Florida Bankers Association Bulletin No. 6 Regarding the Date of Thanksgiving, November 10, 1939

Thanksgiving Day

Holidays

Celebrations

The bulletin states that banks of Florida will observe both November 23 and November 30 as Thanksgiving holidays so that there is uniformity across the state.

Rogers, J. Carlisle

State Archives of Florida, Series S368

1939-11-10

bulletins

eng-US

Text

s368_b091_f05_x02

Depression Era Florida (1926-1939)

/fmp/selected_documents/thumbnails/s368_b091_f05_x02.jpg

s368_b091_f05_x02_01

s368_b091_f05_x02_02

s368_b091_f05_x02_03

Social Life And Customs

Florida Bankers Association

Florida. Governor (1937-1941 : Cone)

United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt)

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Cone, Frederick Preston, 1871-1948

SECRETARY-TREASURER
J. CARLISLE ROGERS
CASHIER FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
LEESBURG, LEESBURG, FLORIDA

Bulletin No. 6 - P. 1

FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER
Leesburg, Florida

Nov. 10, 1939

TO THE MEMBER BANK ADDRESSED:

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS
The officers and members of the Executive Council of your Association, in a regular called executive meeting held in Miami on Monday, October 23rd, adopted resolutions recommending that the banks of Florida observe both November 23rd and November 30th as Thanksgiving holidays, provided the President officially declared the 23rd as a regular holiday, Governor Cone having already proclaimed the 30th as Thanksgiving Day for Florida.
Since that time President Roosevelt has proclaimed the 23rd as the Thanksgiving holiday and our Comptrollers, J. M. Lee, in a letter dated November 3rd, has advised that it was his conclusion that both November 23rd and November 30th will be legal holidays in this state, under the provisions of our laws, and that all banks in the state should cooperate with each other to the end that there will be uniformity of procedure in the observance of the legal holidays.
I have already cleaned my gun and if the turkey does not last from the 23rd to the 30th, I hope to fill in with either doves or quail.

ATTENTION
I will appreciate it if you will furnish me with any information you or your employees may have relating to known or potential bank robbers who are not at this time incarcerated in any penal institution.

WAGES AND HOURS
Your Secretary discussed this matter at Seattle with General Counsel D. J. Needham and his assistant, and had supposed that a special bulletin would be released before now from the offices of the American Bankers Association.
On October 23rd, the minimum hourly wage was raised to $.30, and the work week reduced to 42 hours. I am writing both to Pratt's Letter Service and to the General Counsel of the American Bankers Association to see if special bulletins cannot be prepared to cover interpretations to date concerning operations under the Wages & Hours Act.
In Pratt's Letter of November 4th, they stated that they were "advised on good authority that the Wage & Hour Division is revamping its explanation of the time for [overtime] plan; that the new explanation will be clarified; - will report later". When this information is received, I will pass it on to the members.

Bulletin No. 6 - Page Two

CHANGE OF BANKING HOURS
It is my information that the members of the greater Miami Clearing House Association have agreed upon banking hours of from 9:30 to 2 on five days and from 9:00 to 12 on Saturdays. The Palm Beach and West Palm Beach banks observe the hours of 10 to 12 five days and 9:30 to 12 on Saturdays. I also understand that quite a number of banks are contemplating going on a basis of 9:00 to 1:00 for five days and 9:00 to 12 on Saturdays. Please advise me immediately your bank's plans if you contemplate changing your hours.

A. B. A. ACTS TO RAISE MINIMUM FOR PROTESTED CHECKS
In a communication dated Oct. 27, 1939, Frank W. Simmonds, Senior Deputy Manager of the American Bankers Association, advised: "Following a survey wherein it was shown that a large majority of banks throughout the country favored raising the minimum on items subject to protest, you were informed on July 17, 1939, of the recommendation of the Bank Management Commission that banks alter their practice with respect to protecting checks by lifting the minimum from $10.01 to $50.01, that is to say that hereafter banks abstain from protesting items of $50.00 or less. Since that date, many clearinghouse associations have acted favorably on this recommendation."
"The commission was informed, however, that in order to facilitate the changing of the Federal Reserve collection rules to conform to its recommendation, it was desirable for the banks to express their wish for the change through formal action by the American Bankers Association."
"The Executive Council of the Association therefore adopted a resolution at the Annual Convention in Seattle, recommending this change, a copy of which as sent to each Federal Reserve Bank."
The Executive Council of the Florida Bankers Association at its meeting in Miami went on record approving this change.

THE MARCH OF PROGRESS
The Alfred I. DuPont Building in Miami, which was officially opened on October 23rd, is truly a monument, and the banking quarters of the Florida National Bank & Trust Company, on its second floor, would do credit to any of the financial centers of America.
The First National Bank of Miami has recently been air-conditioned and remodeled throughout.
The St. Lucie County Bank, at Forts Pierce, is extending its banking quarters and will have a fine room for its bookkeeping department, its directors; and will also have a new storage vault.

Bulletin No. 6 - Page 3

The Munroe & Chambliss National Bank, Ocala, recently remodeled its building and installed counter-height fixtures. A short time before, the Commercial Bank & Trust Company of that city renovated its quarters, installing counter-height fixtures.
The Merchants & Farmers Bank of Madison also has re-arranged its quarters and installed counter-height fixtures.
I will appreciate any items of interest concerning your official families and improvements in your banking quarters.

IN MEMORIAM
The bankers of Florida suffered a great loss in the death, on July 26, 1939, of their friend and fellow banker, James Simpson Reese, who had served for many years with honor as President of the Citizens & Peoples National Bank of Pensacola.

THE SEATTLE CONVENTION
My trip to the great Pacific Northwest will ever live in my memory, because of the many pleasant associations I enjoyed with bankers from all over the country. The scenery throughout the Canadian Rockies, around Banff and Lake Louise, leaves one breathless; and all in all, it was a real treat for a country boy.
My good friend, W. W. MacEachern, Vice-President of the American Bankers Association for Florida, has forwarded to you a bulletin which I consider a masterpiece, covering the Seattle convention. I was proud of the number of Florida delegates present, and I believe that such gatherings tend to renew one's enthusiasm for his chosen profession. Let's all of us start planning to attend the convention in Atlantic City next year.

CONGRATULATIONS
We are all happy that Stephen H. Fifield (Uncle Steve) was elevated to the presidency of the Financial Advertisers Association in Toronto in September. Jacksonville also was honored again when LeRoy Dart was justly rewarded for his long years of service in A. I. B. work by being made vice-president of the American Institute of Banking at its convention.
John L. Fahs, Vice-President of the First National Bank of Leesburg, was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for Florida by President Roosevelt in September. John's experience as a banker, civic worker, and legislator, qualify him to handle this important public office with honor to himself and his friends.
Friends of C. J. McCrocklin, Vice-President of the First National Bank, Tarpon Springs, were glad to learn of his appointment as a director of the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
HERE'S HOPING that each of you enjoys the Thanksgiving Holidays to the full - - - - - and that the HASH doesn't last too long.

J. Carlisle Rogers,
Secretary-Treasurer.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation moving the Thanksgiving holiday from the last Thursday of November to the second to last Thursday of the month to extend the holiday shopping season. The holiday was changed from November 30, the last day of the month, to November 23. Thirty-two states issued similar proclamations, but 16 states refused to make the change. Florida Governor Fred P. Cone decided not to move the date forward and left the holiday on its traditional day. The governor's decision received both praise and opposition, with many wanting to keep with tradition, while others criticized the governor for creating confusion throughout the state. Many Florida organizations chose one date to celebrate the holiday, while others recognized both days as Thanksgiving. The dispute remained unresolved in 1940 and 1941. The issue was finally settled on December 26, 1941, when President Roosevelt signed a joint resolution declaring the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.