November j, 190¿?]	T H E C H I C A G O B A N K E R	17
(Department of Chicago Banker)
An Open Forum Dedicated to the Associated Chapters A. I. of B. in Which to Advance the Great Movement for Independent Action and Universal Membership
Busy Season Amon¿ the Chapters
The Augusta Chapter Meeting
The Augusta Chapter held an enthusiastic meeting recently in their club rooms in Miller Walker Had at Augusta, and Rufus R. Brown, manager of the Augusta Clearing House, delivered an address describing the proceedings of the American Bankers convention, in Denver, to which lie was sent as a delegate from Augusta. The address was one full of interest to the young men composing the organization and many expressions of delight were heard concerning it.
The president, Joseph P. Bartley, was authorized to appoint a social committee to look out and care for social affairs of the chapter, and Messrs. Marion G. Ridgely, F. R. Clark, Jr., W. S. Wiggins, Alvin McAuliffe, and Richard Riley were named. They Will at once take up their work and arrange for a special banquet, which will be given within the next month.
A house committee composed of Messrs. Nolon Bowden, Carroll Magarahan and D. B. Dowling was named for the purpose of formulating rules for governing the chapter, looking after rooms and furnishing and other similar matters.
1 his places the organization on a working basis and establishes it as one of the leading societies of its kind in the country. The members are taking great interest in the meetings as evidenced by their regular attendance, and great good has already been accomplished by the organization.
New Orleans Chapter Meeting
A well attended meeting of the New Orleans Chapter, American Institute of Banking, was held at the Progressive Union Hall this week. It was the first open meeting of the season and considerable interest attached to the proceedings. An address by Philip Werlein, president of the Progressive Union and a director of the People’s Savings Trust and Banking, was a feature. Mr. Werlein spoke on “Reciprocal Relations.” It was announced that the feature of the next meeting wou d be a debate on the following subj ect: “Resolved, That the Establishment of Postal Savings Banks would be in the best interests of the Country.” W. B. Machado and R. C. Hecht of the Hibernia Bank and Trust Company, and George Walle, will represent the affirmative and Abe Luria of the Hibernia Bank and Trust Company, F. L. Ramos, of the Gernlan-American National, and Ed. S. Luria of the Commercial-Germania Bank, the negative.
Salt Lake City Chapter Organized
The bank clerks of Salt Lake City met at the Commercial Club recently and effected an organization of the American Institute of Banking. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers for the ensuing year elected as follows:	J.
H. Patrick, of McCornick’s Bank, president L. C. Vorhees, of Wa ker Brothers’ Bank, vice-president; G. H. Butler, of the Utah National, secretary; R. R. Sharkey, of the Commercial National, treasurer; and the following executive committee:	R. W. Barnes, of the Deseret
National; F. M. Mickelson, of the Utah Commercial & Savings Bank; and W. G. Scott, of the Utah Savings & Trust Company.
It was decided to form classes, hold debates and to have lectures given on subjects of interest to banking men by prominent bankers of the city,
writer. In the opinion of Mr. Bechler the chief difficulty in the way of a liberal enjergency currency is in connection with the nature of the sureties to safeguard the currency which is deposited with the United States Treasurer.
Providence Chapter Meeting
Providence Chapter. American Institute of Banking, met recently, to listen to addresses by Milton Reed, of Fall River, Mass., and C. W. Bennett, of Providence.
w. B. HUGHES Omaha, Nebr.
Omaha Chapter Organized
At an organization meeting of bank men, other than officers, of Omaha and South Omaha last Wednesday evening, the Omaha chapter of the American Institute of Banking was instituted, with a membership of nearly 100, with much attendant enthusiasm. The officers elected are: William B. Hughes, secretary of the Nebraska Bankers Association and manager of the Omaha Clearing House Association, president; George T. Zimmerman, paying teller of the First National, vice-president; Otis Allison, receiving teller of the First National, secretary; and F. R. Gosney, receiving teller of the Union Stock Yards National of South Omaha, treasurer.
Spokane Chapter Meeting
The Spokane Chapter of the American Institute of Banking has arranged with attorney J. T. Burcham to deliver a series of lectures on the subject “Commercial Law.” At its last regular meeting Mr. Burcham gave the first of the series on “Negotiable Instruments.” In addition to this the following enjoyable program was rendered: Whistling solo, Geo. W. Hoag, “Conservation of our National Resources,” W. S. Gilbert, vocal solo, Morton McCartney. The meetings of the chapter are held in the club rooms, which were recently rented and fitted up.
It is up to the Minneapolis bank clerks how many chapters they shall write of the new text book to be issued by the American Institute of Banking. Each chapter of bank clerks is expected to write at least three chapters for the book. Competent judges are to decide which of the contributions are to be chosen for the book. When incorporated in the volume the winning chapter and the.members to whom is due credit for the authorship will have their names attached to the articles. The book is to have a chapter covering each of the items named in a bank statement. The Minneapolis clerks, at their meeting-last week, began a course of five lectures on “Bankruptcy” by Prof. H. F. Fletcher, of the University of Minnesota law school.
St. Paul Chapter Meeting
The St. Paul bank clerks have begun their season in earnest. P. M. Reagan, cashier of the East St. Paul Bank, addressed the chapter last week on "Country Banking,” and Henry von der Meyer, assistant cashier of the National German American, spoke on “Foreign Exchange." R. Hanley, of the National German American, was elected assistant librarian. A committee was appointed to look up what parts of the new A. I. B. text book the chapter w ill choose to write upon. In a sense the contributions from the two Twin City chapters will be a competition among themselves for honors.
Pittsburgh Chapter Meeting
“The best currency system in the world would not prevent panics, because it is not the currency system that causes panics. The real cause for business panics is our credit system, which is used all over the civilized world. It is a magnificent thing in itself and a means of great power in transacting business, but it is like dynamite; powerful for the good of the commercial progress of the country, and destructive if it is unwisely used.”
This was the substance of an address made Tuesday night before the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Banking, in the Wabash Building. Dr. H. W. Temple, professor of political economy of Washington and Jefferson College, was the speaker. He declared that it was the abuse of credit that brought about panics. A faulty currency system might make such a panic worse, and a good system would lessen its force. Just so long as men try to discount the future in business there will come periods of depression in business.
The address was the second of the present season given to the chapter. Professor Temple is a pleasing talker and was vigorously applauded. In addition to the address the meeting enjoyed some musical selections by members, including vocal solos by W. E. Korhan, Charles A. Seibert, and Harry W. Van Horn.
Milwaukee Chapter Publication
R. H. Bechler, bookkeeper at the First National of Milwaukee for many years, was the author of an interesting contribution in a recent publication of the Index, the monthly publication of the Milwaukee chapter of the American Institute of Banking. Mr. Bechler sets forth an original plan for an emergency currency, a subject which has been made a special study by the