Evening star., 1926-11-27
II. G. DONALDSON CELEBRATING
HIS 5Oth BIRTHDAY TODAY
President of Commercial Ma
tional Bank Is Receiving
Congratulations.
Deeply Interested in Legal
Profession, But Devotes
Time to Banking.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

X. (iOlOSn DOIldluSOn, picSAociA@ VI
the Commercial National Bank and
chairman Of the board of directors OF
the Mount Vernon Savings Bank, is
so years old today.
He tried this morning to keep MS
birthday very quiet. but flowers on
his desk. placed there by the bank
EMPLOYEES. showed him that the Sc
cret was out. Soon congratulations
were pouring in upon him from the
Commercial staff and from a host or
outsiders and he discovered tnat
reaching the half-Century marx Is
nothing short of an event.
Born in this city in 1875, he began
his active career at the age OF lo years
in a, merChantile house. After gong
through the graded schools ne WORKED
his way through Business HlGh
School. graduating when only ~ WIN
high honors. Having leaning
toward law, he entered the George
town Law School, finished the course
in 1895 and entered the Law ONCE OF
Charles c. and Lyman l.. Cole walt
ing to "age" sufficiently to become
member of the bar.
Took Up Law Before Banking.
r.
with LYMAN l.. Cole and subsequent
lv formed a. partnership with Wade
II Ellis. formerly attorney general VI
Ohio. In 1919 the lawyer entered
nartnership with the late Col. Cnarles
{, Tucker. While he Is still deepiy
interested in law and is a memoer VI
tha firm OF Donaldson & Johnson. he
devotes the major part OF his time u
bankinc. He has displayed much fore'
Thought in developing the banklns
facilities of the Capital and was tne
chief organizer of the Mount vernon
Savings Bank. He has Deen al tne
head of the Commercial Nat!ohdi W
the mast six years. During ms cdleel
at the bar he was counsel III l,lAils
civil and criminal cases altnoush ne
early decided to speclaIlze@ @ hn ode -
norate and business law. ms iilnue a|ou
tha fra nsition into banking very slin
pie. ~ .. fo,. c,,,r
life vet Mr.. Donaldson is hlgh up ~
Masonry and is q member OF tae
BOARD of Trade, Racquet, Coiuiiip1o 1a
and Congressional Country Cluos; Ia1
takes a broad interest in educauonal
and civic affairs and has been espe
c;allv interested in the deveioprneIi'
Of the sixteenth street extension. ny
hank er-laWyer iS married. nd'4HS -"
daughters and son VINO slduusl.. =
from Williams College last June a,lu
has entered the banking lelu lin. ul
his fathers supervision. ~ ,noess
10 renuest for his rules OF success
Mr. Donaldson replied in four WORDS
DIFFERENTIATION and hard WORK.
Southern and b. & o. Reports.
Tho Southern Railway earned
S14O1 a share on it's common s'och
af+eT nreferred dividends. in the lO
a,o saonthe this wear, against $12.74 a
share in the corresponding PERIOD OF OF
1925. surplus rising to $ls,oVss.,g9V
after taxes and charges, from Sl''
1872 900. ,o ot
Net railway operating income Oh
the baltimore and Ohio Raiiroao oo io1
tho month of October was 5000 700
compared with $5,416.924 for Octopet
1925. or a gain this year OF 800 ~
Net railway operating income lor tne
first 10 months Of the present .a
was reported this forenoon as s4o,,
234 500. compared with $3o'oIo'44o
for the same period IasI yeai, o.,
increase of $8,15S,157. The income
80, 80 fra;oht service alone during the
1n.,nonth period showed a gain over
wore than 100000. Passenger
revenues advanced $S7,652 compared
with the same period year ago.
Fifth District Holdings Decline.
Total bill holdings in the Federal re,
serve district at Richmond decnneo
s7s1 900 in the week ended November
"a according to the report made yes
terday. Bills discounted totaled BOO.
9O7 900 against $35,64o,oOo the weeS @
before and paper bought IN the open
market $13,754 900 compared WIFI VIZ