The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-18
g.: GLASS Ass SENDS 6hGGSS
MCFADDEN LETTER
WITH SHARP NOTE
Banker Representative
Afronts Secretary
Of Treasury.
FIGHTS WILLIAMS
Would Bring Quo War
ranto Suit to Test
Right to Continue
In Office.

Washington. March 17.-De-
claring II to be "offensively Inn
pertinent" and deliberately men
dacious," Secretary Of the Treas
ury Glass today returned letter
written to him by Representative
Il. T. McFadden, Republican. Of
Pennsylvania In what Mr.. Nc
Fadden termed a "shOrt note" the
secretary declared that he did not
care to retain the congressman
letter In his files.
The communication which gave
ofYense to Secretary Glass ques-
toned his right to designate
John SHELTON Williams ms comp
troller of the currency in the abb
sencc OF specific legal authority"
MIR. Williams fvc-year term ex-
pired February ?. His reappoint-
ment by the president was not con-
fiITned by the senate. and the
president did not make recess
appointment. Secretary Glass
continued him I'm Office after OBJ
tanning an opinion on the legality
Of the step from the attorney
general.
Il am returning your letter of
March II, as I do not care to retain il
for my files" the secretary wrote 10
u.
leave to put you on notice that IL you
desire information concerning any Of
fetal action of the secretary of the
treasury while I am the incumbent
OF the office. you may get ii promptly
and frankly by addressing to me a
half decent inquiry; but you are given
distinctly to understand that / recog-
nize no obligation to respond to an
Extensively impertinent and deiiber-
ateiy mendacious Communication such
as / am now sending hack TO YOU
After MIR. McFadden had made pub
lie his letter. Secretary CLASS issued q
statement explaining that he had act
ed upon the advice OF the attorney
general in continuing Mr. Williams Al
com ptroller pending further action bS
the president.
Replying to the secretary. Mr.. Nc
radden disavowed any intention OF
giving any offense to the cabinet ON
GER In a statement issued to the
press the Pennsylvania congressman
announced that there appears to be
a prospect of quo warranto proceed
inEs to test the right of the secretary
OF the treasury to designate John Skel-
ton Williams as comptroller OF tbs
currency in the absence of specific
legal authority. / think there Ia suf
ficient ground To test the case by wri'
OF quo warranto.
Mr. McFadden's interest In the case
of Mr.. Williams dates back to certain
officiai acts Of the comptroller in con
nection with a bank with which tbs
congressman Is prominently associ
ated He also is a member OF the
house banking and currency commit
tee, whose functions" he says. "art
not irrelevant to matters affecting the
treasury department, including the
comptroller's Office"
Mr.. McFadden renewed his reaues
for information as to the authorit,
under which the secretary acted ir
continuing Mr.. Williams in office. HI
added
Il did not intend to inject person
alitie~ into this question. and do no
intend to do so now: neither do
purpose being diverted from my lie
ultimate and proper quest for infor'
nation respecting an important pub
lie Office by taking affront at the tone
OF your communication. Let us taks
for granted that you believed you hat
ground for offense, and then permit
us to proceed to the salient features
of the case.
For you to characterize my letter
~ deliberately mendacious' NIGH
also be defined ~ offensive. But
pass that over for the present because
/ do not wish to obscure the real, vita
point At issue"