Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-04-13
ACCUSES OFFICIALS
OF CONSPIRACY.
Riggs National Bank Would
Restrain McAdoo and
Williams.
PRESENT STATEMENTS
Comptroller Accusers Banks Off
GERS Of Serious Irregularities and
Unlawful Practices.

Washington. April l3-The long
standing feud between Secretary OIL
he Treasury McAdoo and Comptrol-
Ter of the Currency John SkeiSoI
Williams, on the one hand, and shn
Riggs National Bank of Washington
the local correspondent for the Matt.
onal City Bark of New York, on the
other, came to a head yesterday,
when the bank asked for an iniurc-
iiGn restraining the official from
further persecution" Of the com
plainant.
The suit is ono of the most extra
ordinary proceedings ever brought in
a Federal court against the admins
tration Of an executive department
Of the Government. 1t is sought
thereby to relieve Riggs bank from
undue and unwarranted' interior
ence on the part of the Treasury If
the affairs of the bank, though it Cd
mits the right of the Comptroller.
under the Federal National Bank act
TO supervise fully she operation of
the bank.
That the suit has long been Plan
ned was indicated by the careful
manner in which it and the reasons
for the proceedings were announced.
Copies Of correspondence betwean
the bank and the Treasury, sum-
mary Of the allegations in the court
hill and statement from the officials
of the bank were handed out in print
cd form in the Office of former Ser
ator Joseph w Bailey, OF Texas.
counsel for the plaintiff. Frank J.
Hogan of this city. is associated with
Senator Bailey in the case.
For two years the controversy be
tween the Treasury and the officers
Of the Riggs National Bank has been
carried on. Secretary McAdoo pre-
cipitated it whel. he ordered a clerk
of the hank renieved from the osiice
of: the Comptroller shortly after the
inauguration ior President Wilson.
This was followed by bitter reply.
Later the interested parties clashcf
over the absorption of the United
States Trust Company by the Nun.
::ey Trust Company, over the conlir-
nation of Mr. Williams as Comm
lrtoller and over other incidents con
.nected 4awith the Treasury administra-
ton.
The bill in equity filed in the Dis
trict of Columbia Supreme Court
Yesterday is directed at Secretary
McAdoo. Comptroller Williams and
Treasurer John Burke Mr. Burke IS
brought into the case for technical
reasons only; Thirty seven counts are
recited in the bill, alleging "unwar
ranted and unlawful exercise Of OF
fetal authority" by the three OIL
cials.
Specifically the bank alleges ths
the Treasury levied fine of S5eo'
against it and withheld that sum O
money from the interest on Govern
ment bonds owned by the Riggs m
.titution. Othe, penalties descr;he'
IS "excessive and ruinous" were I'm
posed, the bill states. These penal
ties are all cited. :.
An interview between MIR. McAuo
President Charles C. Glover ant
President Milton E. Allies Il
The Secretary's Office is also re1erF7
20. At this interview Mr. McAdoo ,
alleged to have advanced threaten
ingly toward syr. Allies and in gr>a
anger shouted, with q blasphenou
oath \ will order you but of m
office" and then turning to Mr.. GLOW
er said to him. Mr.. Glover, yo
know what that means to the Rige
National Bank
It is also averred in the bill th'
in May, 1914, Nh. McAdoo eliminate
he bank from its normal share
1he District Of Columbia taz none!
funds which it had been accustome
along with other national banks
Washington. to receive. The ruth