Article Text
CONFIDENCE IN KINGS. Depositors Pick Up Courage as Demands for Cash Are Met. Almost every banking institution in Brooklyn was obliged to withstand exceptionally large withdrawals yesterday. But they did it successfully, and the leading financiers in that borought last night expected that the tension so relieved by to-morrow rapidly. It was a of the institutions which in some instances said would the tion the strength strain, would they be confidently improve which that reached tribute the withstood situa- the to proportions of runs. In spite of the fact that Saturday is always a heavy withdrawal day in many of the Brooklyn banks, because of the many pay rolls that have to be made up, some of the banks reported that their deposits had exceeded the withdrawals for the day. The suspension of one small state institution, the Terminal Bank, had little effect on the general situation. In the middle afternoon there was a conference of trust company presidents in the Brooklyn Club. Most of the trust companies were represented. It was stated that they had met for the purpose of exchanging experiences during the day. It was thought that some of the companies might ask for assistance, but not B single request of that character was made. This may be taken to indicate that every institution expects to be able to meet all demands on Monday. The Brooklyn institutions have always felt the lack of some central body like the New York Clearing House. and there had been some talk that steps might be taken to form some co-operative organization along clearing house lines in Brooklyn. This subject was not taken up yesterday, however. SAVINGS BANKS PAY SMALL SUMS. All of the Brooklyn savings banks put into effect the rule making it necessary for depositors to give notice-some sixty, some ninety days-before they could make withdrawals. All the banks, however, allowed depositors who could show they had need of the money to get $25 or $50 without giving notice. This rule was evidently a wise one, because there were several hundred persons at the larger savings banks and large numbers in proportion at the smaller banks who wanted to withdraw their money. Many of these people went away, however, without asking for their deposits when they were convinced that they were perfectly safe and that it would be folly to lose their interest by removing their capital. On the advice and at the request of the New York Clearing House all the Brooklyn banks and trust companies will on Monday pay by check on the Clearing House or on Clearing House banks, wherever it is possible so to do. There was a suggestion that the trust companies should take some concerted action in refusing to pay any person more than a proportion of his account, but this was frowned on as as being unnecessary. The state bank examiners were busy yesterday on the books of the borough and the Brooklyn banks and in the Williamsburg and Jenkins trust companies. J. W. Scofield was in charge of the First National Bank of Brooklyn as receiver. The directors of the Borough Bank were in session from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until long after 6 o'clock. It is understood that the affairs of the bank have been found in such shape that it will be impossible to resume business on Monday, as one of the officials had announced they had hoped to do. TERMINAL BANK CALLED SOLVENT. The suspension of the Terminal Bank, at No. 91 Sands street, the announcement of which was made before the banking hours, was not unexpected, as it was affiliated with the Williamsburg Trust Company, its clearing agent and depository, which suspended on Friday. The institution is said to be perfectly solvent, but unable to get ready cash. William P. Reld, the president, is a vice-president of the Williamsburg Trust, and Frank Jenkins, president of the latter, is a director. The Terminal Bank has a capital of $25,000, deposits of $94,000 and a. surplus of $26,000. Two institutions which withstood heavy withdrawals successfully were the Nassau Trust, of which Andrew T. Sullivan is president, and the Home Trust, of which former Borough President J. Edward Swanstrom is president. The line of depositors at the latter institution extended down toward Clinton street, from the middle of Montague street, half a block. When the doors were closed at noon many had not been able to reach the paying teller's window. In spite of this the bank closed the day with more cash on hand than when it started, according to Thomas P. Peters, one of the directors. "The conditions have greatly improved," he said. "We are hopeful that the people may be patient and reasonable at this critical time," said Mr. Sullivan, president of the Nassau Trust Company. "Our concern, and I believe all of our local institutions are in a sound and solvent condition. The funds of their depositors are safe and will be paid in full. The unusual pressure on all the banking institutions must be injurious to all." An official of the Franklin Trust Company, which has felt the currency stringency less than many of the Brooklyn institutions, said last night: "It was the usual Saturday with us, although there were some withdrawals of cash due to the general unrest and evidences that cash is being locked up in safe deposit vaults