The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-15
Riggs Officials Receive Ten
ders of Support in Contest
With Comptroller
Declare Williams
Exceeds Authority
Tired of Genuine, Thorough
going Investigations They
VIII Try to Get Congress
to Abolish Williams Office

Washington. April 1T Both sttes
IN the struggle between the Riggs Ma
tioral Bank and Comptroller Will
liams ana Secretary McAdoo were
enga eed today in getting ready for
the fight in the courts which will
begin on Friday
Evidence today clearly indicated
that he fight already is assuming
proportions far beyond the mere re-
latipns between this powerful Wash
lngtou bani, and the treasury otiicia ~
Bankers in al parts of the country
are manifes;lne a keen interest ia
tho proceedings, and from many who
are under the direct supervision OF
Comptroller Williams have come ex-
pressions Of support and sympathy
Tor the Riggs Bank officials. Il is
said that iii some cases the express
sion of confidence on the part of the
bankers has assumed "a more sub
steUtial form than "A mere message
OF sympathy.
Chatting Under Supervision.
'fhe big question which l. over
shaduwlng all personal controversies
between the Riggs Bank officers and
tho treasury officials IL that OF the
powers OF tho Comptroller under the
law, Ii Is said that many national
banks ma particularly those in the
big cities IL. the East. have been chat
ing f9r months under the demands
which have heen mad upon them by
Comptroller Williams for reports and
inf0l nation ia regard TO their affairs
These demands 1t is asserted. have
involved mere trouble and expense
thar any that were ever made by
previous Comptroilers of the Cur
reney
The power Of the comptroller 10
make these demands has been ques-
toned by many bankers. but the mat
ter never has been passed Oh by the
courts. The proceedings begun by the
RIGGS Bank officers viii therefore. test
OFT this general question for the banks
OF the country. and viii determine to
what extent officials al Washington
, shall he able To pry into their affairs.
In this connection the issue raised
By the Riggs Bank court proceedings
lis certain TO ind its way into Con
gress with the conVenlng Of the next
session.
Nsuid Abolish once,
The matter already had been con-
s.dered h5 some of the Congress lead e.
ers quietly before the adjournment of
the last session 1t. p8s learned today
thai blu was drawn by IA prominent
Western Republican providing for the
aboIIshing of the officer of comptroller
Of the currency. IL was the couten .
tton OF This Republican that the cres-
ton OF the Federal Reserve Board had
made the Office OF comptroller super
faous and that his duties ought To
he exercised by the Federal Reserve
BOARD. This bill viii be introduced AT
the beginning of the next session
The two sections Of the national
banking act which are up for inter-
probation In the present court proceed
ings are sections 521t and 52i3. The
former section provides that every ma
tional bank shall make TO the Comp
troller OF the Currency not less than
five reports during each year accord
ing to the form which may be pre-
scribed by him. These reports shall
exhibit in detail the resources and
liabilities Of the bank on date
specified by him. The same section
contains this grant of power:
May Call for Special Reports.
The Comptroller shall also have
power to cali for special reports from,
any particular association whenever in
his Judgment the same are necessary