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1050

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Sysheld in Washington on Thursday, July 29, 1937, at 10:30 a. in.
PRESENT:

Mr.
Mr.
MT.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Eccles, Chairman
Ransom, Vice Chairman
Broderick
Szymczak
McKee
Davis

Mr. Morrill, Secretary
Mr. Bethea, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Clayton, Assistant to the Chairman
Mr. Thurston, Special Assistant to the
Chairman
Mr. Wyatt, General Counsel
Mr. Paulger, Chief of the Division of
Examinations
Mr. Parry, Chief of the Division of
Security Loans
Mr. Dreibelbis, Assistant General Counsel
Mr. Leonard, Assistant Chief of the
Division of Examinations
Mr. Baumann, Assistant Counsel
Mr. Solomon, Assistant Counsel
Mr. Dembitz, Research Assistant in the
Division of Security Loans
There was

presented a memorandum dated July 29, 1937, prepared

Division of Examinations in accordance with the action taken at
ett
nc) of the Board on July 27, 1937, with respect to the proposed
Pla of
the Union Trust
Company of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, for
t
hcj
sollItion of the City Certificates Corporation.
pEtrry,

Thereupon Messrs. Bethea, Carpenter, Clayton, Thurston, Wyatt,

and the
kEil.„(1 1)1.eibelbis, Bauniann, Solomon and Dembiti left the room
(1.

r"eeded With a discussion of the proposed plan.
ellaai

During the

°4 Chairman Eccles suggested that the Board consider action
Iti°11e th
e --hes set forth in the following resolution and that he




1051
7/29/37
-2wished to be recorded as favoring such a resolution:
"That the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond be requested
advise the Union Trust Company of Maryland that the Board
(4 Governors, without having approved the proposed transfer
of stock under
the revised plan submitted by the trust comP
t,hY, will give consideration to a reauest for a waiver of
,
ne requirement as to consent to such transfer of stock conaihed in Condition of Membership No. 27, if and when
"1.
plan has been submitted in writing to the
holders ofThe
the certificates of beneficial interest issued
by the
City Certificates Corporation and to the stockholders
the Corporation, in terms clearly and simply setting forth
the
details of the plan and stating specifically not only
!hat the
certificate holders would receive under the proPosed plan
but also what they would give up;
2
.
"
Such
plan has been approved in writing by not
lese
then two-thirds of the holders, who hold not less than
i
t fee-fourths in amount, of the certificates of beneficial
'Lerest outstanding, exclusive of the certificates upon
eh Cash Payments would be made in full; and
„
"3- Such plan has been approved in writing by the
ete
0d
owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding
8t0
'°ok of the City Certifi
cates Corporation."
to

Z

At 11:50
a. m. the Chairman left the meeting for the purpose
(311 attending
a conference which had been arranged Previously.
The discussion continued until 1:00 p. in

when the meeting re-

The meeting
was reconvened at 2:50 p. m. with the same atas at
the opening of the morning session except that Chairman
"le8 Wes not present.
was presented a letter to Mr. Leach, President of the
4derea There
R
eserve Bank of Richmond, reading as follows:
,71hi3 refers to Mr. Wallace's letter of May 26, 1937,
0011 "Is subsequent correspondence with the Board's General
Sta sel, concerning security for trust funds deposited by
?ember banks in their own banking departments.
the 1,_In its letter of September 27, 1935, to Mr. Hoxton,
Stateard waived compliance by State member banks in the
Of Maryland with the condition of membership to the




1052
7/29/37
-3effect that if a State member bank deposits trust funds in
own banking department, it must deposit securities in
its trust
department to secure the payment of the trust funds.
1.iever,
c
the Board expressly reserved the right to require
."111 campliance with such condition by the State member banks
811biact thereto if, at any time, it felt that such trust funds
were not otherwise adequately protected.
"As you know, the Board's action in waiving compliance
with such
condition was based upon the understanding that in
ipa
l
State of Maryland all such trust funds were protected
Y a preference accorded by certain provisions of the State
tatutes. It now appears that, in the case of Corbett v.
1,:spelhorn, 191 Atl. 691, the Court of Appeals of Maryland
recently
held that the preference accorded by the Maryland
:tatutes applies only to liabilities incurred by a trust
,,nenY when acting under appointment by a court as executor,
:
ualnietrator,
guardian, trustee, receiver, committee, or
cliePository. Parenthetically it may be noted that
it is unrstood that trust companies are the only banking institu'°fls permitted to exercise fiduciary powers in Maryland.
ti
"The Board does not feel that it is justified in Conto waive compliance with the above-mentioned condi110213- of membership in connection with trust funds which are
Protected by the preference accorded by the Maryland
tutes as interpreted by the Court of Appeals of that
pi,
te• Therefore, the Board withdraws its waiver of com;
I Eince with such condition by State member banks in Marywhich are subject to the condition, except as to funds
Which
couch auch banks hold when acting under appointment by a
cei
;
t as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, rest_,er, committee, or depository. Please advise each such
e member bank accordingly, forwarding to the Board for
records a copy of the advice you furnish each bank.
co--"It is noted that while the question has never been
G.eridered by the Maryland Court of Appeals, the Attorney
notefEll of that State has ruled that a trust company does
Ailla""e
to pledge securities to secure trust
you,
8 "Posited by it in its banking department and that
coll'ci.counsel concurs in that opinion. As you know, the
StElfition of membership in question contemplates that if a
Nicive member bank subject to such condition deposits trust
pled8 in its own banking department there shall be a valid
Of securities
to secure such funds.
It is realized
that the withdrawal of the Board's
waive
of compliance with the condition as above aescribed
sclze in view of all the circumstances involved, present
difficulties to the banks subject to the condition
it8

j

T




1053
7/29/37
-4making the necessary adjustments for the handling of
:rust funds affected by
the withdrawal of the waiver. It
suggested, therefore, that you contact the State
member
nnks subject to the condition with a view to giving such
!,Ssistance to them as you may in working out, within a reasone time, the problem of
making such adjustments as may be
nec
essary."
Mr. Ransom stated that he had requested that the letter be cirlated
a4°ng the members of the Board before its consideration at a
teetirlg for the
reason that, while he felt the Position taken in the
letter
waa correct
under present cirawmstances and that the letter
11(1111d be a
pproved, he also felt that consideration would have to be
'11'111411 bY the
Board to some means of solving the problem confronted by
Stte Member
banks in Maryland and other States which are not permitted
bylaw to
pledge security for trust funds deposited in their banking
4ellartzents.

Thereupon Mr. Ransom moved that the
letter to Mr. Leach be approved.
Carried unanimously.
Mr
'Baumann left the meeting at this point.
Th°re was presented a memorAndum from Mr. Parry, which had been
Areparea
bY htm
under date of July 28, pursuant to the request made at
tiae rtie
etillg of the Board on July 27, and which submitted a draft of
1e
dIllerit to
Regulation U, Loans by Banks for the Purpose of PurvaEtaille

NI

which

Or c4rrYing Stocks Registered on a National Securities Exchange,
w°414 make the
provisions of the regulation applicable to so1°11s, I.e., loans made prior to May 1, 1936, the date upon

1h111 the
regulation became effective.
'uent

The reasons for the proposed

as outlined
in Mr. Parry's memorandum were elaborated upon




1054
7/29/37

-5_

by
hira and, in response to an inquiry whether it would be desirable to
defer the
amendment until the revision of Regulation T, Extension and
Maintenance of Credit by Brokers, Dealers, and Members of National Seci'll'ittes Exchanges, becomes effective, or whether it should be made
"tactive before that date, Mr. Parry expressed the opinion that the
latter c
_
aarse should be followed for the principal reason that under
the Prasent
regulation, in the event of appreciation in the market
13lice of the
securities held as collateral raising the margin in the
71,

acc°1111t above the
amount of margin required by the lending bank, the
11°11r°//er would be able to withdraw the excess margin or obtain addition1 credit,
tabat this privilege would be lessened if the regulation
Wel'e al/Plied to old loans, and that it was believed to be desirable
tilt the 4mendment be made effective before any further substantial
1.4 security prices takes place.
After a discussion, Mr. Szymczak moved
the adoption of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That effective September 1,
1937, the Board approve and adopt the following amendment to Regulation U:
the _Regulation U, as amended, is hereby further amended in
1. lollowing
respects:
S
the 14°ee
- tion 1 of said relation
is amended by inserting
gu
or , I'de "or at any previous time," in the second paragraph
193?!;d section after the words "incurred on or after May 1,
, and by substituting the words "While a bank mainally-- any such loan, whenever made, the" for the words "After
N..cl uch loan has been made, a" in the third paragraph of
reed section; so that said section 1 as thus amended will
as

follows:

"SECTION 1. GENERAL RULE
On and after May 1, 1936, no bank shall make any




1.055
7/29/37
-6"loan secured directly or indirectly by any stock for
1 E22At of purchasing or carrying any stock registhe 2,1
tered on a national securities exchange in an amount
exceeding the maximum loan value of the collateral,
as prescribed from time to time for stocks in the supPlement to this regulation and as determined by the
good faith for any collateral other than
Stocks.
For the purpose of this regulation, the entire
i ndebtedness of any borrower to any bank incurred on
or after May 1, 1936, or at any previous time, for
the Purpose of purchasing
or carrying stocks registered on a national securities exchange shall be considered a single loan; and all the collateral securingsuch indebtedness shall be considered in determining whether or not the loan complies with this
regulation.
While a bank maintains any such loan, whenever
made, the bank
shall not at any time permit withdrawals
Or substitutions of collateral that would cause the
TEI tUatIM loan value of the collateral at such time to
be less
than the amount of the loan. In case such
MEIximum loan value has become less than the amount
of the loan, a
bank shall not permit withdrawals or
klbstitutions
that would increase the deficiency;
!olit the
amount of the loan may be increased if there
1
v8 Provided additional collateral having maximum loan
2. lal e at least equal to the amount of the increase."
the Section 2 of said regulation is amended by substituting
portnrd "may" for the word "thereafter" in the unlettered
se,""n of said section so that the unlettered portion of
"section as
thus amended will read as follows:
"SECTION 2. EXCEPTIONS TO GENERAL RULE
m_
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a bank may make and
!
6LY maintain any loan for the purpose specified above,
Without regard
to the limitations prescribed above, if
the loan comes
within any of the following descriptions:"
Carried unanimously, with the understanding that the regulation would be reprinted and that the first paragraph of
the foreword would be changed to read as
follows:




"This regulation is issued
Pursuant to the provisions of section 7 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934."

1056
7/23/37
-7Mr.

nsom stated that pursuant to the plan inforiaally agreed

Upon whEa the
request from Senator Smith for a report on S. 1990 (Thomas
bill) was received,
he (Mr. Ransom) had submitted to Mr. Upham, AsFistant to the
Secretary of the Treasury, for the purpose of obtaining such
e(1111eats as

the Treasury might care to offer, drafts of the statement
Prepar
'
e bY Mr. Goldenweiser Pursuant to the action taken by the Board
meeting on July 26, 1937, on the subject "Objectives of Monetary
Ol. ft

" and that he had been advised by Mr. Upham over the telephone
today.
that he and
Assistant Secretary Taylor had no suggestions to make.
Thereupon Mr. Ransom submitted a
draft of letter to Senator Smith which
was approved unanimously as follows:
to s 711 response to your letter of July 2, with reference
990, I am transmitting to you herewith a statement
,17111
re;eg reflects the views
of the Board of Governors with
ti_Pect to the important questions raised by this legisla:
1 1. The
opportunity afforded the Board to express its
to your
committee is very much appreciated."
The statement referred to in the letter read as follows:
era" "From time
to time the Board of Governors of the Fedill%erve System is asked for its opinion of bills pendth;
'mgress that would establish a central monetary auanc
,Y
-" and direct it, as a Primary objective, to achieve
biulliaintain a specified domestic price level. In these
be „48_,it is generally assumed that the stated objective may
epo-ained exclusively through monetary control, and repialbility for accomplishing the end sought is, therefore,
cl! upon the monetary authority.
stat ,
The Board assumes that, while price stabilization is
garde`t as the objective of such proposals, the authors report stability of prices merely as a means toward a more ime,nd Znt end, namely, the lessening of booms and depressions
the bh? increase in the national output and well-being, in
e'lEf that through the maintenance of a stable price




1057
7/29/37
-8"level the broader objective will be achieved.
"The Board is in full agreement with the ultimate objective of the proposals to promote economic stability, which
means the maintenance of as full employment of labor and of
the
Productive capacity of the country as can be continuously
,Tistained. The board, with the broader powers conferred
l'Pon it by the Banking Act of 1935, performs essential functions
necessary to the achievement of this objective.
by
to the adequacy and efficacy of the means provided
the proposals to achieve this objective, the conclusions
reached by the Board are briefly stated in the following
di
scussion.
"Price stabilization not an adequate objective. That
wide flUctuations in the price level are disastrous is beyond
cillestion and determined efforts should be made to prevent
Such
fluctuations as would endanger economic stability. The
board
is convinced, however, that the broader objective of
21)11113aln aastainable utilization of the nation's resources
lolinot be achieved by attempting to maintain a fixed level
Prices, and that, therefore, price stability should not
the sole or principal objective
of monetary policy.
"Stabilization of individual prices by monetary means
Proposed, nor would it be feasible. Proposals for
PriTee stability necessarily refer to some index or average
0,Prices. There is no general agreement on the question
131-1 what constitutes a satisfactory price index for this
it1i4P°8e, although the general wholesale commodity price
is often suggested.
44s "No matter what price index may be adopted as a guide,
theteble economic conditions may develop, as they did in
act;1920's, while the price level remains stable; business
vitY can change in one direction or the other and ac441
:
icrill
e Considerable
ofib
iferEble
momentum before the changes are reflected
prices. There are situations in which
of 4ges in the price level would work toward maintenance
I._
stability; declining prices resulting from technological
'
igrovements, for example, may contribute to stability by
thsraasing consumption. There are other situations when
meztrestoration
and maintenance of relatively full employe possible only with an advance in prices. Coris P°ndence between price stability and economic stability
to 11,
1ot aufficiently close, therefore, to make it desirable
b* strict the objective of monetary policy to price staIt,
y
"The
141Y be i inadequacy of price stability as a guide to policy
llustrated by a situation when the index rises owing




1058
7/29/37
-9to an
advance in agricultural prices. Such a rise might
result from a crop failure in the United States, or from
Short world crop while the harvest in this country was
bo
untiful and full employment prevailed. If the maintenance
a fixed price level were the sole guide to monetary policy,
et. restraining policy would be indicate
d in both cases, alh°ugh in the former case such a policy might result in a
general business decline, while in the latter case it might
°r Might not be justified depending on other circumstances.
"Inasmuch as the management of the country's monetary
./rstem is not an exact science, since it involves forecast,ng and dealing with many uncertainties, it is essential in
"
termining an objectiv
e to leave scope for judgment and
di
scretion.
11rIlatry contribution to economic stability. Monetary
:
Ut
horities may contribute to economic stability by exerting
at itfluence to maintain a flow of funds conducive to as full
t.118e of the country's productive resources as can be contitill°uslY sustained and to keep the banking machinery of
ev
:°°untrY in sound condition. The Board recognizes that
t,-n an adequate supply of money will not perform its func17111°ns adequately, if the banking structur
e through which it
best oPerate is in an unsound condition, and that a sound
i2lking structure cannot be sustained if the supply of money
inaufficient, and a deflation is under way. The Federal
-*serve System, therefore, must work toward economic stability
°11gh its influence both on the flow of money and on the
limrildness of banking conditions. The Board is aware of the
Eiaq'
:
, tations on the effectiveness of this influence which
tram the multiplicity of laws and jurisdictions as
well
der aa from the divided responsibility for supervision unwhich the banks of this country function.
'also
stabil
l
ntrol alone cannot accomplish economic
An attempt to make either price stability or the
ce,:uer objective of economic stability the particul
ar contact of the Federal Reserve System, without recognizing the
coothat the attainment of the objectiv would require
e
the
cal. ration of other agencies of the Government is impracti-

4

the "The Federal Reserve System
can regulate within limits
p ,,s1IPPlY of money, but there are other factors affecting
r1
8 and business activity fully as powerful as the money
141any of these factors are non-monetary and cannot
rolled
by monetary action. Their effect on business
act
Of ,
:
3 irltY may express itself in an increased or decreased rate
se or
turnover, of the existing supply of money as well
pedln a change in the supply itself.
The influence that the
sral Reserve System can exercise over
the interest rate




1059
7h9/37
-10has an
important bearing on business activity, but it may
be
entirely offset by other factors.
"It is essential to recognize the limitations on the
effectiveness of
monetary policy. Monetary factors are
nlY one of the groups of forces affecting business activity.
. "Conclusion. To sum up, the Board believes that econ°mac stability rather
than price stability should be the
.leheral objective
of public policy. It is convinced that
!lis objective
cannot be attained through monetary policy
ne. The policies of the Government with reference to
le
!
.
Iking, prices, agriculture, tariffs, security markets,
or,
uOther relief, spending, taxation, borrowing, and in many
directions, have an effect on business activity.
of "It should
be the declared objective of the Government
8
,the United States to maintain economic stability, and it
°111d be the recognized
duty of the Board of Governors of
e
2,
Reserv
System
e
to use all its powers to contribut to
a
concer
ted
effort
by all agencies of the Government
toward the attainment of this objective."

r

j

Question was raised as to whether the
statement should be released to the press,
and it was agreed that it should not be released by the Board unless it was given to
the press by Senator Smith or representatives of the press were advised by other
means of its transmission, in which event
Mr. Thurston would be authorized to hand
copies of the statement to the press.

PEttry,

't th,

Therellpon Messrs. Bethea, Carpenter, Clayto
n, Thurston, Wyatt,
Dl'elbelbis, Solomon and Dembitz left the room and consideration

P-en

submitted by
the Union Trust Company of Maryland, Baltimore,

' for the dissol
ution of the City Certificates Corporation was

At the conclusion of the discussion,
the resolution suggested by Chairm
an
Eccles at the morning session was adopted,
Mr. McKee voting "no".
Reference was made to a draft of letter to the board of directors




1.060
7/29/37
-11(31' the "Commerce Union Bank", Nashville, Tennessee, stating that, subject to the conditions of membership numbered 1 to 6 contained in the
13cardia Regulation li,
and the following special conditions, the Board
lailk"ea the bank's
application for membership in the Federal Reserve

syst

and for the appropriate amount of stock in the Federal Reserve

4tLlz of

Atlanta:

ri
f.

Such bank shell make adequate provision for depreciation in its banking houses and furniture and
fixtures.

118.

As soon as practicable such bank shall dispose of
!illy shares of its own stock held as collateral to
ite loans.
Within 6 months from date of notice by the Board of
Governors
requiring such action, such bank shall disPose of the ownership of all stock held in the Broadway National Bank of Nashville, in which bank it now
holds a controlling stock interest, or convert such
national bank into a branch of the Commerce Union
Bank tt
Approved unanimously, together with
a letter to Mr. Newton, President of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, reading
as follows:
4 "The
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Nrj
;'°17es the application of the 'Commerce
Union Bank', Nashle'
Tennessee, for membership in the Federal Reserve Sys—
leelubject to the conditions prescribed in the inclosed
which you are requested to forward to the board of
Eire--;
°rs of the institution. Two copies of such letter
()thee's° inclosed, one of which is for your files and the
,r
tenci
e of which you are requested to forward to the Superinnt of
Banks for the State of Tennessee for his infortatiori.
(11c1
:
With reference to the accounts listed on pages 21-b
of the report of examination for membership as
being
listTrlY
li
carried as savings accounts, and to the loans
teoll
'
011 Page 21-a of the report as not being margined as
th;'1
'
ed by the provisions of Regulation U, it is assumed
lf the bank
completes its membership you will follow




1061
7/29/37
-12etto a conclusion the correction of these matters. It is
aleo assumed
that you will follow to a conclusion the matter
er the bank
taking the necessary steps to provide adequate
suPervision of the operating details and accounting systems
(If the main office and branches. The report, both in the
°1?en section and in the confidential section, contains con?lderable cumment in this connection and it has been noted
of the examiner the management has
laigteeadttto employ
ploy an auditor as soon as the services of a
suitable and competent person can be obtained.
tjaat :In view of the fact that the examiner has reported
the estimated losses shown in the report of examinewere charged off during the examination, the usual conl_ ti°11 of membership regarding the elimination of estimated
4Jusses has not
been prescribed."
At this
point Messrs. Paulger and Leonard left the meeting and

consid
to

ellition was then given to each of the matters hereinafter referred
the action stated with respect thereto was taken by the Board:
The minutes of the meeting of the Board of Governors of the

Peder
41 Peserve System held on July 28, 1937, were approved unani-

111011.01 .
y

IUMorandum dated July 24, 1937, from Mr. Goldenweiser, Direct°11(4 the L
ivision of Research and Statistics, recommending the ap:
1) 111tIllexit On a temporary basis for a period of three months of Miss
vertcie
El
izabeth Ford as a clerk in the Division, with salary at the
1141e °11 435

per month, effective as of the date upon which she enters

14304 the
performanCe Of

her duties.
Approved unanimously.

t4

Memorandum dated July 27, 1937, from Mr. Morrill recommending

tq ct1,a1)13°111tment of Mr. Herbert W. Young as first engineer at the
slIew buildinr!,
with salary at the rate of




2,400 per annum,

1062
7/29/3?
-13ffective as soon as his services may be reauired after he has passed
satiSf
actorily the usual physical examination.
Approved unanimously.
Memorandum dated July 28, 1937, from Mr. Morrill, recommending
the

°(PPointme
nt of Mr. Clair M. Aldrich as a guard at the Board's new
buildi
116, with
salary at the rate of ,1.,500 per annum, effective as of
the
date
his services may be reauired, after having passed satisfactorily
the
Physical examination.
Approved unanimously.
ot

Letter to Mr. Hamilton, President of the federal Reserve Bank

6es CitY, prepared in accordance with the action taken at the
tn.
eetin.
5. 01 the Board on
July 20, 1937, and reading as follows:
"The
letter 01 members of the Board have read with interest your
July 13, 1937, to Mr. Ransom with respect to the
n„
a7f4:13°81t10n and functions of the executive committee and
je7inistrative
committee at your bank. Your letter was rech'''.red
4
after the Board had sent its letter of July 14 to
!""Illan Thomas on this subject, a copy of which is attached
hereto f
-or Your information.
mew."The Board has
given careful consideration to the statetor
'in Your letter of the reasons which prompted your direcbute,
t° Provide for the two committees as now constituted
rort'c'es not feel they justify a change in the views set
h in the Board's letter to Chairman Thomas.
or "The Board concurs in the position that the directors
diaZ Federal reserve
bank should be representative of the
ree rict served by the bank and is of the opinion that
by ,
s
f °14 able expenses incurred in connection with attendance
tor-611-of-tolAn directors at meetings of the board of direcjustior necessary
meetings of the executive committee are
or thried and should be continued. However, a large part
bEtnk
aEgregate fees and expenses of directors at your
ine,,'
44ring the year 1936 consisted of fees and expenses
eizo
'rred in
connection with attendance of directors at
St daily meetings of the executive committee and, for




1063
7/29/37
-14"the reasons stated in the letter to Chairman Thomas, the
Board is unable to
see the necessity for such frequent meetof the executive committee or of the recently created
aarlinistrative committ
ee, either from the standpoint of
remi.liarity of
the directors with the bank's affairs or the
Proper conduct of its busines
s.
"The third paragraph on page 2 of your letter refers
to certain 'almost daily transactions' taken over by the
operating departments of the bank in connection with the
transfer of the non-statutory duties of the Federal Reserve
;
4sgant's department 'such as the issuing of Federal reserve
l'ank stock, issuing of Federal reserve notes, etc., concernI
cing which there
is some question as to whether or not our
directors could delegate the authority except to the Executive
Committee or to a committee a majority of which was
de
T! 11P of directors.' Inasmuch as Article VI of your byauthorizes certain officers of the bank to sign certificates
of stock issued by the bank, and the Board's
;egulation I, Increase or Decrease of Capital Stock of
ederal Reserve Banks and Cancelation of Old and Issue of
New
Stock Certificates, states the circumstances under which
Federal
B
reserve bank stock shall be issued and retired, the
arc
'is unable to understand how questions could arise freT•lentlY
which would require the attention of your directors.
Innesmuch as the
issuance and retirement of Federal reserve
:
a tn is a statutory function of the Federal Reserve Agent
re the local represe
ntative of the Board and was not transerred
to the bank, questio
ns arising in that connection
hiollld be dispose
d of by the Federal Reserve Agent, or in
S
theyabsence by an Assistant Federal Reserve Agent, unless
!
re of such a nature that they should be referred to
Of Governors for action.
mad
ava also state that if the Chairman of the board were
gat
:chaiman of the executive committee he could not delewo,; allY other director to serve in his stead
and there
ex cl be times when, there would be only two members
of the
cha?Utive committee available. As stated in the letter to
intirnlen Thomas, the Board is
of the opinion that in the
direrest of
sound procedure the Chairman of the board of
dis=°rs of a Federal reserve bank, and, in his absence or
ebii7aitY the Deputy Chairman, and, in the absence or diselleti
'
tY of both, the third Class C director should serve as
"of the executive committee of the bank. Such an
arrtifm
yo 'gement
should obviate the difficulty referred to in
4r letter.
fact :In this connection, reference is made again to the
Eind 401at the
executive committee of the bank meets on call
'
het infrequent meetings are held, whereas the adminis-




1064
7/29/37
-15"trative committee meets almost daily. As stated in its letto Chairman Thomas, the Board
feels that this arrangement
le not
consonant with the principles which should be ob.:
P ,rved in
distinguishing between the responsibilities of
Qouirectors and officers, respectively, and that the creation
all administrative committee to exercise between meetings
the executive
committee powers conferred upon the latter
not consistent with
the Purposes for which an executive
te,oinmittee is provided. In this connection, it is assumed
_124t Your directors
are familiar with the discount committees
Other Federal reserve banks, such as St. Louis and Dallas,
which are
composed entirely of officers of the respective
banks.
Th

"It will be noted that the Board requested
Chairman
t rilas to bring to the attention of the other directors of
i'e bank the views
of the Board of Governors as expressed
the letter to him, and the Board will also appreciate
it
fleYou will present this letter to your
directors at their
:xt m
eeting. A copy of this letter is being sent to Chairn Th°111as with the request that he advise the Board of the
action taken."

4

Approved unanimously.
Letter

to Mr. Rolf Nugent, Director, Department of Remedial

' Russell Sage Foundation, New York, New York, reading as follows:
1937 Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of July 22,
de 71 commenting further with
respect to personal loan
an
of national banks, and we are glad to have
t 5
As
further expression of your views on this subject.
mi,lndicated in our previous letter, the matter is one
tr:T1 falls
Primarily withiL the jurisdiction of the Compr of the Currency."
Approved unanimously.
Let
ter to Mr. Preston, First Vice President of the Federal Re411.e taxik
of Chicago,
reading as follows:
1937 "Receipt is acknowledged of your
letter of July 24,
or
requesting approval of the employment of the firm
as llYeri, Meyer, Austrian & Platt
and Mr. Adelbert Brown,
legjecial counsel for the purpose of contesting the iiart of the
assessment on the building of the Federal




1065
7/29/37
-16-

d

eserve Bank of Chicago for the year 1936. The Board has
ready approved their employment for the some purpose in
connection with the assessment upon your building for the
Y"r8 1934 and 1935 and approves their employment in conflee
i
oith the taxes for the year 1936, upon a contingent
tee
basis of not less than 5% nor more than 10% of the sayOn the taxes, exclusive of court costs, with the undernding that the total fee udll depend upon the work Inand the number of parties who are joined in the ac-




Approved unanimously.

Thereupon the meeting adjourned.

Chairman.