Evening star., 1931-06-27
BANKERS CONSIDER
ADVERTISING DRIVE
May Start Local Newspaper
and Radio Program
Early This Fall.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

Washington bankers appear fully
aware Of che matchleSs value Of adver-
tising and to back up their faith In
this method OF exposing their wares
are now considering an extensive CO.
operative campaign, which would begin
in September.
The Advertising Committee Of the
District Bankers Association, OF which
Eliot H. Thomson of the Washington
Loan & Trust Co. is chairman, out
lined the proposed campaign at the
Hot Springs Convention and the mat
ter was at once referred TO the lncom-
ing administration.
Members of the committee believe
that a most effective and economical
campaign could be conducted cooper
atively by member banks with the COM
bined use of newspapers, the radio and
free literature. Every angle of bank
service could be featured in the cam
paign with special emphasis upon the
interdependence of the bank and the
customers it serves.
The plan covers a series of IL weekly
radio programs, on Monday evenings,
of a time-tested type of entertainment
which has never been on the air and
In which will appear distinguished
financial, judicial, professional and
business men to bring the message OF
the evening. according to the commit
tees suggestions.
Each program would be announced
in all daily newspapers on the day set.
and the theme for the week discussed
each day in one of them. Coupled with
a booklet for free distribution upon re-
quest to the broadcasting station or
member banks, committeeman believe
an effectual service will be rendered to
the District and profitable business
brought into the banks with a better
mutual understanding arising between
banker and depositor.
The expense of such campaign
would reach total of approximately
$4,000, it is estimated, or a cost, II
averaged of less than 5000 per bank,
or approximately $50 month, covering
all expenses.
Again Lead Fifth District.
The retail trade report of the Fed
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond for the
first five months of the present year
shows that Washington department
stores have again hung up the best
average sales record of any city in the
fifth reserve district. AS already noted,
total sales in the five months of 1881
showed a gain of 0.8 per cent, COM
All the other leading cities in the
territory reported lighter sales than in
the same period last year. Sales in the
fifth district as whole were of Al
per cent from last year. Richmond
sales were down ga per cent, Baltimore
reported a decrease of So per cent
while a group of other cities suffered a
decline In retail sales amounting to 1872
per cent.
For May alone, retail sales here were
off 5.4 per cent compared with May,
1890, the average for the whole NTH
district was down 90 per cent, Rich
mond noted a decrease of rs per cent,
and Baltimore sales dropped l0.1 per
cent compared with May of last year.
A group of other cities reported sales
down 20 per cent.
Stocks of goods on hand at the end
of May were 20 per cent lower than
last May in Richmond 101 per cent
lower in Baltimore. 80 per cent lighter
in Washington, IT'S per cent in other
cities and ll6 per cent lower in the
fifth district as a whole.
Bank Women Committees Listed.
Mabel v. Royce, president of the
Washington Bank Women's Club, has
appointed the following standing COM
mittees for the coming year:
MGnDSTSIID, ..
National Metropolitan Bank, chair
man; Judith M. Fishburn. Chase Sc
curities Corporation; Ellen Crawford,
American Security & Trust Co.; Mary
Craven, District National Bank; Louise
Payne, National Savings & Trust Co.
Program, Alice H. Whitton, First
National Bank of Alexandria, Va,
chairman; Lois A; White, Federal
American National Bank 81 Trust Co.;
Virginia M. Harrison, Takoma Park
Bank; M, Leona Anthony, Federal
American National Bank g. Trust Co.;
Many j. Winfree, Commercial National
Bank.
Fellowship, Helen ". Reed, Burke &
Herbert, Alexandria, Va. chairman;
Rose L. Royce, Washington Loan &
Trust Co.; Harriet Barrett, American
Security & Trust Co.: Etheline Parker,
Security Savings & Commercial Bank;
Louise B. Coale, Takoma Park Bank.
Dinner, Mildred c. Woodcock, Ameri-
can Security & Trust Co., chairman /;
Laila M. Sloat, National Metropolitan
Bank; Evelyn Hawkins, American Sc
curity Sz Trust Co.; Eleanor Dankmyer,
Security Savings & Commercial Bank;
Elizabeth Battaile, District National
Bank; Emma H. Smith, National
Metropolitan Bank.
Better Insurance Law Sought.
President David S. Bethune of the
District Life Underwriters Association,
who has Just taken office, urges legiSla-
ton by Congress raising requirements
for life insurance agents in the District
Of Columbia. He believes such a move
Is in the interest Of both the public and
the profession.
At the first meeting of the new ad-
ministrative year he explained his
views to the underwriters, and asked
Joseph A. Mari, chairman OF the as
Sociation's legislative committee, and
Edward BrashearS to study the laws in
force in many States with a view to
using their best points in law to be
drafted for Washington. 1t is not in
tended to make the requirements un-
reasonable, Mr.. Bethune explains.
Present requirements in the District
are not believed high enough. Appli-
cants are asked, among other questions,
whether they have read the District
insurance laws; what experience they
have had in the profession; whether
they have ever been refused license
or had it revoked; whether they have
been convicted of any crime or offenSe,
and whether, if licensed, they will
agree not to misrepresent conditions of
contracts or rebate any part of prem
iurns or commissions. More technical
information determining the applicants s
knowledge of the profession is believed
advisable.
Local Dividends Declared.
Directors of the Liberty National
Bank have declared the regular semi
annual dividend of $3.50 per share
payable June 80 to stockholders OF
record on June 20. Transfer books will
not be closed.
Director of the Terminal Refriger-
ating & Warehousing Corporation have
voted the regular Semi-annual dividend
of $3.50 per share on the outstanding
stock, payable on June 80 to share