The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-17
WILLIAMS HEARING
IS OFF FOR TODAY
Failure of Quorum Causes Post
ponement Of Testimony
Until Tomorrow.

Failure Of quorum Of committee
members to attend the session today
led Senator Mclean, chairman Of the
Senate Banking and Currency Com
mittee. to postpone until tomorrow
morning the hearings on the nomina-
ton OF John Shelton Williams to de-
termins his fitness to hold the office
of Comptroller Of the Currency.
1t had not been decided today
whether Mr.. Williams again would
take the stand in his defense tomor-
row or whether witnesses will be
summoned in opposition to his con-
| hrmation.
Congressman Fadden of Pennsyl-
vania, who Is q member of the House
Banking and Currency Committee, Is
anxious to appear at an early date.
and probably will take the stand
either tomorrow morning or in the
afternoon. The committee also has
been requested to allow Wade H.
Cooper. the Washington banker, to
take the stand again to reply to
counter-charges against the manage
ment of the United States Savings
Bank and the Union Savings Bank
and It's transactions with certain
Southern banks. made by Comptroller
Williams in former testimony before
the committee.
Poole May Answer.
The committee probably will grant
John Poole. president OF the Federal
Bank. another opportunity to reply to
Mr.. Williams in connection with the
withdrawal OF Red Cross funds from
the Federal Bank.
Congressman McFadden will I'M
dertake to show that Mr.. williams
started 4 "run" on his bank, the
First National Bank Of Canton, Pa,
by spreading misleading statements
concerning his banking activities. for
the reason that the Congressman had
made q speech on the floor Of the
House urging the adjustment of the
oince OF the Comptroller Of the Cur
rency.
Letter From Bird.
John SHELTON williams, Comptroller
o. the Currency, who again took the
stand in his defense yesterday after
noon before the Senate Banking and
Currency Committee, produced a let.
ter from Hugh S. Bird, treasurer Of
the American Red Cross, to refute the
charge that he had Disseminated
against the Federal National Bank Of
washington In depositing American
Red Cross funds.
John Poole, president of the Federal
Bank, charged that williams had
caused the withdrawal of these funds.
amounting to about $500 900, the day
after they had been deposited, for
the reason that Frank J. Hogan.
counsel for the Riggs National Bank
in its suit against the Comptroller,
was a director of the Federal.
This charge Mr.. williams en-
phatically denied, declaring he had
nothing whatever to do with the
withdrawal OF the funds. He claimed
no knowledge Of the arrangements
under which the Red Cross funds
were deposited in various banks in
Washington.
sssoyOOo withdraw.
According to Mr.. Birds letter, the
sum OF $685., 900 In Red Cross funds
had been withdrawn from the Aneri-
can Security and Trust Company and
deposited through the error Of an az
countant OF Henry White, the chair
man, in the Federal National Bank.
When the mistake was discovered
the funds were returned Immediately
to the American Security and Trust
Company.
Mr.. Bird wrote that the American |
Security and Trust Company had |
been designated as the depository of |
the Potomac division Of the Red Cross |
and the Federal Bank as depository |
for the foreign division.
Mr.. Pool claimed that at the time |
the $685., 900 was withdrawn, the Fed |
eral Bank had on deposit S575 belong |
ing to the foreign division. Mr.. Bird |
said this was a mistake, as the for |
eign division deposit in the bank |
amounted to $4,000 and $40, 900. the |
average daily balance at the bank |
being $2S,79S.55 between February, |
1918, and June. 1919.
Denies Enmity.
Mr. williams denied that any per-
soual enmity was involved in the |
with the Federal Bank.
"If there had been any personal /
feeling on the matter" he said, Il
would not have had the account re-
turned to the American Security and
Trust Company, where one OF the
largest shareholders is an officer OF
the Riggs National Bank"
In response to questions from mem
bers OF the committee, Mr.. Williams
explained his relationship with Mr..
Bird.
he is what you would call an
eighth cousin" he said. I'VE do not
even claim relationship"
Mr.. Williams further refuted
charges by Mr.. Poole by reading an
other letter, written by E. c. Haneke,
assistant treasurer OF the Red Cross.
This letter stated that the informa-
Iutely false" He defended williams
from any connection with the with
drawal Of the funds from the Federal
Bank. To show that there was no
against the Federal
Bank, Mr.. Haneke wrote that the ter
-itorIal and insular division had on
deposit in that bank about $1,000 on
March IL and Is in addition to the
foreign divisions deposit OF S55, 800.
Mr.. Williams then went into the
natter OF certain resolutions that the