Evening star., 1915-04-17
Changes in Statement Forms
for Filing of Information
Explained by Mr.. Williams

In connection with the controversy
between the Riggs National Bank and
the office of the controller OF the cur
rency, 1t is said that the many changes
which have been made in the form OF
statement Of national banks since the
incumbency Of John Shelton Williams
as controller have largely been due to
the requirements and desires Of the
federal reserve board, and in fur
ther degree to the exactions Of the new
currency law.
These changes, 1t is declared, have
been for the purpose of extracting
more detailed and particular tnforma-
ton of the business dealings OF the
"The changes in the form of the ma
tional bank statement" Controller Will
liams declared this morning, were
made with a purpose to safeguard the
banks"
he has not had in mind any purpose
other than to obtain from every ma
tional bank all the legitimate informa-
ton available of an unequivocal sort.
He exemplified his statements by rel
erence to the orders concerning dlrec-
tors shares.
Instances have come to his knowledge,
he stated, where hundreds OF shares were
listed in the condition statement as in the
names of directors. whereas the directors
named really owned only a few shares
each. He declared that this order had
been intended merely to obtain honest in
formation on the subject.
Reiterates His Reasons.
He reiterated that he had no other pur-
pose in mind in promulgating any Of the
orders for further information in the
banks statement Of affairs than to obtain
in definite form information that the vel
fare of the banks demanded should be in
the possession of the office Of the control
Ter.
Among other orders issued from time to
time, increasing the Information required
in the statement of condition, are for
items of overdraft and losses therefrom
paper eligible for rediscount at federal re-
serve banks. and displacing the blanket
statement of bond and stockholding with
requirement for statement Of the num-
beG and value of United States, munich
pal and other bonds held.
The Riggs Bank. Controller Williams
said to a reporter for The Star. is the
only national bank that has refused to
give all the information SO demanded.
Other banks have been slow or reluctant.
but have finally acquiesced. The demands
for these details. however. have made
quite discussion In banking circles.
Form 213.' on which are prepared the
statements of national banks, before
the advent Of Controller Williams, was
more or less a fixed form. The first
change came in the form sent out May
IL, in which were inserted several items
for information regarding relations
with the federal reserve system. as to
stock in federal banks, and all other
stocks. separately from bonds and
other securities, and liabilities to re-
serve agents. Then Information was
asked regarding the value of time GER
tificates of deposits due within thirty
days, and such as were payable after
thirty days. The value of United
States bonds and other bonds, bor-
rowed on collateral or without COL
lateral, was the subject of four items
of information required. Bonds loaned
provided new minor statement. with
items regarding the value of United
States bonds owned by the bank and
loaned, after bonds owned and loaned
United States bonds borrowed and