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T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R

7

The First Two Years of the Federal Reserve Bank
Delivered by W illiam M cChesney M artin, Chairm an of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank
of St. Louis, Before the M em ph is Chapter of the Am erican Institute of Banking, in
M em phis, Tennessee, on Tuesday Evening, November 14th, 1916.
O D A Y is the fourteenth of Novem ber, and on Tues­ that they are members of a great system whose purpose
is their protection. Now, at the end of two years, it seems
day of this week, N ovem ber 16, 1916, the twelve
to me that any bank, which owns stock in a Federal Re­
Federal reserve banks will have been open for business
exactly two years. W e are, therefore, in a position to see serve Bank, can go to its customers able to offer them the
what the system has accomplished in this short time, and assurance that never again will they have trouble that
on some things at least to speak from the view-point of was once experienced in getting money to meet payrolls.
practical experience rather than from the viewpoint of A member bank can also assure its customer that, if he
has the proper credit standing and is conducting his busi­
theory.
ness in the proper wray, he is now under no danger of having
T w o years is an extremely short time to give any bank,
let alone a great banking system, an opportunity to dem on­ his loan called during a time like 1907, when such a call, in
many cases, meant the shutting down of the business; but
strate itself. Should we examine the first two years of the
that, instead, the bank, through the instrumentality of
operation of any of the great world banks, such as the Bank
the Federal Reserve System, is in position to extend such
of France, the Bank of England, or the Imperial B an k 'of
Germany, we would be unable to find that any one of these accom m odation as is legitimate for sound business and the
institutions made such progress in so short a time. In good of the entire com m unity.
fact, if I have read correctly, the impression would be
The four great defects in our old system of banking,
gained that in the first twro years they stood still. If there agreed upon by banker, business man and economist, were:
are any of you present here tonight who were with your
(1) lack of co-operation between the banks; (2) diversion
banks when they first opened their doors, you can d ou b t­ and im m obility of bank reserves); (3) and unscientific, in­
less testify that even an individual bank was not able to elastic bond secured currency, and (4) and an actual
show much in the way of results at the end of the first hoarding of money by the Government.
two years, and if you had been criticised on your bank
In the early history of our country, it was learned
showing for such a time, you would have considered, and
through bitter experience that banking is a paradox. It
rightly so, that it was unjust.
is not only a most selfish business, but at the same time,
W e, however, are living in an age when things move if it washes to exist, must be altruistic. Ii i- •.‘■■gvuii/.ed im
rapidly, and tonight I think I can state to you without the purpose of maTviiig dividends for its stockholders, but
fear of contradiction that the Federal Reserve System a'nd at the same time, it must think of, and help wherever
the Fedetal Reserve Banics have accom plished more in the .possible, its r.cighbrrs in the same business. The reason 4
first two years of their existence than any other o f the is that it is based on confidence. W henever any bank in
w orld’s great banking systems can boast of from the his­ a com m unity, fails, every other bank in that com m unity,
tory of their two first years. Even from an earning viewr- wrhether it deserves it or not, is under more or less sus­
point, and this, while not unimportant, in my judgm ent picion. A run on any bank is more or less a dangerous
is perhaps the last viewpoint from wrhich the Federal
thing for all banks. New Y ork learned this lesson during
Reserve Banks should be judged, they are, to use a com ­ a panic in the early history of our country, and it resulted
mon phrase, “ making g ood .” All of the twelve banks in the formation of a clearing house, the chief purpose of
are earning something on their paid-in capital. In Sep­ which was not so much the clearing of checks as the pooling
tember of this year, six of the banks earned not in excess of reserves so that help could be extended to the smallest
of six per cent on their paid-in capital, while the other six deserving bank. This principle of com bination of reserves
earned less than six per cent but in excess of four per cent. has justified itself throughout all of our country, and all
Perhaps we can get a better idea of what the Federal of our large cities have clearing house associations. H ow ­
Reserve A ct has accom plished by very briefly stating the ever, though the banks in the cities could com bine their
things it was intended to accom plish. Its purpose was to reserves, there was no medium by which banks located
correct certain defects in our financial system which had outside of cities could effectively pool their reserves. They
long been recognized, but which it took the panic of 1907 were dependent on their correspondents in the centers, and
to so impress on the minds of business men and bankers
of the United States that they considered them of enough
seriousness to realize that they must be corrected if this
cou n try’ s future was to be assured. T o do this, the Federal
I A N U F A C T U R E R 5 OF
Reserve A ct was passed, its chief ob ject being to furnish
banks with a medium through which they could benefit
O FFIC E
aomssDEPT. £ 1751 GRACE ST.,CHICAGO
the public to a greater extent than ever before b y giving
SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOG and PRICE LIST
it increased facilities, greater stability in the interest rate,
and the creation of the confidence that com es from knowing

T




THEGUERTIN CO
BRASS
SIGNS

T H E S A IN T LOOTS B A N K E R

8

YOUR INTERESTS FIRST
H P H E thought upperm ost in the minds of those in charge of the National Bank of
Commerce is, first of all, to serve the best interests of our patrons and correspondents.
This involves the maintenance of an experienced corps of officers and em ployes who are
both capable and willing to extend them every service in keeping with sound banking
methods.
Follow ing 57 years of continuous banking experience, we bespeak your continued and
larger patronage.
Capital and Surplus, $12,000,000.00

THE NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE IN ST. LOUIS
JOHN G. LONSDALE, President
W. B. COWEN, Vice-President

TOM RANDOLPH,
Chairman of the Board

though the correspondents in time of trouble did the very
best they could for their friends in the country districts,
as you gentlemen know, there were times when you could
not be furnished the money you needed and even times
when you were charged for your own money when it was
sent to you. The principle of com bination was all right,
but there was no effective means of carrying it out. The
Federal Reserve Bank furnishes this means. The country
is divided into twelve districts; each district has a Federal
Reserve Bank. All National banks in a district, and such
of the State banks as desire, are joined together through
the medium of stock ownership in the Federal Reserve
Bank. In it the member banks also deposit a certain
portion of their reserves, and in fact, since the recent
amendment to the Federal Reserve A ct, they can keep all
of their reserve in the Federal Reserve Bank of their
district, if they so desire, even that part which heretofore
the law com pelled them to keep in their own vaults. Thus,
'as it were, the Federal Reserve Bank becom es a gold
reservoir, able through its rediscounting operations to send
a stream of money to any bank that enjoys its privileges
which has a legitimate need for it. It is because the public
has realized this fact, and because the merchant has felt
that he is not under the cloud of the possibility o f having
his loans called in the happening of any. unusual event,
that, in great measure at least, it has been possible for
business in this country, in the face of the greatest European
war in history and in an atmosphere charged with the possibility of the impossible, to reach the unprecedented high
tide that it now enjoys. It is perfectly true that there
has been brought in from Europe some six hundred or
seven hundred millions of dollars of gold, which, to some
degree, acting as a basis of credit, has resulted in lower
interest rates, and it is also true that some sections o f our
country have enjoyed good crops and high prices, but I
subm it to you that it is entirely possible, with even these
conditions, if the people did not have the confidence in
our financial system, that they have gained through the
establishment of the Federal Reserve Banks, business
would have gone forward with a much more halting step
than it has. In fact, I was told b y one of the largest w holesalers in this country that he did not believe merchants
would think of ordering the supplies they are, unless they
felt that there was a Federal Reserve System to stabilize




J. A. LEWIS. Vice-Prest. and Cashier
W. L. McDONALD, Vice-Prest.

conditions. W e are really too close to events to be able
to see clearly how much the present volume of business of
this country is due to the Federal Reserve System, but
we do know that it has helped a great deal, and perhaps
when we are further away from these stirring times and
history is written, we will be astonished to find out approxim ately how much.
l n the period of readjustment that must follow the
war> it is to the Federal Reserve System that this country
must look for the protection of its gold supply. The gold
that we have will naturally be desired by the nations from
which it came, because it is the basis of credit. Under our
Q\d system, we would have had to stand helpless and see
the gold go out. H owever, with the Federal Reserve System
in effect, there is every reason to believe that we will be
given the effective protection. The system, under this
strain, is yet to be tried, but those in charge are anticipating
the situation and are waiting the outcom e with confidence,
w e read of the “ trade war” that is to be made upon this
country. W e are becom ing familiar with such phrases
as “ the scramble for gold.” There are those who predict
a dark outlook ahead. Personally, however, I cannot be
pessimist enough to find these “ Jeremiahs” good com pany,
Europe undoubtedly will want our gold, but how is she
going to get it? M any of her men are dead, many more
have been rendered inefficient through wounds. Such
machinery as she had has been turned into munition plants,
and it takes time to change the sword into a plow-share.
Gold will leave us, of course, but not as the result of a sudden raid.
Europe cannot as heretofore established artificial interest rates, which we are helpless to check,
N ow the Federal Reserve Banks will be able to meet
such a m ove by a raise in rates. The movem ent will be
slow, due to the natural and normal econom ic conditions,
and through the Federal Reserve Banks we have an instrument b y which it can be safeguarded.
It is a pity that those State institutions which are
hesitating about com ing into the System cannot get this
world vision of the situation. N ow that our country is
brought so close together through the medium of the railroad, telegraph and telephone, no longer can any bank,
however small, insist that it is not interested in the affairs
o f the world. An uncontrolled withdrawal of gold out of
the United States will affect every bank in it, whether the

T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R

9

St. Louis Union Trust Co.

St. Louis Union Bank

Capital and Surplus

Capital and Surplus

-

-

$10,000,000.00

N. A. M c M I L L A N .......................Chairman of the Board
J O H N F. S H E P I . E Y ...............................................President
R O B E R T S. B R O O K I N G S .......................Vice-President
H E N R Y C. H A A R S T I C K ......................... Vice-President
I S A A C H. O R R ...............................................Vic e-President
J. L I O N B E R G E R D A V I S ......................... Vice-President
F. X . R Y A N ......................................................... Tru st Officer
G E O . G. C H A S E ......................... ..Assistant T rus t Officer
F. V. D U B R O U I L L E T .......................................... Treasurer
J. S. W A L K E R ......................................Assistant Treasurer
B Y R O N W. M O S E R ............................................. .Secretary
A L E X . H A M I L T O N ........................... Assistant Secretary
A R T H U R H. B U R G ...........................Assistant Secretary
T . F. T U R N E R .................. M an age r Safe Deposit Dept.

A Trust Com pany free from any deposit
or dem and liability.

-

$5,000,000.00

N. A. M c M I L L A N ................................................... President
R O B E R T S. B R O O K I N G S ...................... Vice-President
H E N R Y C. H A A R S T I C K ........................ Vice-President
J O H N F. S H E P L E Y .....................................Vice-President
W. T. R A V E N S C R O F T ..............................Vice-President
C. E. F R E N C H ...............................................Vice-President
F. V. D U B R O U I L L E T .............................................. Cashier
J. S. W A L K E R .......................................... Assistant Cashier
B Y R O N W. M O S E R .............................. Assistant Cashier
L. E. W I L L I A M S .....................................Assistant Cashier
GE O . M. W I L L I N G ............... ...............Assistant Cashier
W. J. D. M c C A R T E R ........ ..............Assistant Cashier
A. H. L. K U I I N ............. Mana ger Savings De par tm en t

St. Louis, M o.

bank is able to recognize it or not. It will know the result,
even though it may not be conscious of the cause. The
Federal Reserve System can be made a success without
the State institutions, but it is unquestionably true that
every State institution that joins the System adds strength,
not only to itself, but to the System. It is bound to benefit,
whenever a strain comes, by having access, as a matter of
right, to the gold reservoir in the Federal Reserve Bank;
and the Federal Reserve Bank is stronger and more able
to help all banks by reason of the reserve which the State
bank will keep with it. In a majority of cities, State
banks and trust companies have found it to their advant­
age to be members of the local clearing house associations.
Such membership was a material aid to them in the dif­
ferent panics. At the outbreak of the war, when it was
necessary to establish the so-called “ gold p ool” to protect
American industry, many State institutions realized the
situation and contributed to that pool. In such cases,
State institutions have found it greatly to their benefit,
and in some instances they found it even necessary to
their life, to com bine their reserves and pool their gold.
H aving had to do this heretofore, why is it not plain to
them that it is not only for their benefit, but for the benefit
of the country as a w hole for them to pool their gold through
the medium of the Federal Reserve Bank, when in so doing,
through the medium of rediscount, they are certain of
protection for themselves and their customers during any
emergency?
There was a time, under the old system, when a mer­
chant might com e into a bank and apply for say, a S10,000
loan. The cashier of the bank would say: “ Mr. Brown,
you are a most excellent credit risk; we have the money,
and will be glad to lend it to you at 6 % , provided you will
make your note on dem and.”
Mr. B row n’s answer would
be: “ Such a loan will do me no good, for \ expect to buy
leather with the m oney borrowed from you, turn it into
shoes, sell the shoes, make enough on them to pay off the
loan, and have sufficient profit to increase my deposit with
you, but it will take me at least ninety days to do this.”
The banker would reply: “ I am sorry, but when checks are
presented at the counter of this bank, we must pay them
in m oney. W e cannot pay a $1000 check with an un­
divided one-tenth interest in a $ 10,000 loan, even though
the loan is as good as your loan would be. If I cannot
pay the check in cash, I have broken my contract with the




-

A Bank seeking useful and m utually pro­
fitable relationship with its patrons.

depositor and I might as well close my doors, and you know
that world conditions are such that at any time I may be
called upon to cash an unusual number of checks.” The
result, under the old system, was that Mr. Brown did not
get his loan; he could not spend the money for the leather,
and the dealer in the leather lost a profit. Mr. Brown
could not make the shoes and make a profit. Perhaps
he had to put his help on half time or discharge some of
them, and as a com m unity suffers when its units suffer,
so the refusal of that loan to Mr. Brown discouraged the
whole com m unity. On the other hand, the bank which
perhaps could have loaned the money to Mr. Brown at 6 r f
could not make that much, and as a rulo, sent the money
it might have loaned to Mr. Brown to a central reserve
city, where it did not receive more than 2r < on daily bal­
ances. It did this because if felt that money so deposited
it could get on demand, but even this was not certain in
unusual emergencies like in 1907, and the first weeks of
August, 1915, when the great war com m enced.
N ow that the Federal Reserve banks are open for
business, if Mr. Brown wants S10.000 for a legitimate
com mercial transaction for ninety days, the banker can
let him have it, for no longer is that S10,000 of necessity
tied up for ninety days. If Mr. B row n’s loan is based on
a legitimate liquid commercial transaction, the banker
knows that, by endorsing Mr. B row n’s note and sending
it to the Federal Reserve Bank of his district, with a state­
ment of Mr. B row n’s financial affairs, he can get cash for
the note, less the discount, in any form that he desires it.
The amount will be put to his credit on the books of the
Federal Reserve Bank, or he will be sent any kind of money
in the denom inations that he desires. This means that
business men can be taken care of for their legitimate
needs by their local banks, and in this way, the whole
com m unity helped.
Sometimes I fear that many of our member banks do
not thoroughly appreciate the facilities which the Federal
Reserve Bank of their district can offer them. It has ben
astonishing to all of us that our member banks have not
made more requests of us for small bills. I know that
many of our banks have needed this kind of money during
the crop m oving season. The Federal Reserve Bank of
St. Louis wishes to do evertyhing in its power to be of
assistance to its member banks, and always tries to answer
requests for different kinds of m oney prom ptly.

T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R

10

Our Real Estate Department—
An efficient agency for the purchase, sale, renting and general manage­
ment o f St. Louis city and cou n ty real estate.
Loans negotiated on city and suburban property, leases effected,
appraisals made, taxes paid, insurance placed and repairs supervised.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TRUST CO.
Capital, Stir plus and Profits over $8,000,000
ST. LOUIS

There has always perhaps existed a prejudice against
a bank borrowing money, and in my judgm ent, such a
prejudice has not been well founded, provided the borrowing
was for legitimate needs. Banks were timid about show­
ing the item “ Bills Payable” in their statements, for they
were afraid of criticism. Under the National Bank A ct,
banks could not have Bills Payable in excess of the am ount
of their capital stock, !but this provision of the National
Bank A ct has been so amended by the Federal Reserve
A ct that there is now no fixed limit covering the amount a
member bank may rediscount with its Federal Reserve
Bank. This seems that the amount any member bank
may rediscount is left to the discretion of the Board of
Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank, with the result
that legitimate needs of any bank may be cared for. This,
of course, does not mean that a bank may borrow all it
desires without hindrance, but it does mean that the Board
of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank can give all the
help that it thinks the bank needs.
The item, “ Bills Rediscounted with the Federal
Reserve Bank,” on a bank’s statement, I have every reason
to believe, is viewed by the general public in an entirely
different light from the old item “ Bills Payable.” This is
strikingly illustrated b y a conversation I had several months
ago with a gentleman who stopped me on the street to
show me the sttements of two banks in which he was
nterested. One of them showed Bills Payable and the
other one showed Bills Rediscounted with the Federal
Reserve Bank, and he volunteered the inform ation that
while he did not like “ Bills Payable,” he rather liked that
item “ Bills Rediscounted with the Federal Reserve B ank.”
I asked him why, and his reply was: “ W hy, any bank that
shows Bills Rediscounted with the Federal Reserve Bank,
indicates to me two things -.First, that it has paper measuring
up to a certain standard; and second, that it was in fair
condition or the Federal Reserve Bank would not have
rediscounted the paper for it.” This gives you an idea of
how this gentleman looked at the matter, and is indicative
o f the way that many others are viewing it.
T he Federal Reserve System has done one thing
which, it seems to me, is of the very greatest benefit to
the entire business world. It is asking that statements
of borrowers be furnished with their notes— a requirement
which sometimes results in a charge against the Federal
Reserve Bank of “ red-tape.” During the early days of
the bank, this was a com m on charge, and is a charge often




made yet by those who prefer to criticise rather than learn
from experience how easy it is to deal with the Federal
Reserve Bank.
When a bank offers a note for rediscount
at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, we feel that it is
a perfectly reasonable request to ask that the bank let
us know what it knew when it granted the loan. W e
prefer this inform ation in the way of a signed statement of
the borrower, but if the bank cannot furnish this, on small
loans we are prefectly willing to accept the bank’s state­
ment of what the borrower owns and what he owes. W e
take it that no bank grants a loan without some parti­
cular knowledge about the borrower, and all we want is this
particular knowledge. After two years’ experience in the
asking for statements, I think I can say that unques­
tionably the requirement has been of very great benefit
not only to the bank, but also to the borrower, and I
know that many banks find it extremely easy to do busi­
ness with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This
statement requirement is resulting in many a small mer­
chant and farmer keeping a set of books— something that
he never did before— and through keeping a set of books,
he has been able to stop many a small leak. It may be
that if this winter you see a farmer, who ordinarily left his
implem ent open to the weather, take the trouble to put
them into the barn, this action can be directly traced to
the fact that he was asked to make a statement, and after
seeing his condition expressed in figures, instead of guessing
at it, he has becom e more careful.
Through the regulations issued b y the Federal R e­
serve Board, com mercial paper is becom ing standarized.
Credit terms are beginning to have definite meaning.
The Federal Reserve Banks themselves are working to­
gether and expect to formulate a set of statements that can
be used by all of them, and it looks like that within a short
time, we may have in this country statements as uniform
as it is possible to get them.
It is obvious that when borrowers stop guessing at
their financial condition, and banks quit guessing at the
borrow er’s condition, frequently misled by the optim istic
ideas of the borrower himself, that loans themselves will
becom e safer.
I think you will agree with me that
“ charge offs” affect the bank’s earnings to a much greater
degree than an obtaining of high interest rates. It, there­
fore, stands to reason that the banker can afford to charge
a less interest rate than heretofore, and at the same time
make more m oney, because he will collect his loans when

T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R

11

Southwest National Bank of Commerce, Kansas City, Mo.
$3,000,000.00

CAPITAL

John M . M oore, V ice-P rest.
W . L. Buechle, V ite-P res t.
Chas. H . M oore. V ie e-P rts l.
J. F. M eade, A sst. Cashier.

J. W . P E R R Y ,
President.
James T . Bradley, Cashier.
E. P. Davis, Asst. Cashier.
Chas. M . Vining, A sst. Cashier.
W . H. Glas&in, A sst. Cashier.

Unexcelled Facilities with the M ost M odern Equipm ent
Assures Accurate and Satisfactory Service.
A Large
Capital and Surplus w ith a Strong Organization
Assures Safety.

due, instead, as heretofore, of charging a high interest rate,
because he was guessing at the credit standing of the
borrower, and frequently finding his guess wrong and having
to charge off the greater part, at least, of both principal
and interest. One way through which the stabilizing of
the discount rates will be attained is through the min­
imizing of the risk by statements, and even with a lower
interest rate, in the end the banks will make more net
profits.
Heretofore, we have never had an elastic currency—
i. e., a currency which could be issued so that you could
use it to pay your hands in the cotton field when it was
needed for that purpose, and when the need had dis­
appeared would com e in and go out of existence. After
two years experience with the issue of Federal Reserve
notes, I think I can safely say that they can give us the
kind of relief we have long needed. I cannot do better
than quote Governor Harding of the Federal Reserve
Board, who, in a recent speech, said:
“ Experience thus far, limited though it has been, has
shown that the machinery for the issue of the notes pro­
vided for by the Federal Reserve Banks can work prom ptly
and effectively, and there is no reason to d oubt that when­
ever it may be called upon to render extended service in
times of stress or difficulty, it will be able immediately to
meet the requirements of those calling for assistance
through the medium of note issues.”
There was a time when a man in Mem phis, who wished
to buy coffee in Brazil, had to arrange to have a London,
French or German bank accept a draft drawn on it. W e
could not do an international business without paying
tribute to foreign banks. All that is past now. Under
the Federal Reserve A ct, National banks may now make
both foreign and dom estic acceptances, and there are now
in the foreign trade approxim ately 8175,000,000 of drafts
accepted by American banks and bankers. A market
is created for this type of paper, since it can be purchased
by the Federal Reserve Banks.
Up to O ctober 1st the
am ount of acceptances bought by Federal Reserve Banks
was approxim ately $300,000,000. It is through this
means that the American dollar is attaining its place in
the sun. It now has displaced the pound, the franc, and
the mark, in the international trade of the world, and it is
believed that it will be able to maintain its position even
when the war is over.



$1,000,000.00

A T T H E CLOSE OF BUSIN ESS NOV. 17, 1916

O FFICE RS
F. P. N E A L.
Chairm an Board o f Directors.

SURPLUS AND P R O FITS

RESOU RCES
Loans and D iscoun ts.......................................................$28,794,026.15
O verdrafts..........................................................................
11,534.18
Real Estate (B ank P rem ises).......................................
400.000 00
U. S. Bonds (P a r )..............................................................
2,103.000.00
Bonds and Securities.......................................................
2,059,492.89
Stock in Federal Reserve B an k....................................
108,000.00
Cash and Sight E xchange.............................................. 25,745,753.34
Total R esou rces.............................................. $59,221,806.56
L IA B IL IT IE S
C ap ita l................................................................................. $3,000,000.00
Surplus and U ndivided P rofits....................................
1,488,924.69
Reserved for Taxes, Interest and Other Expenses. .
101.000.00
Circulation A cco u n t........................................................
2.000,000.00
D ep osits.............................................................................. 52,631,881.87
Total L ia b ilities ..............................................$59,221,806.56

Tw o years of operation of the Federal Reserve System
proves that it is sound, and not only sound, but thoroughly
practical. It has already brought about a feeling of
confidence, and standardization of com mercial paper, a
definition o f credit terms, the establishment of the Ameri­
can dollar in international trade, a Federal Reserve Note
currency, fitted to varying needs, and a check clearing
system of great benefit to the country as a whole, even
though certain individual banks may have to forgoe the
profit of charging exchanges.
It is a thing worth noting
that much of the criticism that is heard from banks, in
regard to Federal Reserve Banks, comes from those who
voice preconceived ideas and have had absolutely no ex­
perience with the Federal Reserve Banks themselves. It
has not been an uncom m on thing to have a bank make
the statement that it could not do business with the Federal
Reserve Bank on account of “ red-tape” and, at any rate,
it did not have any paper that it could rediscount with the
Federal Reserve Bank, and then, when it mentioned the
notes that it had, find out that most of them were eligible
for rediscount. It has also, I am glad to say, been our
experience that when a bank ceases dealing with pre­
judices and once learns the facts, it finds it extrem ely
easy, and think pleasant, to deal with us. Frankly, un­
less you take the trouble to find how the Federal Reserve
Bank can be of service to you, you will never know how
to use it and, in fact, may have to suffer inconvenience
that it was not necessary for you to undergo. Sometimes
very discouraging things occur. It was just the other day
that one of our member bankers came into our office and
said that if he could do such and such a thing, it would be
a great convenience to him and save him considerable
money. For answer, I handed him a circular which I am
sure was mailed to him some two months previous. He
read it and said: “ W ell, I declare; I didn ’ t know this.”
Here is a case where he could have been doing something
of distinct advantage to himself at least two months
sooner than he did, and it may be that in the meantime he
had been criticising the Federal Reserve Bank when he
should have been criticising himself. M a y I ask that all
of you please read our circulars carefully, and if there is
anything about them that you do not understand, please
write in im m ediately, for the officers of the Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis are practical bankers and want to be of
real assistance to all member banks.

12

T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R

St. Louis Claims For Federal Farm Loan Bank
R E M A R K S OF M R. W A L K E R HILL, BEFORE
FARM LOAN BAN K BOARD.
Our Committee has prepared a brief which is accom ­
panied by illustative diagrams. W e wish to leave with the
Board copies of this brief, which is not long, and to ask
that you will give it consideration.
T he brief demonstrates these facts:
W e have in this State of Missouri 20,000,000 acres
of land not under improvement. That is nearly one-half
of our entire area.
W e have in Missouri 10,000,000 acres, nearly onefourth of our area, which is not in farms.
In the adjoining state of Arkansas the acreage of im ­
proved land is 8,000,000 acres, not one-fourth of the entire
area.
I mention these two States because the conditions
show that they may be properly embraced in one district,
with St. Louis as the location of the Federal Farm Loan
Bank.
The Federal Farm Loan A ct provides for twelve dis­
tricts and says, “ said districts shall be apportioned with due
regard to the farm loan needs of the cou n try.”
The brief which we present to you gives, in more detail
than I will quote, the figures showing that Missouri has
one-fifteenth of all of the mortgaged farms in the United
States. Missouri and Arksnsas together have one-tenth
of all the mortgaged farms in the United States. These
figures are given by the census bureau of the Governm ent.
T h ey seem to our com m ittee to demonstrate clearly the
claims of these two States to constitute a district. The
am ount of the farm mortgages in the two States follows
closely the same proportion as the number in respect to the
am ount for the entire country.
The number of farms in Missouri is decreasing. W e
had in 1910, a decrease of 7,642 in the number of our farms
as com pared with 1900. W e had an increase in farm
mortgages. I will not quote the percentage of increase.
Y ou will find it set forth fully in the brief, together with
other statistics showing the great needs of this territory
which lies at the very door of St. Louis.
Now, why are these conditions? W e are in the very
center of the farm production of the entire country. Y et
we have many counties in which less than 40 per cent of
the acreage is embraced in farms.
W e have 33 countries
in which the present average value of the land is under
$25 an acre.
Missouri agriculturally is two kinds of a State: North
o f the Missouii River, about one-third of our area, is fine
land adapted to grain growing. It is one vast lot for live
stock in winter. South of the river and extending down
through Arkansas is a teiritory of narrow rich valleys,
grassy slopes and plateaus, w'atered by innumerable springs
and favored in respect to climate. It is territory which
nature intended for dairying, fruit growing and poultry
raising. It includes most of the 20,000,000 acres of un­
im proved Missouri and most of the 25,000,000 acres of




unimproved Arkansas lands. If the Federal Farm Loan
Act has been intended especially to meet the needs of this
Missouri-Arkansas district it could not have been drafted
better. The district is one of small farms. In Missouri
there are 140,000 farms under 50 acres. In Arkansas there
110,000 farms under 50 acres. The Federal Farm Loan
act offers these small farmers the capital to acquire dairy
stock, to plant orchards, to establish themselves in poultry
raising, in short to make the most of their conditions of
soil and climate.
The Federal Farm Loan A ct extends its advantages
to “ any person about to becom e the owner of farm land.”
We have 85,000 tenant farmers in Missouri and 108,000
tenant farmers in Arkansas. T hey are tenants, not from
choice, but from the lack of capital to buy land.
St. Louis loans a great deal of money on farm m ort­
gages. W e have one trust com pany with a record S30,000,000.00 loaned on farm mortgages and not a dollar lost.
But these loans are made on the larger farms and in large
amounts. T hey are loaned to the amount of 25 per cent
of the value of the property. We cannot meet the needs
of the small farmer. We have a great field for the operation
of the Federal Farm Loan Act. Epitomizing our brief
I invite your attention to these points:—
1. Distinctive needs of the Missouri-Arkansas District.
2. The extent of the unimproved land.
3. The decrease in the number of farms.
4. The proportion of mortgaged farms to the whole
country.
5. Peculiar conditions of the Ozark region.
6. The high rate of interest paid by the small farmer.
7. St. L o u is a s a fa rm lo a n in g c e n te r.
8. St. Louis as a bond buying center.
9. T he great number of tenant farmers in the district.
10. Intimate relations of St. Louis to this small-farm
territory.
11. T he relations of the Federal Farm Loan Bank and the
Federal Reserve Bank.
12. W hat Missouri is doing at this time to help herself.
13. St. Louis’ present efforts toward agricultural develop­
ment.
14. The unanimous request of the St. Louis Clearing
House.
15. Special adaptation of the Federal A ct to St. Louis
territory.
Significance of Live Stock M arketing at St. Louis by
W irt W right, President National Stockyards National
Bank.
M r. Secretary and Mem bers of the C om m ittee:—
W ith your permission I would like to discuss very
briefly tw o facts connected with the live stock business,
which seem pertinent to the establishment of a farm loan
bank at St. Louis.
First, live stock shipping and financing are ties or
links of association between the farmer and St. Louis.
The im portance of a live stock market depends upon

13

T H E S A IN T LO U IS B A N K E R
contiguity and transportation facilities. You are, of
course, aware that live stock shipping, more than that of
any other farm product, respond quite absolutely to good
freight service; fast, convenient stock trains, early arrival
at the market and low freight rates.
Therefore St. Louis comes honestly by its position as
the fourth largest market— the largest horse and mule
market— because its railroads give good service in its
immediate tributary territory. Beginning at the north
with the Burlington along the river and then following
around in order, the Wabash, Alton, Rock Island, Missouri
Pacific, Frisco, Iron Mountain and Cotton Belt; spread
out like a fan over Missouri and Arkansas.
Our Committee has filed with you charts showing the
number and value of live stock marketed here as result
of this situation. The bulk of Missouri and Arkansas
live stock is shipped to this market. Thus exists a peculi­
arly intimate relationship between St. Louis and its tri­
butary agricultural territory and its importance to you lies
in the fact that the shipper largely comes to town with his
stock. He does not do so when he markets grain or cotton
or fruit or produce unless he is within driving distance.
But he frequently accompanies his stock to market. He
learns the City, does a little shopping, visits its attractions
and assures a proprietary interest therein. It becomes
“ his town” and he will support any good enterprise located
there, if he can.
Moreover is so happens that financing of live stock
drifts naturally to the marketing point.
Home banks do
as much of this as they are able, but at present prices, the
amounts involved are frequently so large, and other con­
ditions force farmers— every good farmer is this section
is a live stock man— to obtain assistance through his com­
mission man or the bank at the Stodkyards. Probably
in excess of $15,000,000.00 of this class of paper is handled
annually at the Yards. And in this way again the tie
betw'een St. Louis and the Missouri and Arkansas stock
man is emphasized and strengthened and the habit of
looking to St. Louis as the financial enter of the district
is established.
In the second place, Missouri and Arkansas seriously
need assistance in financing live stock breeding and dairy­
ing and I apprehend a farm loan bank here will, as one of
its activities, carry a good many loans, the proceeds of
which will go into these industries. In my judgment, there
has been urgent need for some sort of institution to handle
long time live stock loans if we propose to increase our sup­
ply to keep pace with the demand and encourage dairying.
In the nature of the case a loan on breeding or dairy stock
will not automatically liquidate itself sooner than two and
a half to three years. Interior banks do as much as they
can after they have first financed crop making, but they
correctly expect liquidation at least once a year.
Mr. Hill’s bank or Mr. W att’s bank cannot consider
this class of paper. The institutions at the Stock Yards
carry some of it, but as they are holding largely demand
deposits, there is a limit to their capacity. In fact, as
capital loans, they should be secured by something less
susceptible than live stock itself to the many contingencies
which may arise in a considerable period of time. Un­




A T YO U R COM M AND
To out-of-town banks we offer prompt and dependable
service both in the making o f collections and in the dis­
charge of other commissions with which they may choose
to entrust us.
If you have an opportunity to come to New York, call
and see us and let us demonstrate our facilities for serv­
ing you. If you cannot come, write.

LIBERTY N A TIO N A L BANK
In the Equitable Building

120 Broadway, New York

doubtedly the Federal Land Banks, will make many a loan
for this purpose.
Now North Missouri is a beef finishing country, but
South of the Missouri River and all of Arkansss present
a wonderful opportunity for live stock breeding and dairy­
ing. Natural conditions are of the best, climate equable,
grazing excellent, bottom lands produce sufficient winter
feed and water is fine. The Universities of both States
have been doing a world of educational work and the op­
portunities for producing cattle, hogs, and sheep and for
dairying are unquestionably promising. But financing
is needed. If the Land Banks will assist in this matter, and
I believe they will, there is sufficient need in this industry
alone to argue strongly the location of a Bank at St. Louis.
Just these two points, first the location of a well
established National live stock market here is one of the
important links between Missouri and Arkansas farmers
and St. Louis. Second, there is in this territory urgent
need of financing long-time breeding and dairying loans,
which the location of a bank at St. Louis will greatly
assist.
''W h y the Federal Farm Loan Bank will serve the district
more effectively if located in the same city with the Federal
Reserve B a n k."— Tom IF. Bennett.

This subject, in its very nature, requires reasons, and
while they are numerous, I will endeavor to enumerate only
a few of the most potent ones.

Federal Reserve Bank.
In the consideration of the establishment of the Federal
Reserve Bank in St. Louis, undoubtedly one of the con­
trolling reasons for the selection of this city was the ease
with which it can be reached by railroad, telegraph, tele­
phone and mail, from all sections of the country, and more

T H E S A IN T LO U IS B A N K E R

14

Drafts, Collections,
Cable Payments
Deposit Accounts
Investment Securities
Custody of Securities
Letters of Credit
Commercial Credits
Travelers’ Checks
Foreign Coin and Notes
Bank Money Orders

must have a Farm Loan Registrar who must keep in his
custody the first mortgages securing bond issues. Such
Registrar, for the sake of convenience to all and to facilitate
the withdrawal of mortgage securities from time to time
as they mature, or for the purpose of substitution which
the Federal Land Bank may find necessary to make, will
doubtless have his office on the premises or in the close
vicinity of the Federal Land Bank. The Registrar should
have at his disposal the very best vault accommodations
for the custody and safekeeping of the securities in his pos­
session and for which he is held responsible. St. Louis can
offer as commodious and as finely equipped safe deposit
facilities as any city in the United States.
Therefore, where a city like St. Louis, the center of an
agricultural district, is available, it would seem that the
Federal Land Bank should have its principal office there.

Imports and Exports Forwarded

Agents of Federal Land Banks.

Members of N. Y. Stock Exchange

Under Section 15 of the Federal Farm Loan Act, where
Federal Land Banks are authorized to make loans through
agents, it is provided:—
“ No agents other than a duly incorporated
bank, trust company, mortgage company or sav­
ings institution, chartered by the State in which
it has its principal office, shall be employed under
the provisions of this Section.”
It is possible that there may be the necessity for the
appointment of many such agents. Now, of course, no
Federal Land Bank would employ any agent about which
it did not have the fullest information, and such being the
case, it would be a distinct advantage for the Federal Land
Bank to be established in the same city as the Federal
Reserve Bank. The Federal Reserve Bank necessarily
has complete information in regard to all of its member
banks, and since it is collecting checks on non-member
banks, it comes in daily contact with them and has full
information in regard to them. I am advised that al­
though the check clearing system has only been in operation
under its present plan, since July 15, 1916, the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis now has 4 5 % of all banks in
its district on its par collection list. It is reasonable to
suppose that in time it will have all of the banks on its
collection list and through the collection system will have
intimate knowledge of even those banks and trust com­
panies whose capital being less than $25,000, makes them
ineligible to membership in the Federal Reserve System.
It seems to me that it would be a great convenience to the
Federal Land Bank and be conducive to safety of all con­
cerned, if the Federal Land Bank could discuss the ap­
pointment of agents with the Federal Reserve Bank. It
stands to reason that it can do this much better if both the
Federal Land Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank are
located in the same city.

Knautti NactioH&Knl)ne
Equitable Building
NEW YORK CITY

particularly this Federal Reserve District. This ease of
access is especially necessary for the purpose of the prompt
handling of rediscounts and the clearing and collection of
checks and other banking items.
In the consideration of this subject, it is unnecessary
to take up the time of this Honorable Body in discussing
transportation, telegraph, telephone or mail facilities.
W e have them and through them our farming community
is brought into very close touch with this city. But, it
seems to me that in so far as the facilities mentioned were
factors in locating the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis,
they are equally as desirable in determining the location
of the Federal Land Bank.
Many large transportation centers are not located in
agricultural districts, but in this respect St. Louis is parti­
cularly fortunate, and is therefore an ideal location for the
establishment of a Federal Land Bank.

Appraiser.
Under the Federal Farm Loan Act, before the Federal
Land Bank can grant any mortgage loan, it must be re­
ported upon by its appraiser. It seems to me that it would
be a very great convenience to the prospective borrower,
as well as to the appraiser himself, if the appraiser had his
headquarters in a city which furnished a great number of
trains to the locality where the property to be mortgaged
is located. It perhaps would not be necessary for the ap­
praiser to have his office in the quarters of the Federal
Land Bank, but it certainly would make for efficiency if
he could have his office there and could personally meet
with the Board. He must make a written report, it is
true, but quite frequently an oral explanation of a written
report, while not always essential is often desirable.

Farm Loan Registrar.
Then again, each Federal Land Bank, under the Act,




Federal Reserve Banks May Buy Farm Loan Bonds.
In Section 27 of the Federal Farm Loan Act, it is
provided that any member bank of the Federal Reserve
System may buy and sell farm loan bonds issued under the
authority of this Act. Naturally, members of the Federal
Reserve System find occasion to visit the Federal Reserve
Bank of their district from time to time. They like to do

15

T H E S A IN T LOU IS B A N K E R
it, and it is proper that they should do it. It would be an
incentive to them to become familiar with both institutions
if, on one visit to the city, they could come in personal con­
tact with the Federal Land Bank and the Federal Reserve
Bank, and there is nothing like personal contact to give a
thorough understanding of them. In fact, the farmers
of any given community are very likely to consult with their
local bankers as to the establishment of National Farm
Loan Associations, and the ways in which they can use the
facilities offered by the Federal Farm Loan Act to better
their condition. The closer the member banks can come
in contact with the Federal Land Bank, the better equip­
ped they will be to give the desired information to their
farmer customers. They might not make a special trip
to the Federal Land Bank, but if on the same visit they
could visit the Federal Reserve Bank with which they are
in daily contact, and at the same time visit the Federal
Land Bank, they would very probably sooon get an in­
timate acquaintance with the latter institution, and would
be in position to give the proper advice to those inquiring.
Then there would undoubtedly be reciprocating advantages
to the Federal Reserve Bank if the Federal Land Bank is
located in the same city. It is possible that many of the
state institutions which may be appointed agents of the
Federal Land Bank may, through the development of a
personal acquaintance with the Federal Reserve Bank, ulti­
mately become members of the Federal Reserve Bank,
thus improving and furthering the development of the
Reserve System.
In the provision of the Act which permits the Federal
Reserve Banks to buy and sell farm loan bonds subject to
certain limitations, it would certainly be a great conveni­
ence if in such transactions the Federal Reserve Bank and
the Federal Land Bank were located in the same city.

Branch Banks.
The Act further provides, subject to the approval of
the Federal Farm Loan Board, for the establishment of
Branch Banks. In the apportionment of the United States
into Federal Land Bank districts, there are undoubtedly
many smaller cities in the district, which will include St.
Louis where it may be desirable to establish branches, but
in my opinion it would be unwise to select any other than
the Federal Reserve Bank city of St. Louis for the principal
office of the Federal Land Bank.

Finally.
Omitting many other good reasons which could be
advanced for the establishment of the Federal Land Bank
for this district in St. Louis, I wish to say in conclusion that
St. Louis is ranked as a wealthy city and its citizens are
accustomed to buying high-class investments such as state
and municipal bonds and mortgage securities. They now
have great confindence in the Federal Reserve System and
the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It is my opinion,
therefore, that with the location of a Federal Land Bank in
St. Louis, which is to issue and sell farm loan bonds, the
confidence of investors in those bonds can be more readily
obtained than if located elsewhere. I am strongly of the
belief that the Federal Land Bank should be located in St.




BM t OF COMMERCE
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
We Make a Specialty of Bank A ccounts
S
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O F F I C E R S ARE A R K A N S A S
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CO N D ITIO N S. ALL OF TH EM HAVE
BEEN CO NTIN UOUSLY CO N N E CTE D
W ITH TH E BA NK OF C O M M E R C E
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Louis, and it might also be advantageous for it to secure
quarters in the same building with the Federal Reserve
Bank.

PARIS BANKER VISITS ST. LOUIS.
1'estus J. Wade, president of the Mercantile Trust
Company, played the part of host on November 21st to
Capt. Robert Masson, vice-president of the Lyonnais
Bank of Paris, France, at a dinner given at the St. Louis
Club. Many local bankers and business men were in­
vited to the banquet and had the pleasure of meeting the
distinguished foreign capitalist who, according to news­
paper gossip, was here in the interest of a new foreign loan
to the French Government.
Rumors of another loan being raised by the allied
powers has been current lately and it is believed he may
be here on some such assignment.

REPORT OF DROVERS NAT’L, EAST ST. LOUIS
Splendid gains are shown by the Drovers National Bank
of East St. Louis by reference to its report of November
17th, showing total resources of $1,367,963.73. The
leading items comprising same are: bills receivable, $670,550; l\ S. and other bonds, S219,941; stock in Federal
Reserve Bank, $6,600; furniture and fixtures, SI 1,800; real
estate owned, S6,252; 5^c fund, $10,000 and cash items
of S442,620.05.
Liabilities are; capital and surplus, $212,000; undivided
profits, S7,288; circulation, $194,800; reserved for taxes,
$1,000 and deposits of $952,875.68, a net gain on September
12th of $117,535.00

Subscribe for THE SAINT LOUIS BANKER

16

T H E S A IN T LO U IS B A N K E R

THE SAINT LOUIS BANKER
SU CCE ED IN G T H E C O M M E R C E M O N T H L Y
PUBLISHED BY

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COM PANY, Inc.

SAINT LOUIS. MO.
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TW E LFTH Y E A R

D E C E M B E R , 1916

N U M B E R TW E LV E

FEDERAL BANK WARNINGS.
M E R IC A N bankers have just been warned by the
Federal Reserve Board to avoid locking up their
funds by purchasing treasury bills of foreign governments
involving long-term obligations.
While specifically disclaiming “ any intention of re­
flecting upon the financial stability of any nation,” the
board advises all investors to proceed with caution, and
formally announced to member banks of the federal reserve
system that, with the liquid funds which should be avail­
able to American merchants, manufacturers and farmers
in danger of being absorbed for other purposes, it “ does not
regard it in the interest of the country at this time that
they invest in foreign treasury bills of this character.”
H. P. Davison of J. P. Morgan Company was in
Washington recently and conferred with President Wilson
and some of the members of the reserve board. It was
said iater that he sought to have banks of the reserve
system authorized to buy British treasury bills as if they
were bills of exchange to cover commercial transactions.
Danger from further importation of large amounts of
gold, the board says, in its statement, will arise only in
case the gold is permitted to become the basis of undesir­
able loan expansions and of inflations.
Emphasis is laid upon the necessity for caution in
putting money into investments which are short term in
name, but which “ either by contract or through force of
circumstances may in the aggregate have to be renewed
until normal conditions return.”
The board’s warning, in the form of a statement to be
published later in the December Federal Reserve Bulletin,
follows:
“ In view of the contradictory reports which have ap­
peared in the press regarding its attitude toward the pur­
chasing by banks in this country of treasury bills of foreign
governments, the board deems it a duty to define its
position clearly. In making this statement the board
desires to disclaim any intention of discussing the finances
or of reflecting upon the financial stability of any nation,
but wishes it understood it seeks to deal only with general
principles which affect all alike.
“ The board does not share the view expressed of
late that further importations of large amounts of gold
must of necessity prove a source of danger or disturbance

A




to this country. That danger, the board believes, will
arise only in case the inflowing gold should remain uncon­
trolled and be permitted to become the vasis of undesir­
able loan expansions and of inflation. There are means,
however, of controlling accessions of gold by proper and
voluntary co-operation of the banks or, if need be, by
legislative enactment. An important step in this direction
would be the anticipation of the final transfer of reserves
contemplated by the federal reserve act, to become ef­
fective November 16, 1917. This date can be advanced
to February or March, 1917.
“ Member banks would then be placed on the per­
manent basis of their reserve requirements and fictitious
reserves would then disappear and the banks have a clearer
conception of actual reserve and financial conditions. It
will then appear that, while a large increase in the country’s
gold holdings has taken place, the expansion of loans and
deposits has been such that there will not remain any
excess of reserves, apart from the important reserve loan­
ing power of the federal reserve banks.
In these circumstances the board feels that member
banks should pursue a policy of keeping themselves liquid;
of not loaning down to the legal limit, but of maintaining
an excess of reserves— not with reserve agents, where
their balances are loaned out and constitute no actual re­
serve, but in their own vaults or preferably with their
federal reserve banks. The board believes that at this
time banks should proceed with much caution in locking
up their funds in long-term obligations or in investments,
which are short term in form or name, but which, either
by contract or through force of circumstances, may in the
aggregate have to be renewed until normal conditions re­
turn.

Ultimate Danger Possible.
The board does not undertake to forecast probabilities
or to specify circumstances which may become important
factors in determining future conditions. Its concern
and responsibility lies primarily with the banking situation.
If, however, our banking institutions have to intervene
because foreign securities are offered faster than they can
be absorbed by investors— that is their depositors— an
element would be introduced into the situation, which,
if not kept under control, would tend toward instability
and ultimate injury to the economic development of this
country.
The natural absorbing power of the investment
market supplies an important regulator of the volume of
our sales to foreign countries in excess of the goods that
they send us. The form which the most recent borrowing
is taking, apart from reference to its intrinsic merits,
makes it appear particularly attractive as a banking in­
vestment. The board, as a matter of fact, understands
that it is expected to place it primarily with banks. In
fact, it would appear so attractive that, unless a broader
and natural point of view be adopted, individual banks
might easily be tempted to invest in it to such an extent
that the banking resources of this country employed in
this manner might run into many hundreds of millions
of dollars.

T H E S A IN T LOUIS B A N K E R
Liquid Funds Necessary.
While the loans may be short in form and severally,
may be collected at maturity, the object of the borrower
must be to attempt to renew them collectively, with the
result that the aggregate amount placed here will remain
until such time as it may be advantageously converted
into a long-term obligation. It would therefore seem as
a consequence that liquid funds of our banks, which should
be available for short credit facilities to our merchants,
manufacturers and farmers, would be exposed to the danger
of being absorbed for other purposes to a disproportionate
degree, especially in view' of the fact that many of our
banks and trust companies are already carrying substan­
tial amounts of foreign obligations and of acceptances
which they are under agreement to renew'.
The board deems it, therefore, its duty to assure the
member banks that it does not regard it in the interest of
the country at this time that they invest in foreign trea­
sury bills of this character.

Investor Should Use Caution.
The boad does not consider that it is called upon to
advise private investors, but as the United States is fast
becoming the banker of foreign countries in all parts of the
world, it takes occasion to suggest that the investor should
receive full authoritative data— particularly in the case of
unsecured loans— in order that he may judge the future
intelligently in the light of present conditions and in con­
junction with the economic developments of the past.
The United States has not attained a position of wealth
and of international financial pow'er, which, in the natural
course of events, it could not have reached for a generation.
W e must be careful not to impair this position of strength
and independence. While it is true that a slowing down
in the process of credit extension may mean some cur­
tailment of our abnormally stimulated export trade to
certain countries, we need not fear that our business will
fall off precipitately should we become more conservative
in the matter of investing in loans, because there ae still
hundreds of millions of our own and foreign secutiries held
abroad which our investors would be glad to take over,
and, moreover, trade can be stimulated in other directions.

Duty of American Bankers.
In the opinion of the board, it is the duty of our
banks to remain liquid, that they may be able to continue
to respond to our home requirements, the nature and
scope of which none can forsee, and that our present eco­
nomic and financial strength may be maintained when, at
the end of the wrar, we shall wish to do our full share in
the work of international reconstruction and development,
w’hich will then lie ahead of us, and when a clearer under­
standing of economic conditions as they will then exist
will enable this country more safely and intelligently to
do its proper part in the financial rehabilitation of the world.

STATE LAWS BAR FARM LOAN BANKS.
The very peculiar homestead law of Texas may prove
a barrier to the farmers obtaining from the Federal farm
loan law the benefits which, it was enacted to make avail­
able. This fact was dwelt upon by many of the farmers
and others who appeared before the Federal Farm Loan




17

Board, which recently met at Dallas to conisder the claims
of Texas for one of the proposed 12 regional institutions.
The homestead law of Texas defines a homestead as
200 acres, and a farmer owning less than this quantity of
land is not permitted to mortgage it for any purpose other
than to make permanent improvements, even excluding
the purchase of implements and livestock. It was shown
at the hearings that Texas is the only State having such
a homestead law.
Gov. Ferguson has expressed the opinion that the
homestead law will not affect the chances of Texas in her
candidacy for one of the farm loan banks, but LieutenantGovernor W . P. Hobby, who appeared before the board
at Houston, pledged his support for a measure amending
the law at the next Legislature, to the end that Texas
farmers may have the full privileges and advantages
caused by the farm loan act.
Secretary McAdoo, in the course of the hearings, re­
peatedly stated that the board would not undertake to ad­
vise the citizens of Texas as to homestead legislation, nor
to criticise existing laws, and that it w'as up to the people
of the State to get the utmost possible benefit from the
farm loan act by whatever means they regarded best.
Farmers in nearly all of the Texas hearings were given
preference over other speakers. Stories of high interest
rates, of foreclosed mortgages and of savings lost w'ere
told by these witnesses. It was brought out that the in­
terest in Texas farm loans is higher than in any other
State, most of the farmers paying 9 and 10 per cent.

-------------------------------------------------------

Federal Reserve Act
Revisions
Guaranty Important recent revisions of
S*rv*ce the Federal Reserve Act include
XXVH those permitting member banks:
—to deal in domestic acceptances
—to carry in Federal Reserve Bank reserves
formerly required to be held in their own
vaults
—to accept drafts from foreign bankers as
a basis for “ dollar exchange”
—to invest up to 10% of capital and surplus
in an institution chiefly engaged in inter­
national or foreign banking (This applies
exclusively to national banks with capital
and surplus of $1,000,000).
These new provisions and others are fully
explained in our “ Revised Digest of the
Federal Reserve Act,” sent on request to any­
one interested.

Guaranty Trust Company
of New York
Capital and Surplus

-

-

$40,000,000

T H E S A IN T LO U IS B A N K E R

18

Shears and Paste-Pot
The information contained under this head is gleaned from 3,000 Newspapers in the Several States reported
and in event any of it is in error, we will gladly correct same in the succeeding issues
of the St. Louis Banker, upon being so advised by our readers.
MISSOURI.

Cape Girardeau— B. F. Marshall, wealthy land owner, merchant
and banker, died at his home in this city after two years’ illness of
lung trouble. The funeral was held at Sikeston.
St. Louis— Arrangements have been completed by the Industrial
Loan Co., (Poor Man’s Bank) to enlarge its quarters, making its third
expansion since it was founded less than four years ago.
Maryville— George L. Wilfley, president of the Farmers Trust
Company, accompanied by Morgan Mayfield, superintendent of
construction of the new banking building, went to Chicago to select
the furniture for the various offices and departments. The firm of
Wright & Wright of Kansas City were the architects of the new
building.
St. Louis—State National Bank has declared an extra dividend
of 2 per cent, besides the regular 4 per cent semi-annual dividend.
The Franklin Bank has also declared an extra dividend of 3 per cent.
St. Louis— The St. Louis Union Bank announces the opening of
its Business Building Bureau.
Kansas City— Members of the fifty trust companies and farm
mortgage companies of Kansas met this week in the directors’ room of
the Commerce Trust Company. They organized a division of the
Farm Mortgage Bankers’ Association of America.
Metz—On account of a change of plans W. W. Jackson will not
accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Stotesbury on January
1st. R. E. McAllister, who has held the position a number of years,
will remain as cashier. Mr. Jackson will continue to hold the position
as assistant cashier of the Metz Bank.
SkelHna— The Commercial Bank made a presto change and
opened for business in the H. H. Jewett building two doors north of
the old stand. The change is tor a few weeks pending improvements
now under way in the Commercial Bank building.
Carrolton— The Banking House of Wilcoxson & Co , celehrated
its 50th anniversary November 17, when the officers were the recip­
ients of scores of telegrams and letters of congratulation from banks
in all parts of the state. Both the Third National of St. Louis and
the First National of Kansas City, correspondents, contributed
beautiful floral gifts.
jBloomfield,— S. C. Biffle, who resigned as assistant cashier of the
Bank of Dexter left for Fredericktown. He will go to the Bell City
Bank as cashier on January 1st.
St. Louis— The directors of the Mortgage Trust Company and
the Mortgage Guarantee Company declared a regular semi-annual
dividend of $2.50 per share on the capital stock of the company,
payable November 28th, to stockholders of record November 21st,
1916.
Carthage— The First National Bank of Williamston did not open
November 15 and announcement was made that an examination of the
books was in progress.
Naylor— C. C. McCallon is the cashier of a new bank recently
established here.
Morley— Morley’s new bank building has been completed and the
Scott County Bank moved its business to its new quarters.
Queen City— At the meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of
Green City, J. H. Novinger tendered his resignation as president of
that institution, a position he has held since its organization in 1903.
Dr. D. M. Riggins was elected as president to succeed Mr. Novinger.
Jefferson City—Jesse W. Henry, cashier of the Farmers and
Mechanics bank, who was accidentally shot by a companion while
imitating the turkey call, at the Painted Rock Country Club, is im­
proving rapidly.
Louisiana— J. S. Alexander has been elected cashier of the Farmers
and Merchants Bank at Frankford to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of W. H. Kniseley.




Louisiana— At a meeting of the board of directors of the Bank of
Louisiana, Geo. E. Lynott was elected cashier to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Judge R. H. Goodman.
St. Louis— Advices from Cincinnati, Ohio, stated that the Third
National Bank of St. Louis had won its suit for 855,000 against men
who were actively identified with the defunct Second National Bank
of that city. The litigation grew out of a loan made on notes given
by the chairman of the board and president of the Cincinnati bank.
St. Louis— National Bank examiners of Federal Reserve District
No. 8, held their annual conference in the office of Chief Examiner,
J. M. Logan, in the Federal Reserve Bank Building, November 2nd.
Bogard— H. T. Trotter has been elected assistant of the Carroll
Exchange Bank at Carrollton to take the place of H. C. Brown re­
signed.
Bunceton— The second National Bank ever chartered in Cooper
County was organized at Boonville under very favorable circum­
stances, under the name of the Boonville National Bank. It will
supercede the Central National Bank, and have a capital stock of
$75,000 with a paid-up surplus of $25,000.
Birch Tree— The Shannon County Farm Loan Association was
organized in Birch Tree for the purpose of obtaining farm loans under
the Federal Land Bank Bill.
Birch Tree— C. M. Seaman of Monteer and A. J. Hawkins have
contracted for C. L. V. Randall’s holdings in the Shannon County
Bank.
Marshall— Blackburn is to have a new bank, capitalized at
$25,000.
California— Henry Herfurth has been made president of a bank
just organized at East Helena, Montana. Mr. Herfurth has been
connected with the California State Bank ever since it was organized.
Laredo— The Farmers and Merchants’ Bank has a new assistant
cashier, in the pci son of Mr. Roy L. Storms of Laicdo, Mo., who will
begin work in that position.
California— The newly organized bank at Enon opened up for
business November 6th. They will have temporary' headquarters
in the restaurant building of E. H. Jeffries, until permanent quarters
can be erected.
ILLINOIS.
Beecher—Strong interests in Beecher and vicinity are organizing
a new bank in that village to be known as the Farmers State Bank of
Beecher, to take over the business of the First National Bank.
Waukegan— That the D. M. Erskine Bank of Highland, a private
institution, may become a state bank is now a possibility according
to report from that city.
Berwyn— The stock of the Twelfth Street State Bank that has
just about completed its handsome new building at 12th and Harvey
has been fully subscribed and the books closed.
Quincy— The Bartlett-Wallace State Bank of Loraine has been
organized and a permit secured to operate the institution. The capital
stock of the Bank is $50,000.
Belleville— A very large crowd attended the funeral of Samuel C.
Smiley, the O’ Fallon banker, who was buried in the Shiloh Cemetery
after srvices were held at the home in O’Fallon.
Griggsville— Ross Shinn has been elected a director of the Griggsville Bank, this city, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Doctor
Harvey.
Lincoln— The work on the German American National Bank new
addition, is expected to be rapidly pushed within the next few weeks
with the hope of getting the building under cover before the severe
weather commences. The contract for the concrete work has been let
to H. K. Rhoads.
Lincoln— A transfer of bank stock by the State Bank of Latham