Show FINDS STATE bana n WELL supervised bankers body sees less politics in banking departments with better facilities in the hands of the responsible officials A survey of 0 state banking departments by the state bank division american bankers association dig die closes a distinct tendency the past five years to take bank supervision out of politics to increase In creage the discretionary powers ot of bank commissioners to lengthen their terms ol of office to supply them with adequate forces ot of qualified fled examiners and to relieve banking departments of 0 dut duties les foreign to banking says saya a recent statement issued by the association we have consistently urged that the office ot of bank commissioner be b as free from rom partisan politics as the judiciary itself and that it be divorced from all other functions ot of state government ern the statement says further that his term ot of office be made mad more secure and lasting with sum dent chent salary and power granted to at t tract and retain the services ot of men ot of outstanding executive ability courage resourcefulness and successful banking experience five years ago the first survey ot of state banking departments by the division demonstrated the need tor for im prove ments on the basis ot of data now in hand band it is evident that through the revision of statutes in many states state rapid steps are being taken la in the th right direction one by one the states state are coming to recognize the primary importance of 0 strong competent banking departments the demand tor for increasing the effe ot of banking departments Is beginning to be mott met how haw bank commissioners are chosen chorn the office of bank commissioner 14 I 1 now operated as an independent department part ment of 0 state government in thir ty tour four states the bankers find in two states the bank commissioner li in elected at general elections in one he be Is appointed from eligible lists ot of the th civil service and in another he Is I 1 se a lecter by the banks in one state the th bankers association asso catlon cation elects a list lilt ot of five names from which the governor appoints one as superintendent of banks in another he ha Is appointed by the state corporation commission and in another by the state banking board terms ot of office ol of bank commit loners have been lengthened la in set eral states slates during the last five years the report says in 28 states state the th term Is tour four years in one five years and la in three it la is six bli years and in some the term indefinite A short term Is condemned on the grounds ground that the commissioner has insufficient time to become thoroughly conversant with his field work A longer term permits his tendering rendering useful service through capitalizing hill hi experience five hearp ago the average length ol of service was less than three years year while now it has risen to live years year higher sta dards dard required signs ot of an awakening to the th necessity of 0 making successful bankins banking expert nee a qualification tor for bank balt commissioner are ara evident while eleven states report no banting banking experience necessary the majority require experience ot of this sort ranging from two to five years twelve states now ILOW have banking boards with powers ranging from acting in an advisory capacity to jull power over all state tt banks to issue and reject charters charter A healthy sign to Is the number ot of reports report which colosa so losa that the commissioners ners have lull full power to appoint bank examiners or that these appointments are ara made from civil service lists this power ta is now granted to the commissioner by twenty seven states three require that selection be ba from civil service lists complaints complaint are still made in a few states ot of political pressure in the appointment of examiners but the contrary seems to be true in k h growing number ot of states att the tha most capable commissioner cannot successfully perform hla his duties antl unless he to 1 able to command the th services ot of efficient honest examiners examiner the safety ot of depositors to la depend dependent lat on their work and their appointment fitness and compensation are ar highly important tho the number ot of examiners has increased ar per er cent la in tbt th ut last fire years jis I 1 |