Evening star., 1937-03-13

habits have prob ss4'
ably become so
fixed that they " ''"eS
can not be changed. We can not teach
an old dog new tricks and I firmly
believe that it would be time and
money well spent if we concentrated
to large degree on the development
of thrift in the younger generation"
Noble R. Jones, president of the
savings division, declared it is time
for savings banks to plan out adver-
tising and public relations programs
10 educate the public to the part that
thrift plays III the economic struc-
. ture. He made several suggestions for
che improving of savings banks,
veaching this conclusion:
In my opinion there is great job
ahead for banks, and one that should
be tackled both individually and COL
tectively. 1t is task Of reviving pub
tic interest in savings and thrift,
rather than attempting to create
new interest. Undoubtedly We shall
always be trying to obtain new saw
lngs depositors, but what I am trying
70 say is that during this long period
= of low interest rates there has been
IA decided lapse of savings advertising
and public relations activity-the full
force of which has not yet been felt"
. Uniform Banking Laws Urged.
Carl K. Withers, New Jersey COM
missioner of banking, told the dele
gates that if the dual banking system
is to survive there must be greater
uniformity in State laws and stand
ards of supervision and practice.
There are still too many banks, he
said. and a wedding out process must
continue. Sound mergers, consollda-
tions and even the sensible exten-
sion of branch banking" may help
TO solve the problem.
On the subject of standardized su-
pervision, Mr.. Withers raised the
question as to whether there can be
any justification for different sets OF
regulations regarding payment of IN
terest on savings deposits for inStltu-
tions subject to the same supervision.
He pointed out that the same variance
applies to published statements Of
condition, investments and eXamin =
tions.
Warren S. Shepard, vice president
of the Worcester County Trust Co,
Worcester, Mass, told the conference
that through personal loan depart
ments banks are able to build up
great amount of good will for them
selves, and to make contacts with
non-customers, many of whom have
no banking connections elsewhere.
While maintaining that a success
fully managed personal loan depart
ment helps materially to increase
banks income, he pointed out that
1t should not be considered a cure-al
for low earnings.
Building Permits Up Sharply.
The gain of so per cent in the value
OF building permits issued in Wash
ington in February, compared with
the same month q year ago, gives
added interest to the Commerce De-
partments report on building activi-
ties in other cities during the like
period.
February building permits in Fill
adelphia were s2,l16.33O. compared
with s596,3 last year In Chicago
the reports showed s2,323,3l0 this
year, compared to s6i3,550 in Feb
rlary last year. ST. Louis permits
went from s298275 to S7l6477, while
Minneapolis reported $543 900 in COM
parison with $500 last year. st
Paul permits were S305 900. as against
sl27000 in February, 1896 Kansas
City building permits last month were
s442 900, compared with sl99 400 dur
Ing the same 1886 month.
Permits issued in San Francisco
showed slight falling off, the figures
being sl.2l9, ,567 this year and 81 299.- :
OIL last year However, Oakland went
from s388053 in 1896 to s74l OILS in
1897 Permits issued in Detroit were
s3796 900, compared with sS80000 last
February.
l. c. c. Leaders to Celebrate.
The Interstate Comerce Commission
Announces an all-day celebration on
April l of the organizations 50th
anniversary. On the program are
special addresses by Senator Burton K.
"iICCiSIy Ni1al1iiicALi Va tllE E9tlAd kE
Interstate Commerce Committee: Rep-
resentative Sam Rayburn. present
floor leader, who for "a years was a
member and chairman Of the Com
merce Committee Representative
Clarence Lea, present chairman of
the Commerce Committee and q men,
Der for l6 years; John J. Esch. for
nner commissioner; Patrick j. Farrell
former commissioner and now l. c. c
chief counsel; Commissioner Clyde
B AitChiSon. John f. Benton, genera,
solicitor OF the National Association
of Railroad and Utilities Commission
ers; Allan P. Matthew, president OF
the Association of Practitioners before
the l. c. c., and George NJ Crosland
assistant director l. c. c. Bureau ot
Traffic, and senior employe of the
commission
Heard in Financial District.
The Women'S Committee Of Wash
ington Chapter, American Institute
OF Banking, had a delightful fashion
show and play at the Willard Hotel
Wednesday The style show was il
charge OF Miss Katherine McCalmonc
and the play, Twelve Good MeI
and True" vas presented under tn,
direction Of Miss Aiace Whitton.
The Mining Manual. in It's nep
form has Just commenced distribu
tion OF its l936-l937 edition. accord
ing to the publishers, the StatiStica
Research Bureau Of San Francisco
The prominence attained by tn
mining industry during recent year
has again directed the attention 0
the Nation TO mining activities.
Air lines operated by American com
panies, including domestic and foreigl
extensions, carried l.l47 1863 paSsen
gers and 8,3500l0 pounds OF expires
during the calendar year of 1896, tn
Bureau of Air Commerce reported
In 1885 these lines carried $50, rs
passengers and 5,5il,737 pounds 0