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209
A meeting of the Federal Reserve Board was held in Washington on
TVesday, August 1, 1933, at 3:30 p.m.
PRESENT:

Black, Governor
Hamlin
Janes
Thomas
Szymczak
Mr. O'Connor

Mr.
Mr.
Er.
Er.

Er.
Er.
Er.
Mr.

Morrill, Secretary
Carpenter, Assistant Secretary
Wyatt, General Counsel
Paulger, Chief, Division of Examinations.

The Board considered and acted upon the following matters:
Reply on July 29, 1933, approved by three members of the Board, to a
letter

dated July 27 from lar. Hbxton, Federal Reserve Agent at Richmond, re-

Illestitg approval by the Board of the appointment of Mr. Clinton W. Calhoun
Eta 44 examiner in the Federal reserve agent's department with salary at the
42,200 per amnum, effective August 1, 1933; and of an increase to
02150n

Per annum, effective as of August 1, 1933, in the salary of Mr. R. T.

'11c1II, a temporary examiner in the agent's department.

The reply stated

"the Board approves the appointment of Mr. Calhoun and the increase in
til
841arY of Er. Short as requested.
Approved.
Reply on ally 31, 1933, approved by five members of the Board, to
letters dated
July 13 and 15 from Deputy Governor Attebery of the Federal
"Bank of St. Louis, submitting revised personnel classification plans
Ilea"

11

the head office and Little Rock branch and revised pages covering the
:::it1(54 of acting assistant Federal reserve agent at the Louisville and
-41418131'anches.

changes as
The reply stated that the Board approves the

aM that in connection with the provision for the position of




210
8/1/33

-2-

acting assistant Federal reserve agent at the branches, the personnel
classification plans should first set forth the duties to be performed by
the acting assistant Federal reserve agents, as such, followed by a MB/110raadtua to the effect that, when not engaged on these duties, they may be
detailed by the agent to perform other duties, a general description of which
44ou1d then be stated, and that in order to mnke it clear that the employees
14 question are employees of and report direct to the Federal reserve agent,
it le important that the above procedure be followed.
Approved.
Replies to letters dated July 19 and 20, 1933, from Deputy Governor
liclm of the Federal Reserve Bar

of Kansas City, requesting approval of

eheagee in the personnel classification plans of the head office and Omaha
I/111110h to provide for the discontinuance of the position of "Transit Claims
4134 Relief Transit Supervision" in the failed banks-transit department, for
Ilange in the title of "Manager" in the check collection-non-cash
collections department to "Manager of lion-Cash Collections and Transit
-‘"41 Supervisor" at the head office, and for an increase from 0190142400
t° °2401-2900 per Fmrum in the salary range for the position "Clerk in

clict'een

in the fiscal agent-Reconstruction Finance Corporation Department

"the Omaha branch.
4.3
z.commeuded.

The reply stated that the Board approves the changes

Approved.
Reply on July 28, 1933, approved by five members of the Board, to
4 letter

dated July 18 from Mr. Newton, Federal Reserve Agent at Atlanta,

e.C1:kr

itg that at the meting of the executive committee of the bank on the
4tter
date it was voted, subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve




211
8/1/33
Board, to authorize payment of

1,650 to Nessrs. Lierrick, Schwarz, Guste,

Barnett 8cRedmann for legal services rendered to the New Orleans branch
tram January 1 to July 1, 1933.

The reply stated that the Board approves

the payment of the fee.
Approved.
Letters dated July 31, 1933, approved by five members of the Board,
to the boards of directors of the Brooks Bank & Trust Company, Torrington,
Connecticut, and the Dormont Savings

&

Trust Company, Dormant, Pennsylvania,

stating that, subject to the conditions prescribed in the individual letters,
the Board approves the banks' applications for membership in the Federal
Reserve System and for the number of Shares of stock of the Federal Reserve
Reaka of Boston and Cleveland, respectively, to which each of the applicants
Wal be entitled upon the basis of its capital and surplus as of the date
4°11 Which its membership becomes effective.
Approved.
Letter to the board of directors of the Poplar Grave Bank, Poplar
Ql‘cblrel Illinois, stating that, subject to the conditions prescribed in the
letter, the Board approves the bank's application for membership in the
ll'eci"al Reserve System and for the number of shares of stock of the Federal
116137e Bank of Chicago to which it will be entitled upon the basis of its
°4111tal and surplus as of the date upon which its membership becomes
erteotive.
Approved.
Telegraphic reply on July 29, 1933, approved by five members of the
—4-u., to a letter dated July 20 from Lir. Newton, Federal Reserve Agent at




212
8/1/33

11/11.4••••

Saa Francisco, transmitting the applications of the Buhl State Bank, Caldwell
State Bank, Nampa State Bank, Rupert State Bank and the Weiser State Bank,
all in Idaho, for an extension of sixty days in the time within which they
IllaY complete their membership in the Federal Reserve System pending the outCO3 of a plan to convert the five banks into branches of the First National

8alak of Idaho, Boise, Idaho.
Of

The reply stated that inasmuch as the reports

examination upon which these applications were based were made in the

ealblY part of April and are now more thAn three months old, the Board is un7111114g at this time to grant an extension of sixty days of the time within
the banks may comDlete their membership; that the Board, however,
*eats an extension to August 23, 1933, and that as soon as the reports of

the eXamination of the banks, which the agent states are being made by a
national bank examiner, are available, the Board, upon the agent's reamIcletdation, will consider, on the basis of the information contained in such
rellorts, whether a further extension of time for completion of membership
all°111d. be granted to the banks.
Approved.
Telegram dated July 29, 1933, to Mr. Stevens, Federal Reserve Agent
"Chicao, approved by four menbers of the Board, referring to Assistant
Reserve Agent Young's letter of July 24 with regard to the reorgani'141tin

of the Traverse City State Bank, Traverse City, Michigan, involving

°681.ble reduction in the capital of the bank from 0200,000 to 0156,000.
NI te1-oCram stated that it appears from information submitted by Mr. Young
tbAt

oorrections to be made will eliminate all losses, depreciation and

4°11114N, or otherwise objectionable assets and place the bank in satisfactory




213
8/1/33
condition with no liability for borrowed money or for repayment to depositors of the amount of deposits waived by them; that on the basis of such
information and in. view of the fact that the Board's consent to the proposed
ecluction in capital is not required by law or conditions of membership
aPPlicable to the Traverse City State Bank, the Board offers no objection
to the reduction in capital to the minimum amount indicated, if this is
found to be necessary, with the understanding that counsel for the Federal
Reserve Bank of ahicago has considered the proposed plan and is satisfied
4e to its legal aspects and that such reorganization will not result in any
Qh4tnee in. the corporate existence of the bank which will affect its memberin the Federal Reserve System, and with the further understanding that
tile Ilan:ligament of the institution will be acceptable to the Federal
Iteeerire agent.
Approved.
Reply on Tuly 29, 1933, approved by four members of the Board, to
raeraorendum dated Ally 14 from the Comptroller of the Currency, recomrile//cli118 approval of the application of the First National Bank, Williams11°11, Pennsylvania, for permission to reduce its common capital stock from
4600

1000 to 0250,000 in accordance with a plan of reorganization which

ricles for the surrender of the present capital stock of $600,000, the
'
131‘la
1'1444e of 0250,000 par value of such stock at a premium of $125,000, the
4414 Of200,000 par value preferred stock, a waiver by creditors of 50%
()r

-0-r net unsecured claims, and the elimination of unacceptable assets

414 clePreciation aggregating 02,225,449.08.

The reply stated that the

aPProves the proposed reduction, subject to certain conditions set
°Ilh in the reply.




21,4
8/1/33

-6Approved.
Reply on Silly 28, 1933, approved by five members of the Board, to

4 memorandum dated Tune 28 from the Controller of the Currency, recommendapproval of the application of the First National Bank and Trust

in

Ccmr.Pany, Covington, Kentucky, for pernission to reduce its capital stock

rl'am 0500,000 to :200,000, in accordance with the term of a proposed plan
Ithich provides for the surrender of the present outstanding capital stock
14 the amount of 000,000; the resale of 0200,000 of such surrendered stock
t°1
' 375,000; the sale to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation of 0250,000
) of
Par value 6,70 cumulative preferred stock; the waiver by depositors of 30c;7
net unsecured deposits of the bank; and the elimination of approximately
k163,177.15 of unacceptable assets and depreciation.

the.t

The reply stated

the Board approves the proposed reduction, subject to certain conditions

Ilet forth in the reply.
Approved.
Reply on July 31, 1933, approved by five members of the Board, to
4 letter addressed under date of ally 18 by Congressman George R. Durgan
to the Comptroller of the Currency, and by him referred to the Federal Reserv.
- Ye Board for reply, with regard to the capital stock required of a State

Jal Indiana which becomes a member of the Federal Reserve System and
--Iles to operate an out-of-town branch.

The reply referred to section

Ot the Federal Reserve Act, as amended by the Banking Act of 1933, with
tfu,,
—41 to the establishment of branches by State member banks, and to
4Ikt
1°4 5155 of the Revised Statutes, as amended by section 23 of the
Act of 1933, with regard to the establishment of branches by




-7-

8/1/33

national banks, and stated that under section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act,
as amended by the Banking Act of 1933, a State bank located in the State
cr Indiana, which has a population of more than one million inhabitants,
4alr not become a member of the Federal Reserve System and continue to
Operate a branch established after February 25, 1927, beyond the limits of
the city in which the parent bar": is situated, unless such bank hAs a paid-u-)
ana Unimpaired capital stock of not less than 0500,000 and colJolies with
the other recuirements applicable to the establishment and operation of
ill'anches by a national bank beyond the limits of the city in which such
belat is situated, but that the law does not Prevent a State bank, otherwise
eligible for rnn,:bership, from becomilk., a member of the Federal Reserve
SY8te:on and continuing the operation of an out-of-town branch which was lawestablished Prior to February 25, 1927.
Approved.
Telegram on July 20, 1935, to 111% Olson, 1:anaging Director of the
bel"'er Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, requesting that
he edlTise the President of the United States National Bank of Denver, in
te°11se to the incluiry contained in his telegram of July 27, that section
19 ^Of the
Federal Reserve Act, as amended by section 11(b) of the Banking
Act of
1933, does not forbid a member bank to pay interest on any deposit
Or Dkiblic
funds payable on demand made by or on behalf of any State,
e°1111tY, school district, or other subdivision or municipality, with respect
tO Vtlxich

payment of interest at the time of accrual thereof is required

1111'clel"
State

regardles

of whether the State law in question was in

l'ree • on the
date of approval of the Banking Act of 1933, or is enacted




216
-3bY the State legislature at a later date.
Ap)roved.
Telegraphic reply on July 29, 193:3, approved by five members of the
Board, to telegrams addressed to the Board's General Counsel under date of
klY 24 and 27 by Congressman Richard 11. Kleberg, with regard to the payOf certificates of deposit of the Karnes County National Bank, i:arnes
CitY, Texas.

The reply stated that if notice of repayment of any such

certificate has been required by the bank or given by the depositor, such
eertificate nay not be paid legally until the expiration of the period of
/1°tice, but that, penqinr. the issuance of reL;ulations on this subject by
the Federal Reserve Board, a certificate of the kind described in
C°11E'ressnan Kleherg's telegram with respect to which notice has not been
Ilegllired or given may be paid by the bank, together with interest thereon,
ill accordance with the bank's usual

practice or existing bona fide

co
ntract-.
Approved.
1.1r. Morrill stated that 1:±. Austin, 2ederal Reserve Agent at
1111a(lelphia, had called him on the telephone and had advised that repre4ontat1v-- of the Barks County Trust Company, Reading, Pennsylvania,
cle.81red to meet with the Board informally with regard to the status of the
rqat co
Impany, to which reference was made at the neeting of the Board on

z%

23,
6.11,14,4,1

stated that he had taken the natter up with the inneMbers of the Board, following which he had advised 11:r. Austin

t44t

the

eQ4,111)azi

Board would be glad to meet with the representatives of the trust
on Thursday, August 3, 1933, at eleven o'clock.




217,
8/1/33

-9Mr. norrill then stated that Deputy Governor Kenzel of the Federal

Reserve Bank of New York, Chairman of the Pension Committee of the Governors'
Conference, and Mr. Buck, Actuary for the Committee, had net with Mr. Tares
Yesterday with regard to the retirament plan suggested in the report of the
l'ension Committee dated Tune 23, 1933, as a result of which Mr. Tames had
concluded that it would be advisable for the Pension Connittee, as reamMended by it, to obtain bids from the various insurance companies, on the
/14818 of which it would be determined whether it would be advisable to
'I'c'eeed in accordance with the plan suggested in the Pension Committee
'eort

I.Lr. Morrill advised the members of the Board that Governor Calkins,

Clalitizrilan of the Governors' Conference, had stated over the telephone that
it WcUld be agreeable to him if the Board were to address a letter to Ur.
ICelizel) with a copy to Governor Calkins, authorizing the Pension Committee
t° Proceed accordingly.
After discussion, the Board authorized the
transmission of a letter to Deputy Governor
Kenzel in accordance with 11r. James' suggestion.

la% Merrill then presented an application filed by the Mercantile
telik

and Trust Company of Texas, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the organizing

llel'eantile National Bank at Dallas for permission to exercise fiduciary
ilc"ts. Ile also called attention to a memorandam prepared in the Board's
1)5.171'ion of Examinations under date of July 20, 1933, with regard to the
441ication, copies of which have been furnished to the members of the
toetza.

After discussion, the Secretary was requested to advise the Federal Reserve Agent at
Dallas that, in view of all the circumstances, the




218
8/1/33

-10Board is not prepared to grant the application at
this time and that, after an examination of the new
national bank has been made, the Board will consider
the matter again upon the agent's recommendation
based upon information contained in a report of such
examination.
lIorrill then reported that Governor LicKinney of the Federal

Reserve Bank of Dallas called him on the telephone on Saturday of last
Ilsek and requested that he advise the Board that the Federal reserve bank
received an application for rembership from a small State bank in that
Ustrict; that the bank, which is in good condition, had requested that,
13eriding its admission to membership, the Federal reserve bank permit it to
establish a nonmember clearing account; that the balance which the State
hebtk would be required to maintain in such account is between „15,000 and
°61000; but that the State bank desires to carry a considerably larger
b(11411ce because of lack of confidence in its correspondent.
14(1XinrleY had advised,

mr.

Governor

Eorrill stated, that the Federal reserve bank had

be" verY conservative in the past about permitting the establishment of
learing accounts by nonmember banks, and had adhered closely to its auth(4'itY Under the law and, while it was felt that the Federal reserve bank
17°41d be justified in granting the request in this case, and intended to
do
eo, some doubt had arisen because of the expressed desire of the State
bEttliz
to carry the larger balance. Upon discussion it was the sense of the
1111W4l1G that no objection should be expressed to the proposed action of the
belles bank.
14r.Liorrill then referred to the report of the System Committee on
1 Group and Chain Banking and stated that Mr. J. H. Riddle, who was
secretary of the Committee and who is now in the employ of the




-11Reserve City Bankers' Association which is mAking an analysis of the BankinC Act of 1933 and the insurance of bank deposits under that act, had advised him that the association would like very much to see the renort of
the System Committee published.

Mr. Morrill also stated that Mr. Golden-

weiser, Chairman of the Committee, feels that the report should be published,
and that Mr. Riddle had intimated that if the Board did
not wish to have
the report printed at its own
expense the Reserve City Bankers' Association
would be glaA to defray the expense of its publication.

Mr. Morrill also

called attention to the fact that the committee of the Board's staff which
17113 appointed to review the report had not entirely completed its work
lbecause of the interruption of the banking holiday and that
the report had
never been passed upon by the Board.

He also stated that he had been In-

that the copy of the report which was furnished to Senator Glass for
the

information of his sub-committee of the Senate Banking and Currency

C°Mmittee is being
made available to anyone who desires to see the report
14 Senator Glass' office.
After discussion, the Secretary was requested
to advise Mr. Riddle that the Board is not prepared
to publish the report at this time.
It was also agreed that if and when the report
is published it should be at the expense of the
Board as an official Board publication and not at
the expense of any other organization.
Governor Black reported that while in Uew York over the weekend he
had A.
'lecussed with Deputy Governor Burgess the proposed reorganization of
the Iv
estchester
Trust Company, Yonkers, New York, and other State barks

arla t
rlIst

companies, and had advised Mr. Burgess that, in view of the newsicitv

i: ha

b

iven to the reorganization and the pro-

13()13ed a
polication of the reorganized bank for membership in the Federal




220
8/1/33

-12-

Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York should request the
State banks and trust companies to file regular applications for membership which will be acted upon by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and
then by the Board when received.
Governor Black also reported that he saw the Secretary of the
Treasury while in New York and that, upon his return, he discussed further
With Under Secretary of the Treasury Acheson the question of the allotment
Of space in the Treasury Building to the Federal Reserve Board, and that Mr.
Acheson had advised that there was no disposition to take from the Board any
Of the space now assigned to it in the Treasury Building.

Governor Black

also stated that, on this basis, negotiations had been begun for the leasing
space for the Division of Examinations in the Shoreham Building in
ecoordance with the action taken at the meeting of the Board on July 28, 1933.
Governor Black then reported that he had another meeting this
ril°raing with Mr. Robert V. Fleming and Mr. 0. Howard Wolfe, representatives
c f the American Bankers* Association, with regard to the adoption by banks
)
or the blanket code issued by the National Recovery Administration.

He

stated that the code was reviewed carefully and was discussed later with
l'epresentatives of the National Recovery Administration, and that the latter
had agreed to consider the possibility of making certain changes in the code
Which would enable the banks to operate under the code, and to report their
decision in the matter this afternoon.

He also stated that advice had been

l'ecsived from the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and Atlanta that, subject
tcs aPProval of the Federal Reserve Board, they had adopted the code, and
th" the Federal Reserve Banks of Kansas City and Dallas had advised that




ei1/33

—13-

they are considering the matter but are awaiting advice of the attitude
Of the Federal Reserve Board with regard thereto.

Governor Black stated

that in view of the action of the Federal reserve banks, it will be necessary
for the Board to reach a decision regarding the matter and that, if agreeable to the other members of the Board, the question will be considered at
4 meeting following receipt of advice of the decision reached by the
National Recovery Administration with regard to possible changes in the code
to be adopted by banking institutions.
Reports of Standing Committee dated Tuly 27, 28, 29 and August 1,
193'6, reconnending approval of the following changes in stock at Federal
reserve banks:

Azoli

.

for ORIGIIIAL Stock:
'Jiat1.1 t
'.4-4dland National Bank, Headland, Alabama.

Shares

ii,°,tzzlianity National Bank, Pontiac, Ilichigan.
'Irst 1Tationa1 Bank of Niles, LTichigan.

270
66
Total

336
369

105

105

506

4,506

9
Total

9
4,620

33

33

A 1,14
to'
Pb------tions for ADDITIOFAL Stock:
't 'National BfInk, Gardner, nassachusetts.
(Increase in capital, preferred, partly
offset by decrease in surplus)

1?-41 City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio. (Increase
eaTAtal, common and preferred, and
slirDlu.$)
Illatrit
c
.°eZn,

4.40*

A

Lz

7ra Ilational Bank, Appomattox, Virginia.
anerease in capital, preferred, partly
offset by decrease in surplus)




8/1/33

-14--

ions for SURRENDER of Stock:
aRtrict No. 1.
Ilerrinack National Bank, Haverhill, Massachusetts.
(Decrease in surplus)

Shares

ict Ilo. 4•
Itirst National Bank, Sewickley, Permsylvania. (V.L.
Sue. by First National Bank in Sewickley)

Baltimore Connercial Bank, Baltimore, Maryland.
(Decrease in capital and surplus)
'
e.tional Loan and Exchange Bank, Columbia, S. C.
rt_ (Insolvent)
444Vis National Bank, Piedmont, West Virginia.
(V.L.Abs. by First National Bank)

6

120

120

360
420
75

855

District No. 6.
Britton &Koontz National Bank, Natchez, Mississippi.
180
(Insolvent)
4J-r5t National Bank, Andalusia, Alabama. (V.L.Abs.
by Andalusia National Bank)
120

300

111-,31)1.2.12:
7
'
'Irat National
Bank, Joliet, Illinois. (Being
liquidated throuda conservator)

774

774

19

19

12
Total

12
2,086

11•rst National Bank, Dongola, Illinois. (V.L.Abs.
by First State Bank, nonmember)
.Z:trict 10
. . 10.
rican Nationni Bank, Alamosa, Colorado.
(Decrease in surplus)

Approved.

Thereupon the neeting adjourned.

Secretary.
4
13X'Oyed:




Governor.