Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-18
BITTER FEELING IS SHOWN
IN RIGGS BANK ARGUMENT
Opposing Lawyers Engage in Heated
Wrangle Over Publicity Methods
Employed.
JUSTICE MCCOY CALLS HALT
Attorneys for Treasury File Briefs in
Support OF Motion to Dismiss Pro-
ceedings-Bank's Counsel Severely
Arraigns Federal Officials.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Argument
on motions by government counsel to
dismiss, for lack OF jurisdiction. the
injunction suit brought by the Riggs
National Bank against Treasury off,
cials began to-day In the District of
Columbia Supreme Court. An indica-
tion OF the bitterness with which the
litigation will be fought developed
opposing lawyers engaged in a heated
wrang1e over publicity methods en-
ployed in the proceedings. on which
Justice Mccoy, presiding. called halt.
with the announcem ent that this court
is not going to be used as laboratory
| to test bad blood"
Louis D. Brandeis, Samuel Untermyer
and associate counsel for Secretary
McAdoo, Comptroller of the Currency
Williams and Treasurer John Burke.
charged with conspiring to wreck the
Riggs Bank. filed briefs in support of
their motions to dismiss the proceed
ings. They maintained that "the suit
involves the property of the United
States" "is suit against the United
States and that the government can
not be made party to a suit without
it's consent. The officers. in their deal
ings with the bank. II was declared.
acted In their official capacity and with
in the law.
RIGHT TO SUE IN EQUITY
ALSO is CHALLENGED
The right Of the bank to sue in equity
also was challenged. on the ground
that it had an adequate remedy at law
Frank ]. Hogan, for the bank,
charged in his argument that n politi-
cal aspect had been elected into the
case. and that most OF the anldavits
filed by Secretary McAdoo had nothing
to do with the proceedings. He cited
authorities to show that officials of the
government may be made amenable
to the court when they attempt to
usurp authority. and asserted that Mr..
McAdoo usurped authority by withhold
ing $1,000 interest on bonds due the
Riggs Bank.
Referring to Comptroller Williams,
Mr.. Hogan said:
who has abandoned being a law admin
istrator and become law violator."
The attorney dwelt at length on de-
mands for Information made on the
bank by Mr.. Williams. He said the di-
rectors of the bank last summer ask ed
the comptroller just what he desired
the bank to do. but that no advice or
suggestions were received.
In demanding a penalty of $4,000
from the bank for failure to submit a
report of the loans of the institution
for eighteen years, Mr. Hogan declared
that Comptroller Williams made an err
roneous calculation to stipulate that
amount. which was due in interest to
the bank, and notified the bank that it
would be subject to a further and
continuing penalty"
MERELY ATTEMPTING
TO GULLY" OFFICIALS
I'VE thought he meant what he said"
continued the attorney. 1T now ap-
pears from Williams's affidavit that he
merely was attempting to bully officials
Of tho bank. He now says he had no
intention OF exacting further penalty,
and he makes no attempt to calculate
the amount that had been incurred"
Touching upon the statement in Mr.
McAdoo's affidavit that the secretary
knew but two officers OF the National
City Bank, of New York. and that he
had no dealings with that institution
to arouse hostility, Mr.. Hogan said the
National City Bank was in no way con-
nected with this oase., and did not own
a dollars worth OF stock in the Riggs
Bank.
1t was believed tonight that proba-
bly, two more days would be occupied
by arguments on legal phases Of tho
proceedings. If the court should over
rule the motions to dismiss, the defcn-
dant officials then would have to show
cause why they should not be perma-
nently enjoined from continuing al
legged unlawful interference with tho
Bank.