The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-01-09

a federal reserve board at Washing
ton, appointed by the president, and
to consist of the secretary of the
treasury, the controller of the curren-
cy and five other members. Two Of
these shall be expert bankers, but
none shall have banking affiliations or
own bank stock during their service.
This board viii exercise general con-
troll over the entire system.
The temporary Organization com
mittee," or the federal reserve board,
will select from eight to twelve cities
where regional reserve banks shall be
located and will divide the entire
country geographically with these
cities as the centers of districts. All
national banks in a district will be
required to subscribe for the stock vi
the regional reserve bank in that dis
trict and to keep portion Of their
reserves there.
Known as Member Banks"
Local banks will be known as mem
Der banks" because they will own the
stock Of tie regional reserve bank
of their district Each member bank
will be required to take capital stock
of the regional reserve bank, equal to
G per cent. of the member banks CAPT
tai and surplus The capital OF the re-
gionaI bank will increase or decrease
so that it always represents per
cent of the combined capital and sur
| plus Of all the banks of the district
that have joined the system.
National banks are compelled to
join and state banks are permitted to
if they bring their reserve require
ments up to the standard set for ma
tional banks and submit to national
examinations.
Public Can Buy Stock.
Public ownership of the stock Of the
regional reserve banks is permitted
only in case enough banks do not join
in any district to provide a capital
stock Of 100000. In such event the
public may purchase the stock in
quantities limited to $4,000 for each
individual, but the voting of this stock
will be placed in the hands of govern
ment representatives on the board of
directors of the regional reserve bank.
The regional reserve banks may do
business only with their member
banks, not with the public, except that
certain open market operations such
ms the purchase and sale of gold, gov
eminent, or municipal bonds and GER
tain forms of bills of exchange, are
permitted These banks will make
their earnings from the loans made to
member banks, and from the purchase
and sale Of bonds and foreign bills OF
exchange.
Must Put Up Cash.
Member banks will be compelled tc
put up in cash only one-half Of their
subscription to the capital of the new
banks, the rest can be called for il
needed by the regional bank. Divi
dends Of 6 per cent. will be paid on
this stock to the member banks, anC
the stock will be non-taxable
After these dividends arc paid one
half of the surplus net earnings goes
to create a regional surplus fund, anC
when this has reached 40 per cent. Of
the regional banks paid in capita
these earnings are to go into the
United States treasury. The balances
Of the net earnings are to be paid tt
the United States as franchise tax
With the machinery thus created
for new banking system that is sup
Elementary to the commercial bank;
of the country, the law provides for {
gradual transfer Of part of the banl
reserves to these new reservoir
banks.
In order not to disturb business con
ditions, or to withdraw too suddenl!
the heavy deposits of country banks IL
the large cities, the law provides tina
three years may be consumed in shift
ing these balances and that, If neces
sary, part of the reserves transferred
to the regional banks may consist o
commercial paper.