Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-04-15
Alleged Violation Of Nation-
al Bank Act by Riggs
Officers
HINTS OF POLITICS
comptroller Williams Declines TO
1aih-Rcstort to Federal Grand
.Iny May be Result

JH'S Nay DC Result
Washington, April, -5-Intercst
! in The efforts Of the Riggs Nationa
! Bank TO get Injunction against Sec.
retary McAdoo and Comptroller OF
II. Currency Williams centers at
present on the question of whether
; these proceedings might not be over
snadcwed by 4 counterattack ailee-
ing violations of the national bank
act by the banks officials.
Mir. Williams declines to discuss
this phase Of the matter or to indi-
cate whether the governments ease
would 60 beyond civil proceedings
II became known, however, that care
ful consideration was being given to
all statements ana correspondence be-
tweon officials of the bank and the
eemptroller's office.
Before any decision is reached il.
respect to the Governments course,
it is said, every bit Of evidence in
its possession will he examined with
the greatest care, and resortt will be
mad TO a Federal grand jury only if
I Fl, s,1 al
WINGED the law has clearly been 40
laieG.
Louis D. Brandeis. special Govern
rnent counsel in the defense Of Secre-
tary McAdoo and Comptroller vii
Hams has been given an office in the
Department of Justice.
Comptroller Williams says every
effort will be made TO have the Cover
mtAt's answer 20 the complaint ready
Tor presentation to the District Of
Columbia Supreme Court on Friday
;lr. Brandeis IS expected, to write
ne answer. and Jesse c. Adkins and
United States District Attorney
..ISaey TO aid in the argumen: in
court.
There is much interest among law
gers in the suggestion that the Gov
crnment's fire. plea to the banks
complaint might he that the cou.'ts
lacked power to review an action of
IN, executive officer.
~ developments indicate that an .c'>
fort is to be made to injest politics
into the controversy between Comp
trcller of the Currency Williams and
the Riggs National Bank, to such an
cXttnl as will obscure the real is
sizes involved. Officials of the bank
lei ii lie known that they are seeking
tc enlist the support of the national
;.nis throughout the country %lt"
tie view of having it appear shal
they are fighting for the rlght:ul
privileges of these institutions against
the alleged usurpation of the Comp
!, olcr. 1t is intimated that pro@res:
already has been made in, this d;rec.
! 'ion
This move Of the accused officials is
! &c carded as exceedingly clever enc
/ !; has the effect among other things
ci strengthening the impression al
ready entertained in Democratic a:
well us Republican circles, that the
! Comptroller has permitted himself t.
: I,e nutdone az least in the contest o.
publicity. The big mistake w1icl
! Villains made. according to the hes
opirio obtainable here, was IN a!
lowing himself TO be drawn into
uDlicity contest al all.
/ TIE Comptroller indicates tha1 HI
. is entirely confident as to the tina
I outcome, and we'll informed Official
retain unshaken confidence that th'
facts will establish the problty OF M
refusal to sanction the acts for w;'lc!
the Riggs Bank was penalized unde
the rational banking laws.
Republican leaders have made u
thei, minds TO avail themselves o
whatever political capital they ca
make ont of the case, regardless o
the issue of right or wrong whlc
r-:,;; he disclosed.