The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-13
.IuUr,I TO ABOLISH
COMPTROLLER'S lob
Fight Will Be Made In Congress
Against Office Held BY
! ]. S. Williams.

Seouels to the bitter fight before
the Senate Banking and Currency
Committee against the nomination OF
John shelton williams as Comptroller
Of the Currency will be enacted IN
determined efforts on the floors OF
both houses Of Congress to abolish
the office Of comptroller.
Whether the Senate committee
succeeds in getting the scalp OF John
Shelton williams or merely sue
ceeds in holding up his nomination
indefinitely. Senator Calder Of New
York. IL is understood, intends to
press his resolution demanding the
adjustment OF the office OF the
Comptroller Of the Currency as I'M
necessary.
This resolution and one Of similar
nature offered in the House by Con-
gresham McFadden OF Pennsylvania
already are before the Banking and
Currency Committees Of the two
houses. With sentiment in the com
mittee said to be strongly in favor
Of them, IL will not require great ef-
fort, it is believed, to. bring them up
on the floor.
Virtual Impeachment.
Another resolution by Congressman
AcFadden. virtually calling for the
r Impeachment Of Mr.. Williams, also is
before the House. Mr.. McFadden de-
cl1nsd TO comment on either resolu-
ton today. in view Of the fact that
ne IL to be q witness before the Sem
ate committee.
That the fight against Mr.. williams
has become nationwide among the
banking institutions is evident from
the mass OF communications pouring
into the office Of the committee. A
. banker from San Francisco, whose
name Is withheld, claiming that Mr..
williams had endeayored to discipline
him for personal reasons by using
: the power OF his office, is the latest
person who seeks to be a witness
CongresSman McFedden. who is a
member Oh the House Banking and
Currency Committee, will charge
that Comptroller Williams sought 70
destroy the bank Of which he is presi-
Gent for the reason that he demand
ed the .Comptroller's impeachment on
the moor Of the House during the last
session
Alleges Same Tactics.
He declares that Mr.. williams used
the same methods against his institu-
tion, the First National Bank Of Can
ton, Pa, that he used against the
Riggs National Bank OF this city.
Congressman MeFadden says he is
prepared to show the committee that
the power of the Comptroller Of the
Currency was used in an attempt to
destroy his bank for no other reason
than that he had exercised his rights
las member Of Congress to disclose
z the methods employed by Mr.. Will
nams to further his own personal
ends
A suit in equity against ComptroI-
Ter Williams. brought by Congress-
man McFadden on behalf of the First
National Bank is pending before the
District Court of the United States
for the middle district OF PennsyI-
wanna A temporary injunction, re-
stratning Mr.. Williams from persecu-
ton of the bank, has been ordered
by the judge of that court
The application for the Injunction
sets forth that Comptroller Williams,
among other things, be restrained
from ''disclosing to the officers, di-
rectors, agents, stockholders, or en-
ployes. OF the Farmers National
Bank Of Canton. Pa, any information
with respect TO the private business
or Affairs Of the complainant or its
officers"
? Il seeks further, besides preventing
imposition OF fines for failure to pro-
ducs reports and statements, as called
for in the Riggs Bank case, to enjoin
the Comptroller from using the
powers of the office Of the Comptrol-
Ter of the Currency over the COM
pIAinant, for the private and personal
purposes Of the defendant, without
reference to the proper duties and
functions OF the said office and in
particular for the purpose of impair
ing or destroying the credit and rep
utation of the complainant and its
president and its and his property and
business"
Congressman McFadden charges that
Immediately after he made his speech
in the House against Mr.. Williams,
the Comptroller conducted such a pub
LEFTY campaign against him. impugn-
ing the standing Of his bank, that it
caused a run on the institution. As a
result of this run, Withdrawals by de-
positors of 100000 were made. MI
Williams deliberately sought. he
claims, to put the bank into the hands
of a receiver and turn IL over to the
Farmers National Bank, a rival in
stitut1on-
Poole to Testify.
When the Senate Banking and Cur
rency Committee meets tomorrow,
John Poole, president of the Federal
National Bank Of Washington, is ex-
pected to be the first witness.
Another witness, A E. Jones, Of the