The Washington times., 1915-04-18
interest Evinced. by President
Leads to Belief of Concert
ed Action.
SUIT INCREASES IN IMPORT
Interest Aroused by Calling in
of Solicitor General Davis by
Treasury.

in the case Of the Riggs National Bank
against Treasury officials, who are
alleged to have "persecuted' the. bank
ing institution. leads to the belief to-
day that when the show down comes in
court the entire power OF the Admins
tration will be found opposed to the
bank. .
Although Developments in the unprcce-
dented case were practically at a-stand-
still over the Sabbath. the controversy
increased in importance with the in
formation that Solicitor. General Davis
the Treasury officials.
This information came on the -heels
of the leaking out of the fact that the
President called a late conference Fri
day night to consider the Riggs bank
case. and that the Chief Executive con-
suited Special Counsel Brandeis, attor-
ney Gregory, and Postmaster General
Bureson. That the Riggs suit was
also discussed by the Cabinet yesterday
Ia another indication of the Importance
attached to it by the Administration.
Solicitor GenefI Davis is the second
highest legal officer in the employ of
the Government. and his entry into the
case adds to the hcadliner list of legal
talent which will he seen in action when
the Injunction suit is called in the Dis
trict Supreme Court on May IL. .
Sfuhhnrn Ratflo curs
With the Attorney General. the So
licitor General. and Louis y. Brandeis
representing Secretary McAdoo. Comp
troler Williams, and Treasurer Burke
and former Senator Bailey and Frank
J. Hogan appearing for the complainant
bank. a legal battie of unusual stub
bornness will be staged
Reports that Samuel Untermyers
services are to be had by Treasury off,
cials are still denied.
Inc impression soght to be conveyed
at the White House is that the Presi.
dent is primarily interested in the case
because of his desire that it shall no,
involve other national banks; in other
words, that the Administration seeks tc
officials and the Riggs Bank without
drawing in. through sympathy or re-
lationship, other banks which may be a
part Of the new reserve system.
inclined to the belief that the Admin.
iStration cannot have overlooked the
political features of the unusual suit.
A vast amount of publicity has bee,
given to the complaint of the Riggs
National Bank that it has been perse-
Cuted by Treasury officials and that
5000. due 1t as interest on Government
bonds, has been withheld to offset fines
lroler Williams.
With the new Federal reserve system
practically in its infancy. the Admins
tration cannot afford it is claimed in
some quarters, to have a controversy OF
greater magnitude than that now at.
tanned by the Riggs case. The Admins.
tration seeks the confidence, rather thar
the antagonism and distrust, of the
banking world
That the time between this date ant
May p may be consumed by Depart,
ment Of Justice officials in investigating
whether action other than a civil one
may be brought against the Riggs Bank
ofhciels is one surmise in connection
with the case This rumor grows o,u
Of the charges of Comptroller William,
that certain officials of the Riggs Banl
exceeded the law in some of theil
transactions. 1t Is not regarded az prob
able, however, that the suit will bt
1ought out other than on civil lines.
Burleson In Conference.
Postmaster General Bureson's par
tIcipatlon in the White House confer.
"nce lends to their assumption that the
administration is not unaware Of the
political Importance OF the pending suit
The Postmaster General Is recognized
as the politician OF the Cabinet, hi!
long service as n member of the Hous,
having developed his faculty to Zee
The public pulse. That the Riggs sui
may be one of the issues of the mex
campaign is by no means a remote pos
Htbility.
Reports that the White House con
ference also concerned a discussion o
whether the Riggs bank violated thu
raignment of Comptroller Williams ar
discountenanced by both sides
There still is \ lack of reconciliation
between the statements of Attorne,
General Gregory and Comptroller vii
liams regarding the date of the EN-
ployment OF Special Counsel Brandels
the former having assorted that Mr.
RrandeiS was engaged with the tilirJ
of the suit by the bank and the Comp
troller asserting that he had been a
work on the case long prior to tha
time.
Both sides are expected to be read
to proceed with the Injunction pro
Ceedings on May 12. Until that time tn
temporary restraining order. issued b
Justice Mccoy, forbidding Treasure
Burke TO turn into the Treasury tn
5000 interest due the bank, remains 1
effect.