Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
BANKERS REVEAL
. CONTEST WINNERS
Misses Krieg and Lau and J.
R. Keener Submit Prize
-
Essays.
BY EDWARD c. STONE.

BY EDWARD c. STONE.
w. w. Spaid, past president Of the
District of Columbia Bankers ASsocta-
ton and chairman of the committee of
Judges, yesterday announced the win
ners of the annual essay contest for
1929 as follows;
First prize-Miss Catherine M. Krieg
of the Riggs National Bank.
Second prize-Miss Esther r. Lau of
the Riggs National Bank.
Third prize-John r. keener OF the
Riggs National Bank:
The subject chosen by the District of
Columbia Bankers Association for the
essay contest this year was Methods
by Which Bank May Best Protect It
self Against Fraud" and the members
of the Washington Chapter of the
American Institute of Banking who were
eligible to enter the contest were in
structed to develop in the essay, first,
the methods which bank may devise
to protect itself against fraud in its
dealings with the public only. and sec
ond. how employees may cooperate in
making such safeguards effective.
The contest was open to all members
of Washington Chapter who are en-
ployes of banks which are members of
the District of Columbia Bankers As
ISOLATION, and the papers were limited
to 5000 words.
Papers Read at Convention.
Under the rules of the contest, the
essays bore fictitious names which con-
cealed the identity of the authors, and
in a sealed envelope sent to the Secre-
tary of the association, each author
gave his real name and address and the
fictitious name signed to the essay. In
this manner there was no way of know
ing the names of the winners until aft
er the award had been made. Only
seven essays were turned in this year,
an unusually small number for the con-
test.
Serving with Mr. Spaid of Hibbs g. Co.,
as judges of the contest, were two other
past presidents of the District Bankers
Association Howard Moran, vice presi-
dent of the American Security g. Trust
Co., and Joshua Evans, jr. executive
vice president of the District National
Bank. 1t is understood the judges were
unanimous in the awarding of the
prizes.
AS it is part of the regular program
at the annual convention of the Dis
trict of Columbia Bankers Association,
which will be held this year at Montauk
Point, Long Island, June 20 to %. the
three winners will have the honor Of
reading their papers at the forthcoming
convention. Miss Krieg, winner of first
honors this year, won the second prize a
year ago. but it is the first time that
young women have won two of the
three awards.
Stephenson Announces Topic.
watch Your Step" is the title of the
address to be delivered by Rome c..
Stephenson, second vice president Of
the American Bankers Association and
vice president of the St. Joseph County
Savings Bank of South Bend, Ind, at
the coming convention.
This address will be of particular
interest this year in view Of the fact
that it covers the subject of crimes
against banks, and is in line with the
essay contest of Washington Chapter,
results of which are announced above.
Mr.. Stephenson has stated that there
have been many ingenious schemes
and methods of defrauding banks that
are of such character that in most every
instance many are successful. He has
been investigating a number of very
dangerous schemes that have been
successfully worked and he will explain
to the banks the methods and steps
that should be taken to prevent their
successful operation.
In his communication to Mr. Siddons,
chairman Of the program committee, he
states. IT believe if officers, employees
and tellers were thoroughly familiar
with these plans and schemes and they
adopted means TO prevent the cullntna-
ton thereof, great deal of money
could be saved to the banks"
The association feels that 1t has been
very fortunate In securing Mr.. Stephen
son as one Of its speakers.
As Pole Sees Future Banks.
John w. Pole, controller of the cur
rency, in discussing the future of the
national banking system, said recently
in Trust Companies Magazine:
Banking In the future will be In
the hands of professional management.
This applies to banks of all classes,
whether city or small town. because
banking in its essence is the same
whether the population served be large
or small The very nature Of our eco
nomic life, which expresses itself
through corporate organizations and
in mass production will naturally de-
mand of the smaller banks the same
standards and type of banking services
which have been demonstrated as sound
and efficient by the larger city banks.
while the need for higher train
ing is increasingly demanded for max
ing commercial loans upon the proper
credit basis it Is in the newer fields Of
banking-the trust business and the
securities busineSs-Where technical
training and specialized experience are
emphatically the essential requirements
for. success. 1t is in these two fields
that there is likely TO be the greatest
banks will maintain the largest growth
which equip themselves technically to
meet this opportunity 1t would be
worse than useless for a bank to en-
bark uypoll them with an amateur man
agement."
Insurance Reservations Already In.
Members of the District of Columbia
Life Underwriters Association are look
ing forward with great anticipation to
the national convention which con-
venes here next September. Quite a
number of hotel reservations have al
ready been made for the event even at
this early date. John F. Cremen is
general chairman of the association
general convention committee.
At least 1000 of the leading life in
surance men of the country are ex-
pected to attend. Last year the meet
ing was held in Detroit, there being
between 1900 and 1900 present. Il
is hoped to make this years gather
ing the largest in the history of the
national association, the National Capt.
drawing card than have any Of the
other entertaining cities.
A. L. Baldwin, who recently con-
cluded his term as president of the
local Life Underwriters Association, is
chairman of the hotel committee fol
the convention. Members of the other
committees, published recently, are
already huStling to make the Fal
meeting a complete success.