Evening star., 1940-12-27

TWO Otner past presidents Vi
Washington Chapter have been Sc
lected to assist Mr.. McGeary in the
capacity of vice chairmen. They are
Paul j. Seltzer, assistant treasurer,
American Security q Trust Co., and
Francis E. Robey, cashier, Bank of
Commerce & Savings. This banquet
is the outstanding affair of its kind
in financial circles in Washington.
Last year over 1000 local bankers
and their guests attended and it is
expected that approximately the
same number will be present this
year. 1t will be held on February %.
d. c. Store Collections Good.
OF the bills due Washington de-
partment stores on November l,
306 per cent were paid during the
month, according to the Federal
Reserve Bank of Richmond. This
was an excellent showing, although
Richmond reported IS per cent paid.
Baltimore "a per cent and the fifth
district 325 per cent.
On November 80 stocks OF goods
on hand were As per cent higher
than on the same date year ago
and were 9 per cent higher than at
the end of october this year. Stocks
in the fifth district were up 81 per
cent over october.
AS previously noted, department
store sales in Washington in No
vember were Is per cent ahead of
November, 1899, and in the first II
months of 1910 were 81 per cent
better than in 1889, same as the
average gain in the fifth district.
Soper Death Shocks Bankers.
The death of James A. Soper, vice
president and cashier of the Lin
coin National Bank, was a great
shock to his host of friends in the
financial district. AS former pres
ident of Washington Chapter,
American Institute of Banking, he
had been particularly active among
the Junior bankers of the city.
For the past 10 years as vice
president of the Lincoln National,
he had held a very important posi-
ton and was considered an unusu-
ally capable banker by his asso-
ciates. AS young man, his ad-
vance to the vice presidency was
very rapid. He was the banks
cashier for several years before
being advanced to the vice presi-
dency
He had served on many important
committees in the District Bankers
Association, and today President A.
M McLachlen appointed the other
officers to represent the association
at the funeral.
Offutt Former Bank Head.
Another death of unusual interest
in the financial district, reported to-
day, was that of George w. OHutt,
Washington attorney For year or
a little longer, Mr.. Offutt was presi-
dent of the old Potomac Savings
Bank. which is now branch of the
Hamilton National His father was
president of the same bank for more
than two decades. Mr.. George Of
futt was connected with the bank
about 10 years ago.
Poor's Publishing Co. announced
today the appointment of Brock Van
Every as manager of the Baltimore
office In his territory he will in
clude security dealers and investors
In the rest of Maryland, Washing
ton, Virginia, North Carolina and
Delaware.
The Securities and Exchange
Commission announced yesterday
that, at the request of investment
interests, it has extended to January
20 the date by which written COM
ments may be submitted on the pro-
posal of its utilities division that
competitive bidding be required on
sale of public utility securities
Previously the commission had ask
ed that any comment be filed by
January 6.
TOday's Trading on Exchange.
One hundred shares of Washing
ton Gas Light common stock sold on
the Washington Exchange today at
22ss, followed by sale of 49 more
shares at the same price. The last
previous sale was at 23A.
Real Estate Mortgage g. Guaranty
preferred stock appeared on the
board in 50-share transfer at 62s,
up from the last previous sale at 5s4
Several members of the exchange
today expressed unusual optimism
over the outlook for 1941 Many New
York Stock Exchange brokers IN
local Offices expressed similar views