The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-14
WILSON APPOINTS
WILLIAMS DESPITE
INS|DIOuS ATTACKS
Throws Down the Gauntlet to
Enemies Of Virginian in SEN
ate and Names Comptroller
of Currency.
Nomination Creates No Sur
prise. and Opposition is Not
as Outspoken as Formerly.
Swanson and James are
Active.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-President
Wilson sent to the senate today the
name OF John Shelton williams, of
Virginia, TO be comptroller of the cur
rency. Mr.. Williams is at present as
sistant secretary at the treasury In
charge OF fiscal affairs under the
present administration. AS comptrol-
Ter of the currency he will be ex
ofiicio member OF the federal reserve
board along with the secretary OF the
treasury.
The nomination Of Mr.. williams
created no surprise. For several
months II has been known In Wash
ington that he would secure the APP
pointment. His greatest asset was the
friendship OF Secretary McAdoo.
Wf1MAnas IN Charge.
Several months ago. after Lawrence
o. Murray resigned from the office
and Thomas p. Kane. deputy comp
troffar; bera1ne acting comptTUIrer. Az
sistant Secretary Williams was given
practical control OF the Office OF comp
troiler. He participated actively in
the work OF closing the F1rst-Second
National Bank OF Pittsburg. and also
gave directions respecting the persons
mel OF tho comptrolier's Officers. He
was responsible for the order which
excluded from tina cumptrolier's Office
OF ycnng woman clerk who had been
employed for years by the National
City Bank Of New York to obtain and
forward Information to the bank after
It had bceu received 1T the comptrol-
ler's ONCE. and II was changed before
10 was availabis for public sc.
In sending to the senate the name
OF Mr.. Williams to be comptroller,
President Wilson has thrown down
the gaNnslet ~ tho eenate. He was adj
was obpos4tion 70 the appointment and
that he would have difflculty IN having
the nomination confirmed.
Just before the holiday recess sem
ators who usually represent the adj
ministration view IN the senate were
actively seeking to allay the threaten
ed opposition. Yesterday these Ac-
tivftics were resumed.
Senator Swanson, Of Virginia, and
Senator James. of Kentucky, exerted
their utmost persuasive powers TO try
feet.
Investigate Merger.
One Of the most prominent Repub-
hcan senator's stated today that he
would probably introduce a resolution
to investigate the action Of the secre-
tary OF the treasury In connection with
the absorption by the Munsey Trust
company OF the United States Trust
company in Washington few weeks
ago. He explained that the reasons
existed for Withholding the resolution
at the time there was 80 much dis
cussion in the newspapers in regard
to the affair. no longer exists. At the
time the Introduction of such a resolu-
ton was being considered. several sem
ators expressed the fear that TO start
an investigation into the Munsey Trust
company deal would be to increase
alarm among depositors and start a
run on financial institutions. The
charge In the Mnnsey case, made by
a Republican newspaper. was that As
s!stAnt Secretary Williams placed one
million dollars Of public funds at the
disposal of the Munsey Trust COM
pany, of which his brother. r. Lam
caster Williams. Is a director, to as
stst that institution and meet pos
sible run following the announcement
that 1t had taken over the United
States Trust company.