View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

4[92
ttl

A Meeting of the Federal Reserve Board was held in Washington on

"4612 Deceriber 6, 1932, at 11:20 a. m.
IT:PRE,21

Governor Meyer
Mr. Hamlin
Mr. Miller
. Tames
Mr. Magee
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Morrill, Secretary
McClelland, Assistant Secretary
Harrison, Assistant to the Governor
Paulger, Chief, Division of Examinations.

Ur. L. B. Williams, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of
444141 appeared before the Board in response to the Board's invitation
/elitercley.
illitete the

He stated that Governor Meyer had discussed with him just

Board meeting the information which the Board had received re-

Llr• DeCamP's borrowings; that he had not been advised by Mr.
44til a
few days ago of the latter's indebtedness to the Guardian

1414" CCIMArty of
Cleveland, and that he felt greatly concerned over the

kttter.

Ile said that he felt the need for tire in which to give the various

14k1te
14 hie

t the
101,4,

matter further consideration and that there was a question

because of the present banking conditions in Cleveland, as to
414 101181b1e

results of the termination of Yr. DeCamp Is connection with the

44ekt
teSerVe b ank at the expiration of his present term as Class C

k

cna 13e0araber 31, 1932. 11.r. William stated that he understood that
i
i,74r
directors
of the Cleveland bank, with the exception of Mr. Rdbert
) Class A
director of the bank and a close personal friend of Mr.
)lot been informed by Mr. DeCamp of his indebtedness to the
"
414412
4,Lat company.
The directors of the Federal reserve bank, Mr.
tlAtturia a
tt,

kid $ -cave
regarded Mr. DeCamp as a raan of sons ability, and he

that,

e° far as he knows, the bankers generally in the Cleveland district




4"
P

12/6/32

-2-

l'eel that
the Aderal reserve bank has been well managed, that the member
b
L
' in the district have resorted freely both to the bank and the Federal
zeaem,agent's department for assistance and advice, and that a change at
t148

raight have a disturbing effect upon the banks.
In response to an inquiry, LI'. `.iilliams stated that in his opinion
was clearly at fault when he submitted a recommendation to the
Reserve Board that no action be taken with regard to the membership

or the
the

Guardian Trust Company of Cleveland without disclosing, to the Board

raet

that he was indebted to that institution.

He also stated that,

11411111Y)he was not prepared at this time to suggest a successor to 1:r.
ea.a.zro
1101-11d the Board decided not to reappoint him.
Reference was then made to the indebtedness to the Guardian Trust
2ancher, Governor of the ,;'ederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland,
tot
he fact that the report of examination of the Union Trust Company
m
"'Level
'
8•11d, as of Liarch 31, 1931, indicates that on that date Governor
17ae indebted to that institution in the amount of .4,000, and that
Nty
Wernor :,
7 urlinden and former Assistant Cashier Stephenson were also

'30teci, to
11111

it in the amounts of .21,200 and ,2;12,637, respectively.

Kr.

stated that he had not known until this morning, when he was adeci
.Y Governor ir.eyer, of the indebtedness of
Governor Fancher, Deputy
411rlinden or Er. Stephenson; that Er. Stephenson is no longer
ctea
vath the bank; and that, so far as he knew, the indebtedness of
the%
°I'l'icers had not been disclosed to any of the directors of the bank.
4tter a
general discussion, during which LA.% jilliams advised the
clkti
N

that

he would be in 'Jashington again in connection with other business

an-Y 01
next week, it was agreed that he should consider the matters




12/6/32
1111dez

alscussion durin7, the interim, including the possibilities of finding

48111table successor for Er. .DeCamp, and meet again with the Board on next
ar ThursdayLiz. Williams then reported briefly on the activities of the Banking
tad 1%,
4-44ustrial Committee of the Fourth District of which he is chairman,
eAer
allich he withdrew from the meeting.
alrinc the course of Er. Willians' discussion with the Board, 2'.r.
tt
' neral Counsel, came into the Board room.
The Board considered and acted upon the following natters:
Reply to a letter dated November 23, 1932, from the federal Reserve
*
a- 'Richmond, advising that the first National Bank of Abingdon,

'itz,e1.41

-4) and the

t1111104

dxst fationul Dank of Coeburn, Virginia, have been con-

81Y deficient in their reruired reserves for a period of six months.
rIlle
el)1Y 3tated that, in accordance with the agent's recommendation, the
174.1,(1

.

17111 take no action in these natters at this tire other than to for4 Copy of the agent's letter to the Acting Comptroller of the Currency
4

1:)-t01,e

41tormation of his office.

The reply also re .uested that the agent

th
e Board, within a reasonable tine, as to whether the banks have
cl and are maintaining their respective reserve requirements.
Approved.
Letter to the federal Reserve Agent at San Francisco, approved by

tietve 4 --s of the Board on December 5, replying to Assistant Federal Reeellt Jargent's letters of November 16 and 17, 1932, reporting that
City
ktional Bank of Huntington Park, California, was continuously
tlet,
'
.°1exIt -fl
its required reserves during the Period from 'Larch 16 to
vnt
'
41)oz,
41 1932. The renly stated that in view of the information sub-




'

or,

12/6/32
ktted, and
1
.11 accordance with the recorvendation of the agent's office,
tile Board will
take no action in the matter at this time other than to
torw4rd a copy
of ::r. Sargent's letters and inclosures to the Acting
°c`raDtroaaer

of the Currency for the information of his office.

requested

The reply

that the agent advise the 73oard, within a reasonable time, as

to
whether the

bank has restored and is maintaining its reciuired reserves.
Approved.

Letter to the federal Reserve Agent at Chicago, approved by five
rlerl)el
'

Of

the 3oard on December 5, 1932, with reference to the analysis

'ePort of examination as of July 11, 1932, of the
Pigeon State Bank,
idichigan, and to Assistant Federal Reserve Agent Young's letter of
110
°1111)er 10, 1932, reporting developments in the bank since the date of the
tlatiorl.

The Board's letter requested, in view of the information sub-

that the agent consider the advisability of discussin:, with the
titli".1°Iaer of Banking of the State of Michigan, preferably prior to a
4°Niecl vi
8it of a representative of the federal reserve agent to the nem-

het b

the necessity of financial assistance being. :given to the bank by
t11) 811azeholders or directors.
Approved.
Letter to the Federal Reserve Agent at Minneapolis, approved by
tIlte
lellIbers of the Board on December 5, 1932, replying to Mr. Bailey's
'`tter
°I SePtember 26, 1932, with regard to the improvament effected in the
ticm
0J- the Park City State Bank, Park City, Montana, since the date
,,
-4amination on July 20, 1932. The reply requested certain additional
°114e•ti
-cla with -r-ogard to a loan in the amount of )5 000 to one of the
(Itt
e.Qt
8 Tlhich is not considered to be adequately secured, and as to the




4[96
12/6/32

-5-

ilaProvement effected in the condition of the member bank since its letter
or. SePtetiber 20,
1932, to the Superintendent of Banks of the State of
lioztana.

Approved.
Relay, approved by five members of the Board on December 5, 1932, to

•

letter
dated lovember 9, 1932, from the Federal Reserve Agent at Dallas,
tererr,_
4.ng to the proceedings instilited to determine whether the memberShip

or fte
J1rst State Bank of Lorenzo, Texas, should be terminated, and stating
that
"e member bank has fulfilled its promise to restore its reserves and
tle,t its

required reserve balances have been maintained since October 11,

44.
14's i'alsh also stating that the bank is still in an extended and
e'llY unsatisfactory condition and that the State examiner has expressed
litention. to renuire a change in management and to examine the bank
zt4t

latlY until its affairs show a satisfactory improvement.

The reply

t,
aat in view of the infomation submitted, and in accordance with the
recommendation, the Board has again deferred a decision on the
4 whether the membership of the :first State Bank should be terminated,
dex.

tta

taat the institution may have a further onnortunity to demonstrate

tf to
comply with the Provisions of the Federal Reserve Act and
ge 3.0Et
1.(1' regulations. The reply also requested the agent, upon completion
cYt

clbcz,rai

examinntion of the member bank, to forward to the Board an
the report, together with a recommendation of the beard of

eot
or the Federal reserve bank in the matter; also, that he keep the
,,,ilt.tIrrently advised of any material changes which may take place in the
ktto

Of

the institution in the interim, and submit a recolmendation

e4Y action which should be taken in the light of such changes.




Approved.

1VG/32

-6Letter to the Federal Reserve Agent at Boston, replying to his

letter of
::evember Li-, 1932, with further regard to the application of the
qoun
'
e8tor National Bank, Gloucester, Lassachusetts, for permission to
eleteise fiduciary 'oowers.

The reply stated that the Acting Comptroller

11Q(117.1-2ed that, in his ()Pinion, there is no reason why action on the
41111e4ti0n should not be deferred until the reaort of another examination
tit
7,,ebalik has been received, and that, accordingly, action has been de°Y the Board.

N)c)rt

The reply also requested that, upon receipt of the

of examination, the agent furnish the Board with an analysis thereof

4141118 1..
ecomtaendation as to what action, if any, should be taken on the
bkik,
application.
Approved.
aePly to a letter dated December 2, 1932, from Deputy Governor
11.1e of the Federal Reserve Bnilk of New York, advising of the steps
terl bY the bank under the share-the-work plan which became effective on
"°'lettlber

192. The reply noted that 127 temnorary employees have been
ror a
period of six months; that in order to carry on the work of

baailt.
Without resorting to increased hours of labor, it will be necessary
tN „
e'Ne about 20 additional employees on the same temporary basis; and
G

aggregate salary liability on account of these approximately 147

N.114131
tillod

emnloyees may exceed by a few thousand dollars the amount made

e for such employments by the 4c); deduction during the six months
• l'om the
salaries of all officers and employees.
Approved.
elegraphic reply to a letter dated December 2 and telegram dated
t 61 1932, from the Governor of the Aderal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,




498

1N/32

-7--

l'equeetink-;
authority for a further continuance for sixty days, without
knarld for
payiaent, in the amount now outstanding, of the advance nade to
the 48°ria Savings Bank and Trust Conpany, Atlanta, Georgia, under the
allthc3ritIr granted in the Board's teleL;rans of Tune 15 and Septenber 9, 1932,
114 4ecordance with the provisions of section 10(b) of the Federal Reserve
"amended, with interest at the rate of 5 1/2

011

per annum, and payable

) with interest payable monthly; Governor Black stating that the
ituation exists at the Present
tile as at the tire of the last renewal.
reply

stated that the Board interposes no objection to the further con-

Of the advance subject to the terms and conditions recomended, and
that
14 the event the advance is not repaid nor demand for payment made
171th1n s.y
iz
t days from December 12, 1032, the natter Should again be brought
to
the
°aru
attention with a „,tatement of the circums tances which, in the

%11(34 °I' the 7ederal deserve Bank of Atlanta, justify the further continklee (31' the advance without demand for paynent.
Unanimously approved.
4144a

Governor I..eyer then referred to the request made of him by Senator
e.t the bearings before the Banking and Currency Committee of the Senate

o4 1.

29, 1932, on Senate bill 4115, that he suggest a constitutional

'ket4

11400
:
1 °2 bringing about the establishment of a unified system of banking
14tekt iona1 supervision.

He stated that, in accordance with that re-

"
e ts

'.iyatt, General Counsel, has submitted, under date of December 5,
/11 °Pinion on the constitutionality of legislation providing a unified

:
141 hankinr. system for the 'United States, and he presented, for the
kti,11

kkiti

el'`Ition of the Board, drafts of letters to the chairman of the Senate

Ile" 11 1 %urrency Committee and to Senator Glass, transmitting copies of




499
i
j

1216/32
tu,

- °Pinion
,
,Juring the ensuing discussion, certain amendments to the proposed

lett„8,

aere suggested, and

Mr.

Hamlin stated that before the letters are

snUtted,
he desired an opPortunity to review certain parts of counsel's

Thereupon the meeting recessed and reconvened at 3:50 D. m. with
the —
Qtulue attendance as at the morning session except that Er. 2aulger was
110t
431"esent.
There were presented drafts of letters to the chairman of the
ke,t
e•Banking and currency Committee and Senator Glass, amended in accordance

1/1 11 t),

--e 84.-c,gestions made at the morning session; the letter to the chairman

oi
e B• eIlkinc and Currency Committee stating that, if desired, additional
•

the opinion submitted by Counsel will be forwarded for the inforOr

the other menbers of the committee.
After a brief discussion, the amended letters
were approved.
Lir. Hamlin stated that, While he approved the
letters above referred to, he may wish to advise
Senator Glass in a personal letter that, in view
Of counsel's opinion, it is also apparently within
the power of Congress to renuire that all State
banks shall become members of the Federal Reserve
System.

c:11%

The Governor then stated that Lir. L. B. Williams, Deputy Chairman
the
ll'ederal deserve Bank of Cleveland, had called at his office just
t° -th15 session and had discussed further the c,uestion of the reap'loint-

4eq

oz.
DeCamp as a Class C director and chairman and Federal reserve

‘411t

6't the Jederal deserve Bank of Cleveland.

Governor Ebyer stated that

y

4ms feels it will require some ti:'e for him to reach a conclusion
41e

--er, and that he had advised 1:r. Williams that, while the Board is




00
or

tile °Pinion that it should reach 'a decision as soon as possible, it

tIlaires that he take the tine necessary to enable him to submit a carefully
kmaidered recommendatiOn•




Thereupon the neetinc adjourned.