Evening star., 1943-02-15

in the country have been secured.
the head of the list being Grant
Taggart, president of the national
association, who in % years has
insured 5000 people for s17,OO0.000.
Another speaker will be Wilbur
w. Hartshorn, manager of the Met
ropOlltan Life in Hartford. Senator
John A. Danaher will open the one
day program with an address on
Life Insurance and the War"
Louis Behr Of Chicago, who has
written S1000000 in insurance every
year since 1888, one of the country's
youngest and most successful agents,
will appear here for the first time,
while another special speaker will
be 3. N. Woodson Of New York, who
is now in war service in Washington.
d. c. Furniture Sales Off.
Retail furniture sales in seven big
Washington stores in December and
in the full year 1912 were both 4 per
cent lower than in the like periods
in 1941, according to the monthly
review Of the Federal Reserve Bank
of Richmond Sales for the year,
however, were very heavy, making
one Of the best years on record.
TIE same review states that
wholesale trade of 221 firms in the
fifth district in December was prac-
tlcally the same as year ago. Sales
were erratic. Wholesale shoe sales
| scared ia per cent ahead of last
/ year, by far the most surprising in
/ crease in the list.
/ Drugs and sundries were up u
/ per cent; dry goods. Is; groceries,
| II; tobacco and tobacco products,
| %, and auto supplies, l per cent,
over December a year ago.
Sales of electrical goods were down
A per cent; hardware, 90 industrial
supplies, At; paper and paper prod
ucts, 13, and sales Of 70 miscellane-
Gus wholesale firms, per cent, the
survey said.
Assets Above S15,800,00o
The 69th annual statement of the
American Building Association,
dated February /, is being distrib-
uted in the financial district. On
that date assets totaled SIS ,532 616.
The association has s14,308.797 in
vested in f1rst-mortgage loans.
The amount due stockholders
stands at S13,995, ,424. Shareholders
reserves total $1,350.000, and undi-
vided profits $100,220.
Wilfred H, Blanz, secretary, re-
ported the association loaned to peo-
pie in and near Washington S2,811,-
545 during the year. There was a
gain of 20 borrowing members and
a gain of s111,096 in outstanding
mortgage loans. The increase in
| the balances of share accounts
amounted to Sl,364,844.
New Check Plan in Effect.
The new arrangement between
the Treasury and Washington banks
went into effect today whereby
! Government employees can get their
checks cashed at any bank in the
city, regardless of whether they
have accounts in the banks or not.
All that is required is proper
/ Identification.
1t is believed that many Govern
ment workers will now go to the
banks nearest to their Offices and
that a great deal of time will be
saved in this way Early today.
perhaps on account of the cold
weather, banks reported no appar-
ent difference in the number of
checks they were cashing.
The committee, which repre-
sented the banks in long negotia-
tionS with Treasury officials, was
made up of John A. Reilly, presi-
dent of the District Bankers AS
sociation and the Second National
Bank; Charles II. Doing, vice presi-
dent, Washington Loan & Trust
/ Co.; Wilmer j. Waller, vice presi-
dent, Hamilton National and R.
tional. They were appointed by H.
H. Mckee, president of the WASH
ington Clearing House Association.
For months they have been in
consultation with Treasury officials.
The Importance of the problem is
clear when it is stated that 100000
of these checks are cashed here
every month. Government workers
getting two checks month.
Farm Credit Declared Ample.
w. L. Hemingway. president of the
American Bankers Association, while
in the Capital last week to confer
| with Secretary of Agriculture Wick
ard, said that the country banks Of
the Nation now have IL billion in
credit available for agricultural
needs.
Referring to the revival of the
Regional Agricultural Credit Corp.
Mr.. Hemingway insisted that there
is no need for any additional credit
agency. The great problem on the
farms now is lack of help and farm
machinery
Albert Galley in Hospital.
Albert S Galley vice president OF
the Lincoln National Bank and
| treasurer Of the District Bankers
Association for the past 30 wears. is
suffering with an attack OF pneu"
monia, it was learned today Mr..
Galley is now at Leland Memorial
| Hospital. Riverdale. Ee has been
connected with the Lincoln Bank
ever since it was founded half a
century ago.
II. c. B0ardrooms Crowded.
In spite of the cold snap, stock
o,-chGnse Offices were crowded here
toC~v before the opening. Brokers
report a great revival of interest in
the market since the recent big
. s---ions. Sales last week in five
days totaled 5.349 1874, against .947,-
$40 in the like five-day period a
year ago.
Gas Stock at New High Mark.
Washington Gas Light SIS preferred
stock sold on the Washington Stock
Exchange today at 1929, new high
for the year and a gain OF a full