The Washington times., 1915-04-16
RIGGS HEARING NOW
i, IS SET FOR MAY Z
b
Postponement in Case Of Bank
Against Treasury Officials
Hints Long Litigation.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

NCOntlnue0 from FlTSt fdSe.)
and whether an attempt is made by
the Treasury officials 10 cause criminal
proceedings to be instituted for alleged
Irregularities.
The postponement of the case for
approximately Il month was not ex-
pected. 1t had been generally sup
posed 1t would go over for week or
ten DAYS. But il developed that Dis
trict Attorney Laskey took the matter
up last night with the counsel for
the bank, former Senator Bailey anu
Frank J. Hogan, and the counsel for
the bank, after first proposing a
weeks postponement. made no OBJ
lection to continuance to May IL.
1t cannot be see down as settled
that Treasury officials have come to
the conclusion they cannot safely
stand on the proposition that the
court does not have jurisdiction to
review the acts of the Comptroller OF
the Currency, but postponement Is
taken to indicate that trial on the
merits Of the contention Is expected
May Take Two Years.
It is said, to be unlikely that it can
be disposed OF by the court before
next fall. Then would follow, accord
ing to all indications, an appeal tc
the Court Of Appeals and then tc
the Supreme Court. Even an advance
ment OF the case by the Supreme
Court would probably make 1t i'm.
possible to reach q decision in a cause
Of this magnitude before two years
from the da te of the inception of the
litigation.
The participation thus far Of District
Attorney Laskey in conference with OF
ncials of the Department of Justice Is
aid today to have no reference to pos.
&ible criminal proceedings. This is
stated at the Department of Justice and
also it is the view Of the bank officials
1t is pointed out that. under the bank.
ing law. the attorney Of record In a
case of this kind. a civil proceeding. is
the district attorney. Technically. Dis
trict Attorney Laskey is the counsel In
the case for the Treasury officials and
the other Government counsel. includ'
ing Mr.. Brandeis. are his assistants.
This participation in the civil case by
Mr.. Laskey is apart from the question
Of criminal proceedings Yet Comptrol-
given to the alleged irregularities OF
the bank officials with a view to de.
termining whether criminal action shall
he initiated.
Text Of Court Order.
Justice Mccoy signed the followins
order continuing the temporary re
straining order and hearing on the rule
to show cause
This cause came on to be heard or
the temporary restraining order. and the
rule to show cause entered herein The
18th day of April. 1915. whereupon the
defendant moved that the said hearins
be postponed until the 18th day of May
1917, at 10 o'clock a. M, or as soor
thereafter as counsel can be heard. and
the plaintiff consenting thereto, it |!
this 18th day of April. 1915, hereby
Ordered that the hearing on said re
straining order and rule be, and thc
same is hereby. continued to May u
1915, at 10 o'clock a. m., or as soor
thereafter as counsel can be heard; ant
II is hereby
Further ordered. that the said ,e
straining order be. and it is hereby
continued in full force and effect unit
the further order of this court. to bt
made, If at all on the 18th day of May
1915, at 10 O'Clock a. m. or as soon there
after as counsel can be heard"
Statement of Bailey.
Denial that there is any politics back
Of the suit and assertion that the bank
stands alone in the fight in order to
protect itself is contained in n state
ment given out last night by former
with Frank J. Hogan, for the Riggs
Bank.
ono effect of the fling OF the sui
has been to arouse considerable discus
sion AZ to whether tho requests and de
mands of the Comptroller for fnforma
tion have been Intentionally more severe
on the Riggs bank than on other banks
AS TO this. Comptroller Williams de
nios that he has had any purpose othel
than to secure from banks in genera
legitimate information. The Comp
troller says the Riggs bank stands alone
In his administration of the comp
-