The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-15
WANT COMMITTEE
. TO DEFINE LIMITS
OF REGIONAL BANK
Richmond and Columbia
Agree on Plan Of
Procedure.
THEN CITIES WILL.
MAKE THEIR FIGHT
First Effort Will Be to Secure
Wholly Southern Territory in
One Reserve District, With
Struggle of municipalities
for Selection Coming {
Afterwards.
Especial 70 Tho Times-Dlspatol. !

Especial 70 The Times Dispatcii.]
Columbia, S. c.. January 14.-Tho
national committee charged with tho
selection of cities for regional reserve
banks under the new currency law to-
morrow afternoon Will be asked to de-
fno tho limits of the Southern region
by committee OF bankers represent
Ing Richmond and Columbia. Members
OF the delegations representing the two
cities that have been contending for
the establishment OF one of tho region
al banks, following n long conference
mere to-day in tho rooms of tho Cham
Der of Commerce, left tonight for
Washington and Will tomorrow after
noon appear before the national com
mittee. The hearing has been called
for $3.50 o'clock.
That the cities Of the South first
ma out definitely the boundaries OF
the new reserve region for the States
or the South, and not to select the city
Tor the reserve bank, was decided upon
at tho meeting this afternoon. when
the delegation from Richmond appear
ed before the special committee OF
South Carolina bankers to ask that
Columbia withdraw from tho contest
and support the claims Of the Virginia
capital.
Those I'm Attendance.
Members OF tho Richmond delepa
ton were John NJ. Miller, Jr, Thomas
B. McAdnms, III. f. Smith and w. It.
Dabney. Representing the bankers of
Savannah were Courtney Thorpe and
r. R. Wilmington. Members of the
special committee of South Carolina
bankers present were r. G. Rhett.
Charleston; J. w. Simpson, Spartan
burg; r. I. Manning, SUMTER w. A.
Clark. Columbia: ]. Pope Matthews,
Columbia: 3. II. Taylor. Columbia.
w. j. Roddey. OF Rock Hill. was un-
able to attend Bright Williamson,
president OF the South Carolina Bank
erS Association attended the meeting.
Tonight r. G. Rhett, j. Pope Mat
thews and Bright Williamson, repre-
senting tho South Carolina bankers. left
for Washington with the delegation
from Richmond. Several weeks ago
Richmond bankers launched a move
ment TO secure regional bank for
the Virginia capital Tho special del
egation iert richmond n week ago and
mas been visiting the cities and towns
or North Carolina and South Carolina
In an effort to have Richmond indorsed
for the bank. Bankers in spartan
burg indorsed Columbia first as a
matter of State pride, with Richmond
second. but they were desirous of hav-
ing the South Carolina capital with
draw In favor Of the Virginians. ]. w.
simpson representing the bankers of
SpartanburB, told tho members Of the
conference to-day that as a matter Of
state loyalty the Spartanburg bank
a.
they would like to see Columbia WIN
draw from the field. T. B. Thackston
was present at the conference to bring
message from Greenville bankers.
He assured those present that the
mountain city was loyal to Columbia,
but that the city had been practically
pledged to Richmond, even before tho
movement was launched to have a bank
established In Columbia. He thought
that tho Virginia city was tho logical
point.
Savannah Opposes Richmond.
Savannah bankers present were on
posed to the selection OF Richmond.
Ihey argued that Columbia was more
SUITABLY located than the Virginia cap
itaL They. however, argued that Sa-
vannah Is the logical point. Claims OF
Hichmond as to mail facilities, geo
graphical location. commerce, RAILWAYS
and banking were stressed in talks bv
the members OF the delegation They
declared that the city Is the logical
point In the South for the bank
FOLLOWING the presentation Of tho
claims by the Richmond delegation.
the South Carolina bankers committee
went Into an executive session
Upon return, it was stated that Co
lumbia would not support tho claim
OF Richmond, but that the best course
10 pursue would be to have the ma
tional committee first name tho lines
LOT the district, and then let the vari-
Gus cities present their claims for the
regional bank. Tho Richmond delega-
tlon agreed to this proposition, and
the light now Will be to secure a
southern regional territory. Tho pro-
posed territory is to include all cities
south OF Washington. including the ma
tioIlal capital In the States of yir-
ginla, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Georgia, Florida and parts OF Tennes-
sec and West Virginia
IL was announced to-day that tho
claims OF Columbia for regional bank
VIII be heard by the national commit
zee, which is composed OF Secretary
McAdoo, Secretary Houston and John
Skelton Williams, Comptroller Of the
currency, on February H. Every
MEMBER of the special COMMITTEES of
seven representing tho bankers oe
south Carolina will attend this hear
ing in Washington
McLaurin's Statement.
tha Following statements by Senator
John l.. McLaurin Will appear in to-
morrow's South Carolina papers:
or course. I would like to see the
tederal reserve bank located in CO.
lumbia, but, IL this is impossible,
.hink 1t would De much more advant-
lSeous Tor II 10 be located In Rich
mond, rather than In Atlanta
Richmond IS more OF banking
centre than Atlanta, because Richmond !.
borrows comparatively little money,
and always has it to lend Richmond
also has nest or It's business connec-
tions with North Carolina and South 9
and there are very fow banks
Of any size in either OF these Statcs
that have not n correspondent among s5
tho banks of Richmond. do not