The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-13
RIGGS BANK
(continusd FROM rir.. Pare,

dent OF the bank. and said to G. 4.
Glover. its president:
Mr.. Glover, you know what this
means to the Riggs National bank
Meaning thereby" the bill ADDS.
that from that time on the power OF
the treasury department would be ag-
gressively used for the animation and
destruction OF the plaintiff bank IN
order TO satisfy the personal malice
and i'll will OF said defendants WI
liams and McAdoo and shortly after
ward the said defendants Williams
and McAdoo began a series OF perse-
cutions against the plaintiff bank Tor
the purpose of impalring or destroy
ing 1t said business thereby prostitu-
ting their high public office and vlo-
lating their oaths In order to vent
their personal vindictiveness against
the officers OF the plaintiff bank"
A few months later. the plaintiff
AYERS. the bank was notified by G. S.
Hamlin. now governor of the federal
reserve board. but then assistant sec
rotary OF the treasury in charge OF
the fiscal bureau. that Secretary Nc
Adoo purposed TO exclude the Riggs
from a share of deposits TO cover the
which deposits by custom are divided
among the national banks of the Dis
trict.
Withdraw All Funds.
Mr.. McAdoo later wrote to Mr..
Glover. the complaint states. declin-
INK TO explain why such action should
be taken. and announcing at the same
time his intention OF Withdrawing all
government funds from that bank.
subsequently,. IL is alleged, govern
ment deposits amounting to over
100000. were withdrawn from the
bank. including Panama canal de-
posits amounting at one time to
N.15s.479.
These Withdrawals were brought
about by Secretary McAdoo. Il Is
charged. at time when the European
war and the business depression in
the United States had made banks
husband their resources and I'm a
deliberate attempt to wreck the plain.
tim bank. in the execution OF the con-
spiracy existing between him and the
Defendant Williams for that purpose"
For almost a year. the bill AYERS.
the comptroller has bombarded the
Riggs National with demands for spe-
cial reports OF many sorts. exceeding
the inquisitorial and visitatorial pow.
ers vested in him.
A Strong Statement.
Comptroller Williams issued a state.
ment tonight in which he said:
Il have not seen the bill nled by
the complaintants but have read the
extracts furnished by the press:
The recent investigation Of the at
fairs Of the Riggs National bank dis.
closed irregularities and unlawful
practices on the part OF certain Of
hcers Of sufficient importance 10 merit
their reference TO the department OF
justice and that department engaged
the services Of Lewis D. Brandeis OF
Boston. several weeks ago a. special
counsel in the case. and ~ ~ consis-
tent with the attitude Of these officers
to attempt by unwarranted and IN
true statements TO place themselves
and the bank in a position 81 mar
tyrdom az the hands OF the admins
tratiOn.
1T Is not the practice OF this depart
ment 10 discuss In the public press
the affairs 81 any national banking
association. but since the officers IN
question have had the temerity 10 sub
init this matter TO the court this Office
Is prepared 20 show condition 81
Affairs In the management Of this IN
stitution which fully warranted the
action taken by this office The hank
Il solvent The interests 81 the Dc.
pOsitOrs have been safeRuarded by
the actions q the comptroller's Of
nee. but ~ the methods and practices
% had been permitted 10
continue the results would have been
serious. The evidence will abundant.
~ show that Il has been necessary Tor
this Office 10 seek 10 terminate the
reprehensible practices Of the Officers
In question and their misuse ~ the
powers delegated 20 them by the &C.
rccfors
The penalty Imposed for failure
70 make reports. the collection of
which penalty they seek 90 have en-
Joined. Slows out 81 their unwilling
ness to disclose the true nature OF
the transactions engaged in"
~ wonder how Me- tnEieigh g., her