The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-25
BANK EXAMINER
STAREK OUSTED
Comptroller Summarily Re-
moves Chief of New York
Reserve District.
MUCH MYSTERY IN CASE
Succeeded by w. p. Malburn,
Chief Aid to Secretary
McAdOO.

! WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Much mystery
surrounds the removal to-day by Comp
'roier Of the Currency Williams of
Charles Starek. chief national bank ex-
aminer for the New York Federal re-
serve district. There were hints of an
explosion of some kind coming and #
| was said that banking circles in New
1ork could II they so desired tell AN in
| teresting story oc what lay behind Mr..
Stareks dismissal The removal of Mr..
s'arek was announced by Comptroller
Williams early this afternoon, but no
explanation was made in the announce
ihent OF the reasons therefor,
When pressed later to give some idea
OF the charges made against Starek,
comptroller Williams took refuge be-
nind the Phrase that his removal was
ior the good of the service"
he did say. however. that Starek had
not, been performing his duties as chief
examiner since October Is, when at a
conference the Comptroller had with him
II was suggested that he take a montns
ieaVe with pay. Charles +. Richmond,
VINO mad been attached to the Treasury
department here. was then sent to New
'ork 10 act in Stareks place, and has
Deen there ever since. The order for
Stareks removal was not made until to-
day
starck Failed TO Explain.
Beyond indicating that there had been
dissatisfaction of some kind over Chief
examiner Starek's work in New York
the Comptroller absolutely refused 10 go
INTO the matter at all. 1t was very plain
Ga1r a htt,ax
precipitateh the action taken to-day. The
Comptroller let 1t be inferred that what
over this matter was opportunity had
oeen given to Starek to explain II and
that this he had failed to do.
IL Is understood that since October Is
heated correspondence has been going
on between Starek and the Comptroller
which Is said to have grown out OF some
incident or incidents connected with
stareks duties. Comptroller Williams
virtually admitted that there had been
some correspondence. but declined to
disclose its nature.
Starek was appointed chief examiner
IN the New York district in the Taft
Administration. largely through the In
fuence of Theodore w Burton. then
senator from Ohio, from which State
olareK comes Under the old system
under which fees were collected. the mos,
was decidedly lucrative one. Under
the Federal reserve system the foes ,ero
wiped out and now pays $4,000 a wear
suggestions of Interference.
FRIENDS of Starek in Washington have
known in a quiet way for several weeks
that there was friction between him and
the Treasury Department of a serious
nature. and one of these friends bInted
tonight that II ii became necessary. for
Starek 10 tell his story it would cause
sensation. There were suggestions of
interference with his duties from out
siue that were distasteful to him and
when he rebelled he was suspended
Mr.. Starek came from Cleveland He
has brother who had been engaged in
newspaper business in Washington until
few months ago and another who was
at one time In the Treasury Department
later marshal for the late Commerce
Court until that was abolished. and more
recently In a bank in Philadelphia. Sttl
another brother is "a prominent lawyer
in Chicago. The Stareks have influential
friends in politics and official life and
II they start out to make trouble prob
ably will be able to command a hearing
MaIburn His Successor.
In announcing the removal Of Mr.
Starek Comptroller Williams made il
known that he had appointed William +.
Malburn to take his place. He will
leave for New York tomorrow. NJ
Malburn was Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury and is close to Mr.. McAdoo.
who is said to have been fully cognizant
of the underlying reasons for Starch's
removal. Mr.. Malburn Is a son-in-law Of
Senator Thomas of Colorado.
AS Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Mr. Malburn has had general super
vision of the fiscal bureaus Of the Treas
ury Department, including the offices Of
the Comptroller of the Currency, tine
Treasurer of the United States, Bu~eau
of Internal Revenue. Bureau of Enyrav.
ing and Printing, Comptroller or The
Treasury. Register OF the Treasury. the
Auditors Of the Treasury. War. Navy.
Post Office and Interior and OF State and
c(her departments and also OF the Bu-
rcau of the Mint. lie succeeded Charles
Famln, who became governor Of the
L-abaral Rasarya hoard