Evening star., 1938-03-29
0'CONN0R LAUDED
:. AT HONOR DINNER
Government and Business
Leaders Join in Paying
Him Tribute.

Cabinet officers, members of Con-
gress and other high Government OIL
cials joined with business and profess
sional leaders of Washington last
night at a testimonial dinner in honor
of j. F.. T. O'Connor, who will relin-
ouish his duties as controller Of the
currency Friday to return to his home
In California
The Mayflower Hotel ballroom was
filed to capacity by the distinguished
guests, those who have worked with
and under Mr.. O'Connor and hundreds
Of others with whom he came in con-
tact since he took office during the
bank crisis of 1893.
Many of his colleagues and fellow
Government officers were called upon,
and their remarks were full of express
sions Of esteem. friendship and praise
Of his accomplishments. It was not
until late hour that Mr.. OConnor
was given the speakers rostrum by So
licitor General Robert H. jackson, who
acted as POSTMASTER
Gives Credit to Aides.
In response to the high tribute paid
him, the controller said:
Il wish I were worthy of all the
things that have been said here to-
night. I want to say that the credit
has not been properly placed Let's
give credit to those who have worked
tirelessly since the dark days of 1888
to make ours better banking struc-
ture. Let's give credit to the messen-
gers, the stenographers. the secre-
taries, field men and all those who
have aided in this work.
"Out of every great crisis" he con-
tinued, "a new and better banking
structure Is born. The Bank Act of
1888 made secure for all time the de-
posits of depositors. That's one Of the
great contributions of this administra-
ton"
Mr.. O'Connor declared the con-
troller's Office has always been inter-
ested in the safety of deposits and in
nothing else. Our aim always has been
to approach the problem from that
viewpoint"
Place in History Seen.
Representative Steagall. chairman
OF the House Banking and Currency
Committee, told the gathering that
when the history of this administra-
ton is written "the brightest pages
will be the restoration of the banking
structure of the United States"
lefty, as we all know him, played q
great part in this" he said.
Ronald Ransom, vice chairman of
the Federal Reserve System, said he
had found Mr.. O'Connor lever helpful
and constructive. one who held up the
ideal of public service"
Senator McAdoo, a former law part
ner of Mr.. O'Connor's, said: "He has
been one Of the finest controllers the
Treasury ever had"
Senator Minton Of Indiana described
him as "one of the most faithful and
devoted public servants and Repre-
sentative Lea of California said: Cali
fornians here are happy that one Of
ours has filled his duty in a way
that makes him worthy of the tribute
paid tonight"
Race for Governor Mentioned.
Several speakers remarked on the
possibility of Mr.. OConnor running for
the Office of Governor of California,
and Assistant Secretary of War Louis
johnson aid:
If you get the Democratic nomina-
tion for Governor. We'll all come out
there and campaign for you"
Others who spoke included Stephen
B. Gibbons, Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury; Jesse H. Jones, chairman of
the Reconstruction Finance Corp:
Robert v. Fleming, former president
of the American Bankers Association;
Representative Lemke, Senator Bailey,
Senator Frazier, Secretary Of Com
merce Roper. Secretary Of Agriculture
Wallace and Postmaster General Far
ley.
George p Barse presented Mr..
O'Connor with a statue of President
Roosevelt on behalf of the controllers
Office.
Phillips Goldsborough, a director of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
gave him wrist watch on behalf of
the corporation. In presenting the
token he said:
"Mr. O'Connor has done we'll for
others, so he deserves well of his fel-
low men"
James Roosevelt, eldest son of the
President, was among the distin-
guished guests.