch account" checks, all the mem
~ hanks in the association are in
Porrned in full regarding the matter
The maker of the bad check may
he brought up short by one Oh tnt
banks, all being posted as to the
nreyious attempt to secure the cash
Other Matters Considered.
other matters were considered a.
enc last meeting of the association.
prank Addison, vice president ol
tie Security Savings and CoInmetcia "a