The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-13
U. s. Treasury Officials Made Defendants in Suit
 by National Bank
PLAINTIFFS BRING 32
 SPECIFIC CHARGES
Secretary McAdoo Had Row With e Official of Bank, Is Claim, and Threatened 10 Ruin
 the Institution

iut iFtDSuft ucAooD 1ua Oo"pfFofleF of the Currency Williams were made defendants today in proceedings begun in the District of Columbia supreme cohsy by the Riggs National bank of Washington. D. C., which alleges that these officials have combined and con- spired to wreck the bank.
 Temporary and permanent njunctions to halt the alleged conspiracy and to prevent the comptroller from making what the bank charges are unlawful de- niands for special reports of various kinds. are sought from the court.
 One portion of the prayer seeks to re- strain John Burke. treasurer of the United States. from payment into the treasury of S50o0 declared to be due the bank as interest on Sl,0o0,000 of United States bonds deposited with the comptroller against it's note circulation. This inter- est was withheld to cover penalties of sloo a day for the banks failure to make certain reports Once paid into the treas urv, only an act of Congress could get the s500o out, and Justice Mccoy late today granted temporty injunction on this phase of the case.
 The justice set April 16 as the day for answer by the defendants to show cause why permanent injunctons should not issue.
 Thirty-Seven Allegations
 The banks bill of complaint contains Sf specific allegations designed to show that the comptroller has adopted unusual and legally questionable tactics in deal ing with the institution. It reeites that evidence of an unusual desire for in formation concerning the bank was showr, by Mir. Williams shortly after he assumed the office of comptroller more than a year ago. and has continued ever since. Prior to that time, in December, 1913, it says, Mr. McAdoo charged officers of the bank with responsibility for publica- lions regarding the official conoust Of defendant Williams when the charge was denied, the bill asserts, Secretary Me Adoo cursed Milton F. Ailes a vice pres ident of the bank, and said to (. c. Glover, it's 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 treas ury department would be aggressivey useo for the ruination and destruction of the plaintiff bank in order to satisfy the personal malice and i'll will of said defendants. Williams and McAdoo, and shortly afterwards the said defendants Williams and McAdoo, began a series of prosecutions against the plaintiff bank for the purpose of impairing or destroying it's said business, thereby prostituting their high public office and violating their paths in order to vent their personal vindictiveness against the officers of the plaintiff bank"
 few months later, the plaintiff bank was notified by C.. s. Hamlin now gov ernor of the federal reserve board. but then assistant of the treasury in charge of the fiscal bureau, that Secretary Me- Adoo purposed to exclude the Riggs bank from share of deposits to cover the Dis trict of Columbia tax withdrawals which deposits by custom are divided among the national banks of the district.
 Declines to Explain Mir McAdoo later wrote to Mir. Glover the complaint states, declining to explain why such action should be taken, and announcing at the same time his inten- toin of withdrawing all government funds x from that bank. Subsequently. it is al- N legged. government deposits, amounting to more than x1 POO, 900, were withdrawn from N the bank, including Panama canal de- ' osts amounting at one time to $l15S,4 47s. These withdrawals were brought | about by Secretary McAdoo. it Is Il charged. at time when the European | war and the business depression in the II United States had made banks husband I their resources and .in deliberate at ' tempt to wreck the plaintiff bank. in ' the execution of the conspiracy exist ing between him and the defendant Will fIams for that purpose
 Further complaint is made that Mr. Williams, as treasurer of the Red Cross a ha finn l. xar.t Au- | posit with the Riggs bank removed to other institutions
 Il For almost year. the bill ayers, the comptroller has bombarded the Riggs National with demands for special re- ports of many sorts, exceeding the in \ quisitorial and visitatorial powers vested in him. The bank declared that 1t has made an effort to comply with . these demands has worked its clerks l early and late to do so, but that re- | quests for time have been met with f refusals, and in some instances with a Al reminder that failure to make reports 4 asked by comptroller involved a pen alty of $100 for each day after re- port is demanded and not rendered. Exact figures as to penalties the comp troller may hold the bank has incurred in this connection. the bill states, is not clear. but 1t estimates that 1t must be at least s15000O
 II Ir making some of these demands the  bank alleges that MT. Williams has vio- lated the fourth and fifth amendments tc the constitution prohibiting unreason- able searches and seizures and forcing any one to be a witness against linn self.
 Wanted History of Loans
 In February last according to the bill. MT. Williams wrote to the bank ask ing if it's officers had destroyed any of it's records On March 90, it further sets forth, he demanded complete history 4 of loans of the Riggs bank to It's present officers, and gave notice that for failure to comply With like request made on January ., 1t was assessed a penalty of Yi85ooO The next day a formal demand for payment of this fine made by two bank examiners was refused. On April
 I. quarterly installment of the in- terest on the Si.0000o0 of per cents held by the Riegs--in the comptroller's cus- tody to secure it's circuation-came due. The comptroller, the complaint sets forth "wrongfuily and unlawfuly" ordered the
 scentanued on Pago TweIve1