The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-30
SEVEN lawyers
TO fight RIGGS
Employment Of Samuel Inter
myer Increases Counsel
For Government.
DID NOT OFFER SERVICES
Justice Department Says New York
Attorney Was Swayed By Friend
ship With McAdoo.

| Official announcement of the employ
ment of Samuel Untermyer as one of the
counsel for the government in the injunc-
ton suit brought by the Riggs National
Bank against Treasury officials, brings
the number of lawyers so engaged up to
seven. They are: Attorney General
Gregory. Solicitor General Davis. Assist
ant Attorney General Warren, former
Assistant Attorney General Adkins,
! Louis d. Brandeis. of Boston: Samuel
Untermyer Of New York: and United
States District Attorney Laskey, of the
District of Columbia.
In connection with the employment of
Mr.. Cntermyer. the Department of JUS
tiCe last evening announced that Mr.
UEtermyer did not volunteer his services,
nor show any desire TO be retained by
the government. that previous profess
sional engagements made him reluctant
to accept the employment rendered, and
that he did so because OF his long years
of friendship with Secretary McAdoo
Also. that Mr.. Untermyer has not been
employed in the litigation in any subor-
dinate capacity
Burleson in Conference.
Perhaps the most interesting develop
ment of the day was the presence of
Postmaster General Burleson at some of
the conferences. particularly that be-
tween Secretary McAdoo and Mr.. IN
tcrmyer. Mr.. Burleson's department
has nothing whatever to do with the
bank controversy. He is the political ad-
wiser of the President. and his personal
activity in this case would seem to indi-
cate that the administration fears the
controversy between the Treasury and
the bank may assume a political phase
This result the administration is most
anxious to prevent.
When asked if he was serving voun-
tarily without pay, Mr.. Untermyer re-
piled:
My services will be paid for by the
Department of Justice
beyond that he refused to say woro
about the case. After several confer
ences Mr.. Untermyer returned yester-
day afternoon to New York without in
timatinS when he would return. and fiat
~ declining to state exactly what part
he would have in the proceedings
Mr.. Untermyer arrived in Washington
accompanied by considerable retinue
and two large boxes of his favorite or
chids. one of which he wears each morn
ing in his buttonhole. Others he dis
tributed among Washington friends. Mr..
Brandeis declined to discuss any phase
of the case. Attorney General Gregory
maintained an air of secrecy.
ComptrOller's Case Weak.
The report was again emphasized in
banking circles. however, that Attorney
General Gregory and Mr.. Brandeis have
both held, after an exhaustive investiga-
ton of the papers. that the comptroller
has not 4 good case against the bank. |
1t was said that three other members OF
the Cabinet hold similar views-Post- |
master General Burleson. Secretary of
War Garrison, and Secretary of the In |
terror Lane. lawyers of the cabinet.
Mr. Untermyer held an early confer |
ence yesterday morning with Attorney |
General Gregory and Mr.. Brandeis, and |
they. accompanied by Postmaster Cen |
eral Burleson, visited Secretary McAdoo |
at his residence. |
The Riggs Bank people stated last |
night that they were undisturbed by the |
increase in the array of counsel for the |
government They deny that they will |
increase their legal staff.
We have good counsel and good i
case and are thoroughly satisfied with |
the situation said an officer of the |
bank. |