The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-13
CLAIM M'ADOO AND
 WILLIAMS PLOTTED
 TO WRECK BANK
Continued from Page one,

treasurer of the United States to with hold the payment of the interest.
 In this connection the bill alleges that MT. McAdoo had usurped' the power of the treasurer.
 The bill asks that MT. Williams be en- joined from revoking the Riggs designa- tfon as depository for the reserves of other national banks or refusing to ap- prove it as such depositary. An injunc- ton to restrain MT. McAdoo from usurp- ing the powers of the treasurer of the United States also is asked. The court also is asked to find the sections of the revised statutes dealing with the examina- tions of banks unconstitutional and void If they must be construed as they have been and are being construed and en- forced by the defendants.
 The banks officers tonight gave out a statement outlining at length their view of the events of the last year which led up to the proceedings of today, along the lines of the sworn statement in the bill of complaint.
 Comptroller Williams issued this statement tonight:
 "I have not seen the bill filed by the complainants. but have read the ex- tracts furnished the press.
 "The recent investigations of the af- fairs of the Riggs National bank dis closed irregularities and unlawful practices on the part of certain off cers of sufficient importance to merit their reference to the department oi justice and that department engaged the services of Louis D. Brandeis of Boston some weeks ago as special counsel in the case, and it is consistent With the attitude of those officers to attempt by unwarranted and untrue statements to place themselves and the bank in a position of martyrdon al the hands of the administrations.
 Bank Is Solvent
 Ut is not the practice of this de- rartment to discuss in the public press the affairs of any national banking association, but since the officers in question have had the temerity to sub init this matter to the court this ot- flee is prepared to show a condition of affairs. in the management of this in- sttution which fully warranted the action taken by this office. The bank Is solvent. The interests of the de- positors have been safeguarded by the actions of the comptroller's office, but il the methods and practices com plained of had been permitted to con tinue the results would have been se- rious The evidence will abundantl, show that 1t has been necessary for this office to seek to terminate the reprehensible practices of the officers in question and their misuse of the Towers delegated to them by the di- rectors.
 "The penalty imposed for failure tc make reports, the collection of whiel penalty they seek to have enjoined grows out of their unwillingaess tt disclose the true nature of the trans actions engaged in.
 "The whole purpose of the depart ment has been to require the bank tt give up the unlawful and dangerous practices and methods which had beer in vogue for years past and which hat threatened alike the welfare and sc ourity of both shareholders and depos itors. and to require the bank to con form to the plain requirements of thu national bank act, and to the reguIa. lions of the office of the comptroller ol the currency.
 Asked Information Tn it's efforts to ascertain the req truth in regard to the operations spe affairs of the Riggs National bank let ters were from time to time dirsets, to the bank from the office of tf, comptroller of the currency for In formation. These requests for data II various cases were refused and of March 30 the Riggs National bank Wal notified of the imposition of a pen atty of 35000 under section 5213 of th' 1 United States revised statutes, for iti l refusal to furnish information to tn, ccmptroller's office in regard to it | affairsl
 .On April the comptroller of th'