Arizona republican., 1913-12-23
Provisional President Is sues Decree Permitting Banks to Do as Little or as Much Business as They Desire Until January 1
SAYS HE HAS
 RIGHT TO DO so
Believes Such Step Neces- sary i'll Order to Prevent
 Ruinous Raid on Insti- tutions Before Semblance of Confidence is Restored
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPArcHI

MEXICO CITY. December 22.-BY presidential decrec issued this after noon every day, until January l, in cluding today. has been made d legal holiday in order to check the run on the banks here particularly that on the Bank of London of Mexico. on the promulgation Of this decree the Bank of London of Mexico opened it's doors. but refrained from paying de posits.
 President Huerta says in the decree ne deemed this action necessary to protect the banks until the public confidence has been more nearly re- stored. By the decree the banks are absolved from meeting any obliga- tions until January .. It applies to all banking houses. whether banks of issue or not With the exception of the Bank of London of Mexico and the Central bank, none has yet taken advantage of the decree. the business of the other institutions being con ducted as usual.
 The directors of the Bank of Lon don of Mexico began tonight care full scrutiny of the affairs of that in stitution, and if their findings are indorsed by other bankers, 1t is not improbable assurances will be offered the directors which will enable a full resumption of the business Of that institution It is reasonably certain. however the bank will continue to avail itself of the decree of President Huerta issued today. making the last ten days of the present year legal holidays
 With the possible exception of one other institution, ii is believed the Bank of London of Mexico will be the only one to take advantage Of the official cdict which authorizes the financial institutions to do as little or as much business as they desire during what is regarded as the finan- cIal crisis. Huetta's right to issue the decree was the result of the action of congress just prior to ai- Journment when il vested him with extra aordinary power over the three departments of the government i'm cIuding the department of finance The decrec recites it is issued in accordance with this vested power.
 Cruiser at Topic?
 HERMCSILLO. December 22-An American cruiser is lying off san Bias, Topic, today, according to in- formation received tonight at consti- tutionalist headquarters san Bias is held by insurgent forces While it was not made clear what reason the American ship had for being in the neighborhOOd, it is believed that the purpose is to confer with the consti- tutiOnalist governor of the state re sarding the reported imprisonment or w. s. Windham and J M Dunn. Americans. Since the announcement from Washington that q cruiser has been sent tO investigate, the two men have been located and it is said the story of their imprisonment by the insurgent officials repudiated Emphatic denial was made in ali quarters here of the report from Mexico City that the constitutional ists have been defeated at MazatIan and Topic. It is pointed out that the capital had absolutely no means of communication with those west coast points It is denied that any fight ing had occurred within the last fort night.