Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-16
McAdoo and Williams Assert
They Were Inspired by Holi-
est Of Motives When They
Attacked Institution,
FORMER QUARRELS CUT
ABSOLUTELY NO FIGURE
Whole Matter One of Clearing.
Up Objectionable Practices
by FinancierS Prominent at
Capital

10y noRs,ns JovRshL ssseIkI LEssHo wlasi
Washington, May 16.-Speciflc de-
NAL OF charges of conspiracy and mai
ice against the Riggs National bank
of this city was made by Secretary
McAdoo and Comptroller Williams, OF
the treasury department, today IN long
affidavlts filed In the supreme court
Of the District of Columbia In reply
to the Injunction proceedings brought
by the bank, in which it was alleged
the treasury officials had conspired
TO wreck the bank.
81 specially deny the charges OF
having conspired or combined with
the defendant, Williams. or any one
else TO lnjure the plaintiff bank or its
business" Mr.. McAdoo declares.
II have not conspired in any way to
iniurc or ruin the plaintiff bank or its
business, and II Is not and never has
been my purpose to lnflict injury upon
the plaintiff bank" Mr. Williams as
serted. 'All Of my actions have been
in the performance Of my duties in
the premises and In the exercise Of
honest judgment and discretion. with
out malice. IN viii or Bias against the
plaintiff bank or its officers.
Charges Malice In Suit.
At another point in his affidavit Mr..
McAdoo says:
II charge and aver the fact to be
that my inclusion in the suit Is due Ia
ulterior and improper motives and
was resorted to solely for the purpose
of thereby uttering and publishing
grossly false and libelous statements
under the privilege and protection OF
judicial forms and free from the le-
gal accountability that would other
Wise be involved"
Filing of the afflavits was taken
to indicate that thers Naa no present
intention 10 compromise the ease. The
governments brief will be filed Mon
day, when oral argument will be
heard on pending motions TO dismiss
the banks suit on plea of lack OF
jurisdiction and for other reasons.
Violations of Law Alleged.
Both affidavits recite alleged facts
ascertained by the eomptfoler's in
vestigation of the bank which are
said TO show violations of the national
bank act and improper practices.
Both bring into the case the name OF
the National City bank of New York
in an effort to show that hostility
which IS declared TO have been ex-
hlbited by the Riggs bank toward the
treasury officials might have resulted
from occurrences at the department In
which the New York bank figured
after Mr.. McAdoo took office
Williams Had Pure Motives.
Alr Williams In his sworn state
ment says examinations of the riggs
bank by his office DISCLOSED violations
of the national bank act that 1t was
not so much commercial bank asl
one which lent much money on stock
collateral which was used i'm specu-
lative ventures; that SOME of its Of
fcers and directors made false state
ments under oath; that dummy loans
were made, the proceeds
Of which went to officers. that some
officers We're engaged In real estate
and that other things
were done beyond its powers.
Burke Follows law.
John Burke, treasurer OF the
United States, the third defendant.
submitted an affidavit relating to the
retention by him of $4,000 interest
On government bonds of the Riggs
bank deposited with the treasury 10 |
secure its note circulation. Mr..
Burke said he acted in accordance
with law.
A number Of tables and other sta
istical data were submitted with the
one gives a list of loans BY |
he banks to former secretaries of the |
reasury, assistant secretaries, a |
'ormer comptroller OF the currency
md national bank examiners. The |
lames Of Leslie NJ. Shaw, william B. |
Rdgeley L. A. Coolidge and others
.ppear In the list.
Regarding Penalties.
Secretary McAdoo said in his am
wcr that he has nothing to do with |
he penalties assessed by Comptrol-
er Williams, which the bank seeks TO
'njoin, and that he knows of only
wo reasons which might cause the
lank to be hostile. One was that he
efused one OF IT'S agents desk in
he comptroller's office and the other
vas that he CHARGED interest on gov
deposits, He Withdrew gov
funds he says, because he
they should be in bank
Ioing more commercial business.
Denies u Conspiracy.
Comptroller Williams, in great de-
all, denies that ne has conspired 10
nJure the bank and charges that IL
las violated the law and been guilty
f improper practices in stock bros-
rage transactions, excess loans. stock
and other transactions.
Messrs. McAdoo and Williams and
a. G. Elliott give their version Of al
onference IN McAdoo's office at the
onclusion of which. the bank al
eyed in it's complaint, McAdoo said
0 President Glover Of the Riggs
ank;
Historic Conservation,
"Mr Glover, you know what thisl
means to the Riggs National bank 2"
The bank averred that TO be a
hreat and q promise that was full
He'd later by withdrawal Of govern
1ent deposits.
McAdoo AYERS he made no such
emark. but warned Glover that the
hen delicate financial situation here
(ContinBed on Page Two.l