Arizona republican., 1921-02-26
BANKS @ FAILURE TO
 MEET TERMS OF
 NATIONAL GALL
Plttsburg Clearing House Association Forbids Mem bers to Furnish Data Sought, He Charges
TRepubIican A. p. Leased wirel


 WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.--The Pitts burg Clearing House association was accused by Comptroller Williams of the currency today of having forbidden it's member banks to furnish data asked for in the national bank call issued yesterday by the comptroller.
 Several items not heretofore given on the face of the reports were re- quested in the current call, the comp troller explained. These items. he said. included a statement as to the amount of money which was being loaned on bond and stock collateral in New York City; a statement showing the aggregate amount of salaries paid to the executive officers of banks and the number of such officers. and the amount of salaries paid all other em- ployes of the bank and the number of such employees.
 Would Overru1e Comptroller
 The obvious purpose of inclusion of the clauses, apparently found objec- tionable in Pittsburg" Mir. Williams said, was to develop whether money of depositors in national banks Is be- ing diverted from it's proper function of supplying legitimate business and enterprise to earn fancy rates from the need or recklessness of speeulators at a.distance. and whether disproportion- ate or improper amounts of the earn ings of banks are being expended in salaries to officials 1t is difficult to understand why bankers who have used such money discreetly and with regard to the rights of their customers and shareholders. should object to making this information public"
 Comptroller Williams statement was closely followed by introduction in the house by Chairman McFad6len of the banking committee of a resolution to declare the comptroller to be without authority to require national banks to publish the salaries paid their officials and employees in their financial reports. Representative McFadden also issued a statement declaring publication of figures as to salaries would result in great harm because it will stir up a feeling between the employers and em- ployes by pointing out in the. way of contrast salaries paid
 Banks throughout the country. MT. McFadden said. are protesting stren- uously against complying with the comptrolier's order on the ground that 1t forces them to disclose heretofore confidential information
 Says Information Being Given
 PITTSBURG Pa., Feb. 25.-When informed tonight that Comptroller of the Currency Williams had accused the Pittsburg Clearing House association of having forbidden member banks tc 
 terdays bank call. John R. MacCune president of the association, said to- night that the information asked by the comptroller was being given.
 At a meeting of the association yes terday.'' said Mir. MacCune, we de. cided. on advice of counsel, that W. were not required to publish in ths newspaper the salaries of bank off. cials as requested by the comptroller This information is given to the comp troiler but is not incorporated in bani statements for publication. We be lieve we are right in our position"
 It was pointed out by national banl executives here tonight that the saIar, of every official and employe of ever. national bank is regularly reported t the comptroller by national bank ex aminers and has always been locke upon in the same light as other con fidential information requested by tn comptroller.
 Published statements of the condi ton of national banks in Pittsbur under the call of the comptroller sen out yesterday do not contain tn salaries of bank officials