The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-16
Strength of Numbers and
Arguments Have Visible
Effect Upon Secretaries
McAdoo and Houston.
DELEGATION CROWDS
WILLIAMS OFFICE
Scene Of Hearing Too Small to
House Comfortably Those
Who Appear to Present
Richmond's Claims For
Regional Reserve Bank.
By CLAYTON j. YOUNG.

WASHINGTON, II. u, Jan. Ill
strength OF numbers and buoyant en-
thusiasIn counts for anything, Rich
mond Ia assured Of being named as
the location of one of the new fed
eral reserve banks. AZ her hearing
held today before Secretary McAdoo
and Secretary OF Agriculture Houston,
\ she outnumhcred the delegation pres
emit at the hearings Of Washington and
n Baltimore held here yesterday by at
least five to ono, and made good
--lrapsessinn-u pep-+Ae- federal -s-#ssa ~
cation committee.
Long before the hour set for the
hearing John Shelton Williams office
B In the Treasury building began to fill
and In a short time seats were at a
s premium. The air was charged with
excitement and whenever one OF the
dignitarses from Virginia entered he
was greeted with round upon round
OF applause.
Claims Presented.
With a delegation that outnum-
bered that OF Washington and Ralti
more by at least five TO one. filling
the room to 5TE capacity and Ieaylns
the overflow tostlGng for room at the
two doors, The claims of Richmond 70
be named as the location of one OF the
new federal reserve banks were hid
before Secretary McAdpo and Score
tary Of Agriculture Houston.
There were more than 100 persons
present at the hearing, which lasted
nearly three hours. and AL least afty
..nf these had to stand throughout all
4 Of It
Besides the members of the regular
committees who represented the tssszTa-
mercial interests OF Richmond. there
Z were present Governor Mann. Gov
ernor-ciect Stuart, Ex-Governor Mon
faguc. Senator Swanson. Secretary of
- ~ fhy>tr-
ernor Ansel, Of South Carolina, Sem
Ator Martin and Representative Car
I ter Glass and many others.
Outlines Situation.
The meeting was called TO- order
about $50 o'clock by Secretary Nc
4 Adoo. who said that he regretted the
fact that UnsJe Sam had not provided
gathering He briefly outlined the
situation. and told the purpose Of the
meeting. saying that he understood Il
Great deal of the conditions in Rich
mond. and asking that each speaker
be as brief as possible.
He then called upon the frst speaker.
George ]. Seay. who said that he was
there representing the banking and
financial interests OF Richmond.
-zrF--- Mr. Seay was armed with ali OF the
etatisttcs and other data he has conn
piled within the last two weeks; the
ones that he so effeetuaIly used when
with the missionary tour through
North and South Carolina and he at
once unlimbered the battery of his
: 0ratortcal powers. He laid Richmonds
Arguments and claims before the gath
Il Nring in one Of the most able and mas
{ terful speeches he has made since en-
GaEing in the campaign.
.- He read the figures which show how
n Richmond compares favorably with all
& Of the cities OF the South and outrAnks
most OF them in her banking business
II He laid before the committee in
direct and convincing manner how
" Richmond In geographically situated to
4 handle all of the banks In the territory
suggested by him.. inasmuch as II ia
within twelve hours, distance from all
II points la the proposed district.
Raises Laughter.
a He evoked considerable laughter
h when In reading a list OF the names OF
several Southern cities giving their
Banking figures. he by courtesy In
4 cIuded Washington.
81 He said that providence" had
4 selected and fitted Richmond as the
4 location OF a reserve bank and he felt
i sure that the committee would carry
out what Providence had started. Here.
There was mere laughter when Mr..
y AIcAdoo told him he did not see why
Il the aid OF SUCH large committee was
q needed: also that 1t looked as though
MI OF Richmond was present.
Mr.i McAdon asked him " the Rich
m0nd banks paid interest on the bal
ances left there by banks of other cities
n and was told that they paid two or
u three per cent, and that Richmonds
loans to the banks OF the Southern
States total about fourteen million doll
lars
d Mr.. Seay said that he had II on good
II anthority that the merchandise traffic