Evening star., 1932-02-13
BANKERS TO MEET
AT ANNUAL DINNER
Institute Authorities Expect
Nearly 600, Including Four
National Officers.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

Nearly 600 members and guests of
Washington Chapter, American Insti-
tute of Banking, will attend the annual
banquet tonight at the Willard Hotel
this being the largest gathering OF the
year among financial folks in Wash
ington. Four national officers of the
institute are to be present, including
the president. Henry J. Mergler of Gin
cinnati William M. Hoxton. chairman
of the Federal Reserve Bank OF Rich
mond will also be among the many
other invited guests.
Aubrey o. Dooley, chapter president,
will preside, I. J. Roberts being chair
man of the dinner committee, and
Frank M. Perley the entertainment
committee. President Mergler is to
make a short address for the national
organization. while Attorney Frank j.
Hoganhas agreed to furnish the humor.
Some exceptional talent has been Sc
cured the entertainment TO be fol-
lowed by dancing Considering present
conditions in the banking world, the
number of reservations Is most gratl1y-
ing to institute officers
The subcommittee arranging to-
nights institute banquet at the Will
lard include Mabel V. Royce, Dance
w. L. Sanderson. Decorations: Richard
A. Norris. Dinner: Frank M. Perley,
Entertainment; Paul j. Seltzer. Invita-
tions Robert H. Lacey. Publicity: T.
Hunton Leith. Reception, and James
A. Soper, Seating.
Sales Conference Held Here.
The fourth annual Spring conven-
ton of the National Electrical Supply
Co. local distributors of General Elec-
trio refrigerators. was in session today
at the Mayf1ower More than 100 deal
ers. executives and statesmen were pres
ent.
Reports on sales during the past year
were presented during the forenoon ses-
sion. Following a special luncheon this
noon it was planned to devote the rest
of the day to sales problems and
brief outline of merchandising actlVl-
ties designed to aid distributors. deal
ers. utilities and statesmen. This part
of the program was to be presented Dy
a group of men brought here from
Cleveland to present the ideas through
the medium of drama.
Officers at Credit Conference.
J. William Pennell of the Camden.
N. j.. Credit Association, will preside at
the Columbia Regional Conference OF
Credit Bureau Executives which opens
at the Mayflower Monday for two
day session. The other officers are
James D. Hays, first vice president.
Harrisburg; Vincent A. Rogerson, sec
ond vice president. Clarksburg, w. Va.
and William H. Talley, secretary-treas-
urer. Wilmington, Del.
The Washington association which
Is sponsoring the meeting. is headed by
Martin M. Watson president: Charles
NJ Keefer. vice president; Stephen H.
Takes, secretary-treasurer. and Charles
w Prettymdn. assistant secretary. The
secretary and assistant secretary, to-
sether with Miss Elsie NJ. Lee. have
acted as the committee of arrange
mentS.
Personal Loans on Increase.
In a great many banks all over the
United ST tcs, the small borrowers are
g. ting more and more attention. In
II ; connection, an abstract from the
arr"ol report of the Naticnal City
Bqr', is of timely interest. 1t says:
THE compound interest depart
ment and the personal loan depart
nent represent the fields in which we
Ireet our clients in largest number, and
our experience in these departments
has been exceedingly gratifying
throughout the year.
Since the personal loan department
was opened in 1928 We have made near
" 234OO0 loans. averaging S345 each,
the number for the year past being
$4,000 There remain en- our books at
the year end IT 600 loans of this class
Of an aggregate amount OF just over
s25.0OO.OO0. These loans, which are
payable on an installment basis, show
the lowest rate of delinquency since
this service was begun. giving us ADDED
faith in the small and deserving bor-
rover"
Better Credit Conditions Seen.
One of the primary functions Of the
Reconstruction Finance Corp, states
the United Business Service. of Bos-
ton. in its report issued today. will be
to halt the cumulative S nowbaH OF
business defaults. When bank and
commercial failures are increasing, COL
lections are invariably unsatisfactory.
The operations of the Finance Cor
poration will do much to improve
credit conditions, particularly In those
sections of the country which nave
been affected most severely.
Heard in Financial District.
The Washington Stock Exchange and
all the New York Stock Exchange Of
fees in Washington were open again
today. following the Lincoln birthday
anniversary holiday. Intense interest
was manifested in today's session OF
the New York Exchange because OF
the sharp and sudden advances on
Thursday.
Bertram Chesterman. president OF
the Morris Plan Bank of Washington
was one of the principal speakers at
the Midwinter conference of executive
officers of the Morris Plan Banks in
the Atlantic area yesterday in Balti-
more Robert o. Bonnell presided
Commercial men of the gas indus
try are to hold the 1882 Eastern Ma
tional Gas Regional Sales Conference
in Pittsburgh on February Is and 26
The District of Columbia is included
in the territory.
DR.. Scott Ewing of the Bureau of
Standards will address the ninth an
nual conference of the Distribution
Committee. technical section, of the
American Gas Association at Birming-
ham. Ala. at three-day session begin
ming April 6. Many of the Nations
leaders in the paS industry will attend