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496
A special meeting of the Federal Reserve Board was held in the
°trice of the Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday, June 9, 1926, at
2:30 P.m.
PRESENT:

Vice Governor Platt
Mr. Hamlin
Mr. Miller
Et. James
Er. Cunningham
Er. McIntosh
Er. Eddy, Secretary
Mr. McClelland, Assistant Secretary

ALSO PRESENT: Yr. Uyatt, General Counsel.
The Vice Governor stated that the meeting had been called at the reof Mr. James to permit him to submit a report on his recent visit to
Ittlanta, Georgia, taken under the Board's instructions given at its meeton May 20th.

Mr. James presented a memorandum dated June 2nd setting

forth the
details of his visit to Atlanta, during which he communicated
P°r8enally to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and to the individuals
cerned the Board's actions of lay 20th in voting that Yr. Joseph L.
'
ell, Deputy Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, be
eliz4
'flated from the Federal Reserve System, and that the Federal Reserve
tank
of Atlanta be called upon to make a full and complete report of the
transaction
of that bank in connection with the movement of currency
to
ts Havana Agency on April 10th, including all instructions riven to
the Party which
accompanied the currency shipment and including also the
151*50
tal conduct of the members of the party which uccompanied the ship-

r'errt,
Upon notion, Er. James report was received
and ordered filed.
Mr. James then stated that in addition to his detailed report he




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wished to submit for the Board's consideration the following resolution:
"WHERLAS on or about April 28, 1926, certain information
reached the Federal Reserve Board reflecting upon the character
of service rendered by the Cuban Agency of the Federal Reserve
Bank or Atlanta during the recent run on banks in Cuba which
occurred on or about April 10, 1926;
"7HEREAS, pursuant to resolutions dated l!ay 1 and Lay 20,
1926, the Federal Reserve Board caused investigations to be
made of the recent run on American and other banks in Cuba, the
assistance rendered bv the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and
Atlanta, through their respective agencies in Havana, the steps
taken to meet the situation, and all circumstances connected
With the shipment of currency by the Federal "Reserve Bank of
Atlanta to Cuba;
"-viiilEAS, it appears that the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta made a large shipment of currency to Cuba, which left
Atlanta on a special train on Saturday, April 10, arriving in
4eY'viest on Sunday, J,pril 11, and was there loaded on the Cuban
Gunboat "Cuba" and taken to Havana, where it was delivered on
Monday morning, April 12;
"1.TEREAS, it appears that Hr. Joseph L. Campbell, Deputy
Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta had personal
Charge and direction of said shipment of currency and of the
Party accompanying it; that while in charge of said shipment
he drank intoxicating liquor excessively and permitted other
members of the party under his supervision to do likewise; that
12e railed to take proper steps to safeguard the money; that he
railed to keep proper records and to make a prompt and full report of the entire transaction; that he took an unnecessarily large
tumber of men from Key West to Havana on a pleasure trip, thus
incurrinr unnecessary expense for the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta; and that he and his party were guilty of conduct unbecoming representatives of a Federal Reserve Bank; and
%1ERLAS, it appears from these facts and from other inforIllation received by the Federal Reserve Board from time to time
t lir. Joseph L. Campbell lacks those qualifications which are
requisite and necessary for a senior officer of a Federal Reserve Bank;
"BE IT RESOLVED by the Federal Reserve Board that:
"1. Yr. Joseph L. Campbell be riven formal notice to
aPPear before the Federal Reserve Board in its Board-room in
the Treasury Building, ,iashington, D. C., at 10 a.m. on June
, 1926, to show cause why he should not be removed from
°Ifice as Deputy Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of
',..t.lanta pursuant to the terns of Section 11(f) of the Federal
Ileserve ACt;
"2. At such hearing Mr. Joseph L. Campbell shall be
13r:mitted to appear in person, to be represented by Counsel,
1,11°• to produce any witnesses whom he desires to testify in his
'
ehalf; and

1




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6/9/26

-3-

"3. A copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to
Mr. Campbell and to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, through
Yr. Oscar Newton, Federal Reserve Agent at Atlanta."
Mr. James suggested that if the above resolution should be
adopted by the Board that ':lednesday, June 16th, be fixed as the
day for the formal hearing ordered
in the resolution.
The Vice Governor suggested that before acting upon the resolution
slibmitted by Yr. James the Board give consideration to several communicatic
"relatinp: to the subject thereof which have been received by the
4arcl Since
Yr. James' visit to Atlanta.

Thereupon, the Secretary read

t0 the Board the following communications:
Letter dated June 7th from the Federal Reserve Agent at
Atlanta, submitting communication addressed to him under date
cf June 4th by Mr. Y. B. Wellborn, Governor of the bank, submitting a report, as requested by the Federal Reserve Board,
covering the transaction of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
in connection with the movement of currency to its Havana
Agency on April 10th, including instructions given to the party
which accompanied the shipment, but not including the personal
conduct of the members of the party, as requested by the Board,
which is to be investigated by a committee of the Board of Direct ors
of the bank. dith his letter, Governor Wellborn subitted statements made by Mr. L. L. Magruder, Manager of the
,11,ban Agency of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Mr.
Bell, Cashier at the Head Office, as well as communioa1°
"exchanged with an insurance agency relative to insurance
cn the shipment of currency referred to.

b

Letter dated June 4th from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
of Atlanta, enclosing certified copies of two resolu"ms adopted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors of
e bank held an Monday, May 31, 1926, the first resolution with
rcf
erence to, and appointing a committee to investigate, the
ecnal conduct of the party of officers and employees of the
sreral Reserve Bank of Atlanta which accompanied the currency
1Pment made by the bank to its Havana Agency on April 10th,
;rid the second urging that
the Federal Reserve Board put into ef_eet the tentative plan for the operation of the Havana agencies,
der the Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta, after consolidation of
,_? existing agencies, as submitted by the Special Committee apL'Inted by the Federal Reserve Board to investigate the recent
l
tuation in Cuba.

j

r

l

Letter dated June 4th from Mr. E. R. Black, a director of




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-4-

499

the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Chairman of the
sPecial committee appointed under the resolutions adopted by
the Board of Directors of that bank at its special meeting
on ray 31, 1926, to investigate the circumstances in connection with the shipment of currency made by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to Its Havana Agency on April 10th.
In his letter, Mr. Black (1) stated that the committee consists of Directors Melvin, tare and himself; (2) requested
that the Board furnish the committee, or the Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta for use of the committee, the charges made
arainst the bank and its officers in relation to the shipment
or currency to Cuba, the name or names of the party or parties
king such charges, and the evidence concerning the Cuban
shipment as Fathered by the committee appointed by the Board
to investigate the matter; (3) stated that the Committee is
ready at
the Board's convenience to confer with the Board in
line with the resolutions adopted by the directors of the
I
.
,tlanta bank; and (4) requested an expression from the Board
ln reference to that part of the resolution of the Atlanta
directors requesting the Board to defer action in the matter
or the Cuban shipment until the bank's committee has had the
oPPortunity to perform the duties imposed upon it by the directors'
resolutions.
Thereupon ensued a detailed discussion of the above communications
414 the resolution submitted by Mr. James, which during the course of
the A.
'
10cussion was amended so as to read as follows:
"WHEREAS, pursuant to resolutions dated May 1 and May 20,
1926, the Federal Reserve Board caused investigations to be
,ade or the recent run on American and other banks in Cuba,
110 assistance rendered by the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston
and Atlanta, through their respective agencies in Havana, the
ste,s
taken to meet the situation, and all circumstances conIleeted with the shipment of currency by the Federal Reserve
Idank of Atlanta to Cuba;
"REPFAS, it appears as a result of these investigations
that the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta made a large shipment
er
currency to Cuba, which left Atlanta on a special train on
Saaturda7, April 10, arrived in Key "':.E)st on Sunday, April 11,
Was there loaded on the Cuban Gunboat "Cuba" and taken to
Ha
where it Was delivered on Monday morning, April 12;
"WHEREAS, it appears that Mr. Joseph L. Campbell, Deputy
G
Zernor
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta had personal
paarge and direction of said shipment of currency and of the
b_P'Y accompanying it; that while in charge of said party he
?ame under the influence of intoxicating liquor and permitted
call!r members of the party under his supervision to use intoxith'lnr liquor; that he failed to take proper steps to safeguard
money; that he failed to keep proper records and to make a

T

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500

Prompt and Pull report of the entire transaction; that he
took certain men from Key West to Havana who had no duty to
Perform on board the ship or in Havana and whose further
Participation in the trip was merely for pleasure; and that
he and his party were guilty of conduct unbecoming representatives of a Federal Reserve Bank; and
"WBEREI.,B, Section 11(f) of the Federal Reserve Act provides as follows:
'Sec. 11. The Federal Reserve Board shall be
authorized and empowered:
!(f) To suspend or remove any officer or director of any Federal reserve bank, the cause of such
removal to be forthwith communicated in writing by
the Federal Reserve Board to the removed officer
or director and to said bank.'
"VHERPAS, it appears from these and from other facts received by the Federal Reserve Board from time to time that Yr.
Joseph L. Campbell lacks those qualifications which are requi,ite and necessary for a senior officer of a Federal Reserve
tank;
ibts; IT PFSOLVED by the Federal Reserve Board that:
1. Er. Joseph L. Campbell be given formal notice to appear before the Federal Reserve Board in its Board-room in the
treasury
- Building, Washington, D. C., at 10 a.m. on June 16,
1926, to show cause why he should not be removed from office
as Deputy Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlantapursuant to the terms of Section 11(f) of the Federal Reserve Act;
2. At such hearing Fr. Joseph L. Campbell shall be perto produce any witnesses whom he desires to testify in
his behalf;
0. A copy of this resolution shall be .forwarded to Er.
ampbell and to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, through
11'. Oscar Newton, Federal Reserve Agent at Atlanta."
Following the discussion, upon motion by
Mr. James, the above resolution as amended was
unanimously adopted.
Mr. Hamlin then moved that on the occasion
of the hearing fixed for June 16, 1926, the
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, consisting
of Messrs. Black, Melvin and Ware, be invited to
be present at the hearing and sit independently
With the Board.
Unanimously carried.
James then submitted drafts of letters to Mr. Oscar Newton,
'Moral .0
,
'veserve Agent at Atlanta, Mr. Joseph L. Campbell, Deputy Governor




501
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er the Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta, which, after discussion, were amended and unanimously approved in

4

the following forms:
"Mr. Oscar Newton,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
Atlanta, Georgia.

My dear Yr. Newton :
"There are enclosed herewith two letters, one addressed
to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the other addressed to
Mr. Joseph L. Campbell, both of which are self-explanatory.
"In your capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and the official representative of the Federal Reserve Board at the Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta, you are requested to present to Yr. Joseph L.
Campbell personally the letter addressed to him and to advise
the Federal Reserve Board when this has been done.
"In your capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the official representative of the Federal Reserve Board at the Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta, you are requested to read to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, at its next
regular or special meeting, the setter addressed to the Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the resolution of the Federal Reserve
Board enclosed therein. uhen this has been done, please notify
the Federal Reserve Board of the fact.
"By order of the Federal Reserve Board.

Enclosures.

Walter L. Eddy,
Secretary."

11r. Joseph L. Campbell, Deputy Governor,
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
Atlanta, Georgia.
S I.R
"There is enclosed for your information a certified
.(3Py of a resolution adopted by the Federal Reserve Board on
"Une 9, 1926, making formal charges that you lack those qualifications which are requisite and necessary for a senior offi°er of a Federal reserve bank.
"You are hereby notified to appear, if you so desire,
before the Federal Reserve Board in its Board-room in the
Treasur Building, Washington, D. C. at 10 o'clock a.m. on
'
Tune 10, 1926, to show cause why you should not be removed
y




cif

502

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from office as Deputy Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta, pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(f) of the
Federal Reserve Act. You will be permitted to produce any witnesses whom you desire to testify on your behalf.
"By order of the Federal Reserve Board.

Walter L. Eddy,
Secretary."

Enclosure.

"Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
Atlanta, Georgia.
Gentlemen :
"There is enclosed for your information a certified
copy of a resolution adopted by the Federal Reserve Board on
June 9, 1926, setting forth the conclusion of the Federal Reserve Board that Pr. Joseph L. Campbell, Deputy Governor of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, iacks those qualifications
which are rer uisite and necessary for a senior officer of a
Federal reserve bank.
"The Federal Reserve Board has served formal notice on
1.r. Campbell to appear before it in its Board-room in the Treasury Building, Washington, D. C., at 10 o'clock a.m. on June 16,
1926, to show cause why he should not be removed from office as
Deputy Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta pursuant
to the provisions of Section 11(f) of the Federal Reserve Act.
"The Special Committee of your Board, appointed in accordance with the resolution of the directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta adopted at their meeting on May 31st, a
certified copy of which resolution was transmitted to the Federal Reserve Board in your letter of Juno 4th, is especially invited to be present at the hearing above referred to and to sit,
independently, with the Federal Reserve Board.
"By direction of the Federal Reserve Board.

Walter L. Eddy,
Secretary."

EriclOS"

The meeting adjourned at 4;10 p.m.

413111*cNed




Vice Governor.

it
.1