The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-28
WANTS INFORMITION.
Comptroller Eckels Addresses a Commus
nication 10 Governor O.FerraII.

nication to Governor OferraIl
. Governor OForrall is in receipt OF n
| letter from Comptroller Eckels, OF wash
ington. wherein that gentleman asks for
certain information I'm regard 10 State
banks. Tho letter Is as follows:
II have the honor TO direct your at
tentiOn TO tho act OF Congress passed in
1873. incorporated into the revised sta
tutes OF the United States as section 3S3
authoriinZg the Comptroller OF the cur
rency 10 incorporate in his annual report
10 Congress- In addition TO specific iniOr-
nation relative TO national banks. a state
ment exhibiting under appropriate heads
the resources and liabilities and conditions
of the banks. banking companies, and
savings banks organized under tho laws
OF the several States and Territories. such
Information to be obtained by the Comp
trOller from The reports nude by such
banks, banking companies, and SAVINGS
banks TO the legislatures or officers or
the different States and Territories. aud
where such reports cannot be obtained tho
deficiency TO be supplied from such other
authentic sources as may be available.
Since that date and in compliance with
this provision Of law reports issued from
this bureau have contained all possible
. information obtainable in respect OF the
condition OF banks and banking instltu-
lions. As you are doubtless aware. mere
IS no other officer OF the United states
charged by law with the duty OF collect
. INK ana lNbi~ullE UtuhiliN NAfflrAiNr' 't'h
it is. therefore, necessary that the Comp
troler OF the Currency shall have the
required information and in order that
the most satisfactory rcGuis may be OBJ
talned that the data shall be compiled.
approximately az least. from the reports
OF the same date
at present. there are n number OF
States which make no provision Tor the
submission of reports from banks ana
bankers to any public officer OF the state
gsh .y Whit
nual report Of resources and liabilities r.
incorporated banking institutions. ana
still others which provide FOL the compllh-
ton and publication Of quite complete re-
turns, but toe late in the year for use
by this bureau IN the current report con-
sequently in such instances the iufOrma-
tion Is not available until aCOu; year
after It's receipt.
manner OF reporting may be secured,
have the honor to suggest that the at
tention CT the Legislature OF your state
be called TO the subject, and that 1t be
requested TO enact such legislation as
Will result in the submission 10 deSig-
mated public official Of the state OF re-
ports of condition by all banks, banking
Institutions. and private banks doing bust
ness in your State az tho same date on
which national banks are required 20
make their reports TO the Comptroller OF
the Currency. Provision should also be
made for the prompt tabulaton and pub
licatiOn CT these returns.
Il nclOss for your Information forms
for reports Of condition and OF div!dends
and earnings. furnished 10 national banks
by this bureau, and suggest that similar
forms be adopted and used by State banks
and bankers. a copy o. MY last annual
report 10 Congress. containing com
pilatiOn of the national bank act and a
digest OF national bank decisions. 10
gcther with other information OF interest
regarding foreign ana domestic systems
OF banking. has been addressed 10 You.
81 trust that AT the earliest practicable
date YOU Will give this matter careful
consideration and make such specific
recommendation TO your LEGISLATURE on
the subject as will result I'm the enactment
OF laws whereby the Comptroller Of the
Currency may fully comply with the act
of Congress hereinbelOre quoted.