The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-07
TACOMA MEN AFTER It.
An Effort Being Made to Divide
the Northwestern Banking
District
Two Candidates From Washing.
ton State Out for tho New
appointment.
A Division Of the District VIII Create
= Lucrative Office for a Bank
Examiner.


Rufus j. Davis, tho assistant cashier of
the Merchants National bank of Tacoma,
and u. w. Bird, auditor of the Tacoma
Railway and Motor company, arc candi-
dates for the appointment Of special bank
in case the northwestern dis
tiict ID divided as expeoteI. The appoint
ment belongs to the controller Of the cur
rsncy. subject to the approval of the accre-
tary OF the treasury. It is said that strong
recommendations in favor Of both gentle
men have been filed with the controller, as
q change in the present arrangement il ex-
pected this spring.
Inc district is now composed OF Wash
inRton, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, with
W. Il. Head, Of Spokane, as special ok
aminer, whose duties, under the treasury
department. rules, are to carefully examine
tho affairs of each national bank in the dis
trlct, 1T the banks expense, once each year.
Inc value of the position can DO calculated
when it is said that this district now con-
talns about $50 national banks which pay
the examiner an examination fee of from
$50 TO 500 yearly, according as their cap
ital is large or small. It ia estimated that
the position now yields the examiner an in
come Of from $1,000 to $4,000 a year, out
of which hs must pay his travelling and
other expenses. .@a
The plan Of change, as unfolded by g
hnancler to a reporter of the News is to cut
the district III two and have Washington
and Oregon in one district and Idaho and
Montana another. A division something
like this will be made if the plan is con-
summaries; MIR. Head will retain one Of
the districts and the other will be given to
the new appointee. -
It is said that Congressman John j.. Will
son ia one Of the chief ones interested in
having the change made, the story being to
tho effect that the doughty congressman and
bis Spokane friends were displeased with
Examiner Heald's official actions in CON
nectlon with the closing of the Spokane
National bank over a year ago.
Now That the number Of banks in his
jurisdiction has largely increased they will
use their influence, it is said, to nave the
district divided and his revenue thus cut
Town. This influence, combined with that
OF western Washington and Portland, will
be sufficient, it is thought, to secure from
the treasury department. the division and
the new appointment. This expectation is
augmented by the fact that this is presi-
dental election year and consequently not
n bad time to increase the federal patron
age.
Bank Examiner Head will not talk about
the proposed change, saving the matter OF
division was entirely discretionary with the
controller of the currency, ana that lie knew
nothing about it. Mr.. Davis is understood
to have the backing Of the Washington
delegation to congress for the new place.
MI. Bird has the Influential uppor Of
Senator Dolph of Oregon, who is said to
stand closer to the Harrison administra-
ton than any other man in the Northwest.
Mr.. Davis says that he has not filed an APP
plication, but that his friends had spoken to
him about il, hoping to get the appointment
for Tacoma. -.D