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916

t a meeting of the Lxecutive Committee of the Federal Reserve Board held in the office of the Board on Thursday,
December 11, 1919, at 11
Pali=T: The Governor
Mr. Liller
Mr.
Mr. Chapman, Secretary.
Business was presented and disposed of as follows:
Letter dated December 10th from Frank R. Killingsworth,
L:essenger on the Board's staff, submitting his resignation to
become effective at the pleasure of the Board.
Voted to accept, effective at close of
business December 11, 1919.
The Governor read a letter addressed to him under
date of December 10, 1919, by assistant J,ecretary of the
Treasury -effingwell, containin

a statement as to the status

of the Treasury's financial operations, and advising that he
did not wish the viev.s expressed in his letter of rovember
...9th addressed to the Beard to stand in the way of any action
which the Federal heserve Board might now desire to take.
The Governor stated that he had addressed to all Federal lieserve banks under date of December luth, telegrams as follows:
:;trong

rew York.

Board believes that in order to discourage speculation and check loan expansion, it is necessary to
use discriminating judgment in making discounts and
advancements as provided in section Four, and to have
member banks understand that resources of system are




9:17

-2not unlimited. Board realizes, however, that'advances in rates constitute an important element in
making member banks and their customers understand
need of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury
position at present is sufficiently favorable as to
warrant abolition of preferential rates in favor of
paper secured by Liberty bonds and Victory notes.
Maintenance of four and one-half percent rate on
Treasury certificates seems necessary to insure success of future certificate issues, but maintenance
of this rate involves no great danger of expansion
as that rate affords no profit to banks carrying certificates but on the contrary offers inducement to
distribute certificates among taxpayers and other
private investors. Treasury does not ask continuance
of four and one-quarter percent rate on four and onequarter percent certificates. In bringing these facts
to your attention Board desires to say that if conditions in your district are such as to render desirable four and one-half percent rate on all certificates and abolition of the one-quarter percent
differential in favor of rediscounts and advances secured by Liberty bonds and Victory notes, Board is
prepared to approve such changes.

Morse - Boston.
Passmore - Philadelphia.
Wellborn - Atlanta.
Miller - Kansas City.
McDougal - Chicago.
Board believes that in order to discourage speculation and check loan expansion it is necessary to use
discriminating judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in Jection Four, and to have member
banks understand that resources of system are not unlimited. Board realizes, however, that advances in
rates constitute an important element in making member
banks and their customers understand need of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury position at present
is sufficiently favorable as to warrant abolition of
preferential rates in favor of paper secured by Liberty
bonds and Victory notes. Maintenance of four and onehalf percent rate on Treasury certificates seems'necessary
to insure success of future certificate issues, but




-3-maintenance of this rate involves no great danger of
expansion as that rate affords no profit to banks
carrying certificates but on the contrary offers inducement to distribute certificates among taxpayers and
other investors. Treasury does not ask continuance
of four and one-quarter percent rate on four and onequarter percent certificates. In bringing these facts
to your attention Board desires to say that if conditions in your district are such aa to render desirable
four and one-half percent rate on all certificates, and
abolition of the one-quarter percent differential in
favor of rediscounts and advances secured by Liberty
bonds and Victory notes, Board is prepared to approve
such changes.

Fancher - Cleveland.
Board believes that in order to discourage speculation and check loan expansion it is necessary to use
discriminating judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in section 4, and to have member banks
understand that resources of system are not unlimited.
Board realizes, however, that advances in rates constitute
an important element in making member banks and their
customers understand need of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury position at present is sufficiently
favorable as to warrant abolition of preferential rates
in favor of paper secured by Liberty bonds and Victory $
notes. Laintenance of four and one-half percent rate on
Treasury certificates seems necessary to insure success
of future certificate issues, but maintenance of this rate
involves no great danger of expansion as that rate affords
no profit to banks carrying certificates but on the contrary offers inducements to distribute certificates among
taxpayers and other private investors. Treasury does not
ask continuance of four and ono-quarter percent rate on
four and one-quarter percent certificates. In bringing these
facts to your attention Board desireb to say that if conditions in your district are such as to render desirable
four and one-half percent rate on all certificate paper,
Board is prepared to approve such change. In making your
recommendation you should consider effect of any proposed
changes on market price of Liberty bonds and Victory notes.




91.9

-4Jeay

Liehmond.

Board believes that in order to discourage speculation and check loan expansion it is necessary to use discriminating judgment in making discounts and advancements
as provided in section Four, and to have member banks
understand that resources of system are not unlimited.
Board realizes, however, that advances in rates constitute
an important element in making member banks and their customers understand need of such discrimination and limitation.
Treasury position at present is sufficiently favorable as
to warrant abolition of'preferential rates in favor of paper
secured by Liberty bonds and Victory notes. Maintenance
of four and one-half percent rate on Treasury certificates
seems necessary to insure success of future certificate issues, but maintenance of this rate involves no great danger
of expansion as that rate affords no profit to banks carrying certificates, but on the contrary offers inducement to
distribute certificates among taxpayers and other private
investors. Treasury does not ask continuance of four and
one-quarter percent rate on four and one-quarter percent
certificates. In bringing these facts to your attention
Board desires to say that if conditions in your district
are such as to render desirable four and one-half percent
rate on all certificates and abolition of the one-quarter
Percent differential in favor of rediscounts and advances
secured by Liberty bonds and Victory notes, Board is prepared to approve such changes. Board culls attention to
the fact that you have still maintained four and one-half
percent rate on member banks fifteen day collateral notes
secured by eligible commercial paper as against four and
three quarters percent rate for all other maturities. This
difference in favor of fifteen day paper has led to abuses
in other districts and should you recommend discontinuance
Board would approve.

Biggs - St. Louis.
Board believes that in order to discourage speculation
and check loan expansion it is necessary to use discriminating
judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in
L;ection Four, and to have member banks understand that resources of system are not unlimited. Board realizes, however,
that advances in rates constitute an important element in making member banks and their customers understand need of such




920

-5discrimination and limitation. Treasury position at
present is sufficiently favorable as to warrant abolition
of preferential rates in favor of paper secured by Liberty bonds and Victory notes. Maintenance of four and
one-half percent rate on Treasury certificates seams
necessary to insure success of future certificate issues,
but maintenance of this rate involves no great danger of
01.panSiOn as that rate affords not profit to banks carrying certificates but on the contrary offers inducement to
distribute certificates among taxpayers and other private
investors. Treasury does not ask continuance of four and
one-quarter percent rate on four and one-quarter percent certificates. In bringing these facts to your attention, Board
desires to say that if conditions in your district are such
as to render desirable four and one-half percent rate on
all certificates and abolition of the one-quarter percent
differential in favor of rediscounts and advances secured
by Liberty bonds and Victory notes, Board is prepared to
approve such changes. Board calls attention to the fact
that you still maintain four and one-half percent rate on
fifteen day member bank collateral notes and on fifteen day
rediscounts of eligible commercial paper against four and
three quarters percent rate for all other maturities. This
difference in favor of fifteen day paper has led to abuses
in other districts, and should you recommend discontinuance
Board would approve.

Young - Minneapolis.
Board believes that in order to discourage speculation
and chuck loan expansion it is necessary to use discriminating
judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in
section Four, and to have member banks understand that resources of system are not unlimited. Board realizes, how- over, that advances in rates constitute an important element
in making member banks and their customers understand need
of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury position
at present is sufficiently favorable as to warrant abolition
of preferential rates in favor of paper secured by Liberty
bonds and Victory notes. 2,1aintenance of four and one-half
percent rate on Treasury certificates seems necessary to insure success of future certificate issues, but maintenance
of this rate invelves no great danger of expansion as that
rata affords no profit to banks carrying certificates but on
the contrary offers inducement to distribute certificates




Y21

-6among taxpayers and other private investors. Treasury does
noc ask continuance of four and one-quarter percent rate an
four and one-quarter percent certificates. In bringing these
facts to your attention Board desires to say that if conditions in your district are such as to render desirable
four and one-half percent rate on all certificates and abolition of the one-quarter percent differential in favor of
rediscounts and advances secured by Liberty bonds and Victory
notes, Board is prepared to approve such changes. Board
calls attention to fact that you still maintain four and onehalf percent rate on member banks fifteen day notes and fifteen
day rediscounts secured by eligible commercial paper as against
four and three quarters and five percent rate for all other
maturities. This difference in favor of fifteen day paper has
led to abuses in other districts and should you see fit to
recommend discontinuance Board would approve.

VanZandt - Dallas.
Board believes that in order to discourage speculation
and check loan expansion it is necessary to use discriminating
judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in
section dour, and to have member banks understand that resources of system are not unlimited. Board realizes, how(war, that advances in rates constitute an important element
in making member banks and their customers understand need
of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury position at
present is sufficiently favorable as to warrant abolition
of preferential rates in favor of paper secured by Liberty
bonds and Victor.; notes. Maintenance of four and one-half
percent rate on Treasury certificates seems necessary to insure success of future certificate issues, but maintenance
of this rate involves no great danger of expansion as that
rate affords no profit to banks carrying certificates but
on the contrary offers inducement to distribute certificates
among taxpayers and other private investors. Treasury does
not ask continuance of four and one-quarter percent rate
an four and one quarter percent certificates. In bringing
these facts to your attention Board desires to say that if
conditions in your district are such as to render desirable
four and one-half percent rate on all certificates and abolition of the one-half percent differential in favor of rediscounts and advances secured by Liberty bonds and Victory
notes, Board is prepared to approve such changes.




-;

922

-7Calkins -

an Francisco.

3oard believes that in order to discourage speculation and check loan expansion it is necessary to use
discriminating judgment in making discounts and advancements as provided in 6ection Four, and to have member
banks understand that resources of system are not unlimited. Board realizes, however, that advances in rates
constitute an important element in making member banks
and their customers understand need of such discrimination and limitation. Treasury position at present is
sufficiently favorable as to warrant abolition of preferential rates in favor of paper secured by Liberty
bonds and Victory notes. Llaintenance of four and mehalf percent rate on Treasury certificates seems necessary to insure success of future certificate issues,
but maintenance of this rate involves no great danger
of expansion as that rate affords no profit to banks
carrying certificates but on the contrary offers inducement to distribute certificates among taxpayers and other
private investors. Treasury does not ask continuance of
four and one-quarter percent rate on four and one-quarter
percent certificates. Board brings these facts to your
attention and if condition in your district render desirable four and one-half percent rate on all certificates
and discontinuance of the one-quarter percent differential
in favor of rediscounts and advances secured by Liberty
bonds and Victory notes, Board is prepared to approve
changes. Board calls attention to fact that you still
maintain four and one-half percent rate on fifteen day
member banks collateral notes and fifteen-day rediscounts
secured by eligible commercial paper as against five percent rate for all other maturities. This difference in
favor of fifteen day paper has led to abuses in other
districts, and should you see fit to recommend discontinuance, Board would approve. In making your recommendation you should consider effect of any proposed changes
on market price of Liberty bonds and Victory notes.

Telegram dated December 11th from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in response to the Board's telegram
of December 10th, recommending apt)roval. of the following
rates, effective at the pleasure of the Bank;




-8Advances .not exceeding 15 days to member
banks on their promissory notes sedlared by certificates of indebtedness

4-1/4

same, secured by Liberty bonds, Victory
notes and customers notes secured by either
Liberty bonds or Victory notes
Same, secured by eligible commercial paper

4-3/45

'Totes, drafts and bills of exchange having
maturity at time of rediscount of not more than
90 days including rediscounts, for periods not
exceeding 15 days, of eligible paper having maturity at time of rediscount of more than 15 days 4-3/4%
rotes, drafts and bills of exchange having
maturity not in excess of 90 days secured by
Liberty bonds or Victory notes

4-3/45

Trade acceptances and bankers' acceptances
having maturity at time of rediscount of not
... 4-1/27,
more than 90 days
Agricultural paper having maturity at time
Of rediscount of more than 90 days but not more
than six months
Approved.
Telegram dated December 11th from the Federal Reserve
Bank of Richmond in response to the Board's telegram of December 10th, recommending approval of the following rates,
effective December 15th:
Member banks collateral notes and customers
notes secured only by U.S.Treasury certificates,
one to 90 days
Member banks collateral notes .and customers
notes secured by Liberty bonds or Victory notes,
4-3/45
one to 90 days




. 924

-9_
Member banks collateral notes and customers
notes secured by 4ar finance Corporation bonds, one
a
5-3A:
to 90 days
Member banks collateral notes secured by
eligible paper, one to 15 days
Trade acceptances, one to 90 days

4-1/2:;

Cornmercial paper one to 90 days

4-6/4:1

ricultural or livestock paper, one to 90
days
5;

91 days to six months
Approved.

(At this point Mr. Harrison joined the meeting)
Mr. Harrison read to the 3oard, dn.:ft of letter propared by him under date of December 11th for signature by the
Governor, addressed to the $candinavian-American Bank of
.-Jeattle, 4ashington, cancelling the membership of that institution in the federal Reserve Bank of




an Francisco.

Voted to approve the latter as submitted.
Voted further, that the Governor telegraph Mr. Perrin, advising of the forwarding
of the 'otter to be delivered to the member
bank, unleas new facts or circumstances develop at the conference to be held with representatives of the member bank on December 14th
wich should appear to Mr. Perrin to justify
an extension of the period for cancellation
of membership..
(At this point Mr. Harrison withdrew from the meeting).

925

-1u.nutter dated December 6th from the Governor, Federal Reserve Bank of

an Francisco, requesting that the

Assistant Treasurer at San Francisco be instructed to cease
le
paying out .;A and 41U gold pieces wherever it is possib
to pay out ;,;20 gold pieces in lieu thereof.
Referred to the Governor for transmission to proper authorities of the
Treasury Department.
the
On motion duly seconded, it was voted that
of the
Governor be authorized to make public a statement
ity to
Board's policy in withholding at this time, author
of new
Federal Reserve banks to engage in the erection
bank buildings.
l
Letter dated December 9th from Assistant Federa
. .
j.-serve Agent revin at Cleveland, in response to the Board's
the Guardian
letter of :,ovember 19th (1728) advising that
Trust Company and the Cleveland Trust Company,
in
both of Cleveland, Ohio, due to a change in their policy
ered as
soliciting commercial business, may now be consid
. in'substantial competition with national banks.
bein;,




Referred to General Counsel for report
on permissions granted under the terms of
the Clayton Act affecting directors of the
institutions named.

9r)6

-11-

Letter dated December 8th from the Governor,
Federal Reserve Bank of rew York, submitting for approval,
schedule of recommendations of salaries of officers and
employees of that Bank, effective January 1, 1920.
Referred to la*. Paddock for report.
Letter dated December 8th from Consulting Architect
TrcAbridge, submitting expense accounts of himself and Mr.
Ten Lyck, incident to conference on vault testing.
Referred to the ,iocretary for report.
Report of discount rates at the various Federal Reserve banks; no changes recommended.
'noted.
The Governor reported rediscount transactions, pursuant to authority heretofore vested in him; member bank
promissory notes

secured by Government obligations, rate

4-1/2,S,as follows:
Date

Dec.8th




Bank Rediscounting.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
roted.

With

Chicago
Dallas

Amount

4.1,000,000
5,000,000

Maturities

11-15 days

.T

-12Letter dated December 8th from the Federal Reserve
Agent at Philadelphia, re4uesting approval of the payment of
additional compensation to the employees of his department
for the current period upon the same basis as paid to the
employees of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Approved.
Letter dated December 6th from the Federal Reserve
ng schedule
Agent at Boston, submitting for approval the followi
of extra compensation to be paid to employees of that Bank,
for the sb month period ending December 31, 1919:
4(); on compensation under 4500.
and under 41,000.
?
30 on compensation of '5UU
210 on compensation of $1,000 and under
42,500.
Approved.
Memorandum by 1.1r. Paddock dated December 9th, recommending approval of organization chart of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Philadelphia.
Tabled for meeting of the Board to be
held on Friday, December 12th.
REP0RT6 OF COM2iITT4S NO. 1:
ReDated Dec. 10th, recommending changes in stock at Federal
ry
minute
auxilia
in
serve banks as set forth
book as of this date.
Approved.
Dated Dec. 10th, recommending action on applications for fiduciary powers, as sot forth in auxiliary
minute book as of this date.
Approved.




928

-13Cn motion duly seconded it was voted that at the
meeting of the Board to be held at. 11

on Wednesday, De-

cember 17th, special order business be made of the questions
of election of Class C director

of Federal Reserve banks and

directors of branches of Federal Reserve banks appointed by
the Federal Reserve Board, whose terms expire on December 61,
1919, and increasss of salaries of officers and employees of
the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks.
Letter dated December 9th from the Chairman, Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis, advising that the County of
Humphreys, Ilississippi, has been created by assigning to such
county, territory heretofore lying within 7umu, Sunflower and
Washington Counties (now assigned to the Eighth Federal Leserve
District), and Sharkey and Yazoo Counties (now assigned to the
Sixth Federal Reserve District), and requesting advice as to
what steps should be taken with respect to the assignment of
the newly created county.
Referred to the ;,:cutury for report.
Memorandum by 1.1r. l'addock dated December 10th, in
re application of the First rational:Bank, Emporium, PeLnsylotania, for fiduciary powers.




Referred to the committee for report.

-14At 12-30 P.M., the meeting adjourned.

•




proved;