_Second_: Gallatin proposed a Clearing House for New York in 1831. Hallock established it in 1853. Boston and Philadelphia followed in three and five years, respectively. In 1899, New England became a free check zone, all checks being received at par at Boston. Since then several other cities have followed suit. Atlanta, Macon, Nashville, Sedalia and Kansas City. Now, I have said everything you said. Next! UNCLE SAM: Mr. Laboringman always gets a "B" line on things. MR. LAWYER: That is true in substance, but the very fact that Mr. Laboringman has stated the case so well is the greatest compliment he could pay us. It is only by iteration and reiteration, word upon word, and precept upon precept, that has made this whole subject so plain to all of us. We have made haste by going slowly, and we don't want to get into a hurry now. MR. BANKER: I agree with you, Mr. Lawyer, patience has been our best and truest friend in all these talks, and we should not desert her now. MR. LABORINGMAN: That's all right, but let us get down, right down to business. Just where are we at now? And where are we going to in the Clearing House matter? MR. BANKER: We are now going to discuss the Clearing House from five points of view. _First_: The Clearing House, from its original standpoint--New York was the pioneer, and is probably our highest type. Its clearings are certainly by far the largest in the world. _Second_: The clearing of country checks, of which Boston was the pioneer in a large way, although preceded in point of time by Sedalia, Mo., a country city of only 15,231 people in 1900. _Third_: The examination of all banks clearing through the Clearing House, of which Chicago was the pioneer, starting June 1, 1906--and probably the best type, although there are today about twenty cities following in her footsteps, including the following: Minneapolis, Feb. 1, 1907; St. Paul, May 1, 1908; St. Louis, Oct. 11, 1907; Los Angeles and San Francisco following upon the heels of St. Louis; Kansas City, March 1, 1908; St. Joseph, the early part of 1909; Philadelphia, April 5, 1909; New York, 1912, with others, not mentioned, making twenty in all. _Fourth_: The centralization of the reserves of the banks at the Clearing Houses, as a matter of convenience in settling balances, and carrying on their common business generally, but subsequently for the purpose of facilitating the issuance of Clearing House certificates.