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PI R A meeting of the Federal Reserve Board was held in the office of the Federal Reserve Board on Thursday, :larch 17, 1932, at 11:45 a. m. Governor Moyer 1.1.r. Hamlin 1.1r. 11r. James Mr. I:agee Hr. Morrill, Secretary Mr. Harrison, Assistant to the Governor ri.r. Wyatt, General Counsel Goldenweiser, Director, Division of Research and Statistics Hr. Snead, Chief, Division of Bank Operations. The minutes of the meetings of the Federal Reserve Board held on March 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, 1932, were approved. The Board then considered and acted upon the following natters: Telegrams dated :_arch 16, 1932, from. the Chairmen of the Federal Reserve Brinks of Philadelphia and St. Louis, advising that, at meetings of the Boards of Directors on that date, no changes were nade in the banks' existing schedules of rates of discount and purchase. Without objection, noted with approval. Reports of the Committee on Salaries and Expenditures on letters dated :arch 7 and 11, 1932, from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas requesting approval by the Board of changes in the bank's personnel Classification plan to Provide for the creation of the new positions of "Custodian" and "Junior Stenographer" in the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Department; the Board's Committee recommending approval. Approved. Reply, approved by five members of the Board on :arch 16, to a letter dated March 8, 1932, from the Federal Reserve Agent at Dallas, reportin7, that the First iational Bank, George 'Jest, Texas, was deficient in 3/17/32 its required reserves during the period Aumist 1, 1931 to February 15, 1932; the reply stating that, in accordance with the Federal Reserve Agent's recommendation, the Board is taking no action in the matter at the Present time, although a copy of his letter is being Gent to the Comptroller of the Currency as a matter of record in his of:ice. The reply also reeuested that the Agent forward to the Board copies of the replies received from the directors to the letters which he had addressed to then concerning the bank's reserve position. Reply ap-woved. Letter to the Federal Reserve Agent at New York, referring to a request made by the Rockland County Trust Company, Nyack, New York, for perInission to withdraw ilmediately from menbership in the Federal Reserve System tinder its voluntary notice of intention to withdraw dated Yarch 10, 1932, and stating that in accordance with the recorriendation contained in the Assistant Federal Reserve Agent's letter of :arch 14, 1932, made in view of the fact that the business of the member trust comoany had been acquired by the Nyack National Bank without a liquidating agent or receiver having been appointed, the Board has voted to waive in this case the usual requirement of six - )ermit the mei-bor institution to withdraw from membermonths notice and to , shill immediately. Letter an -proved. Letter to the Comptroller of the Currency, reDlyin7 to his memorandum Of T:arch 0, 1932, with regard to the application of the Allenhurst ITational Bank and Trust ComPany, Allenhurst, New Tersey, for permission to reduce its capital stock from 400,000 to :j50,000 through a reduction of the Par value of the stock from 400 to '.'Y50 per share, it being the plan of the bank 3/17/d2 -3- immediately followin; the reduction to increase the capital to :100,000 by the sale of new stock at '75 a share and to credit the :;50,000 of released capital and the 25,000 Prenium on the new stock to undivided profits for the purpose of eliminating losses and depreciation, the Comptroller recomlending approval of the reduction and subsequent increase on condition (1) that no money be returned to stockholders, (2) that the money for the new stock be Placed on deposit in a special account before the reduction is effected, (3) that the new stock be sold only to persons or concerns who have knowledge of the present condition of the bank and the use to which the released capital and the premium on the new stock are to be Put, and (4) that esti-ated losses and depreciation in the amount of :(176,238 set examination of the bank be charged off. UD in the report of the last The reply stated that, subject to the conditions recommended by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve vioard approves the proposed reduction under the Plan submitted, with the further understanding, however, that the reduction would be authorized by a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the national bank. Letter approved. Letters to the Chairmen of the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Atlanta approved by five members of the Board on March 16, referring to their letters of Larch 10 and :larch 12, 1932, respectively, and stating that, In accordance with their requests, the Federal Reserve Board has voted to discontinue the Progressive penalties previously prescribed for the Third and Sixth Federal Reserve Districts under the Provisions of Section IV(c) Of Regulation D, and that the banks should not resume the assessment of progressive nenalties for continued deficiencies in reserves without first 3/17/02 obtainin the consent of the Federal Reserve Board. Letters alTroved. Reply to a letter dated February 4, 1932, from the Federal Reserve Agent at Dallas reeuesting advice with respect to the procedure which should be followed in order to obtain corrections of unsatisfactory conditions in state nenber banks in that district; the reply stating that the Federal Reserve Board agrees with the Agent that it is highly desirable to maintain friendly relations with the state banking authorities in each state in the district in order to retain their valuable cooperation in matters relating to state member banks; that, in all cases where it is possible to do so, any corrections which in the Agent's opinion should be made in the condition of a state member bank should be obtained through the state banking authorities or with the cooperation of such authorities rather than through an indePendent approach to the state member bank involved; that the Board does not believe the Agent should make lAremptory demands in any case upon a state member bank for a correction in its condition, but that when it appears that the state banking authorities will not take the necessary steps to obtain correction of an unsatisfactory condition in a state menber bank it would seen appropriate for the Agent to call the attention of the bank involved to the unsatisfactory features of its condition and to make suggestions as to the stees which should be taken to imp:we its condition; that the Agent Should consider the advisability in each of these cases of having a full discussion of the natter with the state bunking authorities before con-nunicating with the state member bank; and that it should be made clear to the state authorities that the Agent is not attempting to exercise any (% -5- 3/17/32 of their nreroeatives but simply to discharge his duty of seeine, that the member bank maintains the standard required for membership in the 7edera1 Reserve System. The reply also stated that the Board has no objection to the Agent furnishing state member banks in his district with conies of reports (except confidential portions, if any) of examinations of the respective banks made by 2ederal reserve bank examiners; that it is believed that suggestions and criticisms contained in such reports would be helpful to the me:iber bank involved and the possession of such reports would facilitate any correspondence or discussion which the Agent may have with the menber ban: with reference to its condition; and that it would not seem that state bankin - authorities could reasonably object to the Agent's furnishing member banks copies of such reports, althoueh he may wish to discuss the matter with the banking authorities of the various states in the district before deciding whether to make a change in his present practice. The reply further stated that, when the Agent finds it necessary to consider with a state bank corrections which should be made in its condition, there would seem to be no reason why he should not fully and frankly advise the bank as to the action which he feels he should take in the event the bank does not take adequate steps to correct its condition; that it is understood, of course, that any such action would be fully justified by all of the circumstances involved in the case and that there would be legal grounds therefor; and that it is desirable to make use of all other available means to obtain correction of unsatisfactory conditions in a state nerlber bank before advising the bank that the Agent will submit a recommendation to the Board that proceedings be instituted to terminate the bank's membership in the federal Reserve System. 11e--)ly aeoroved. i) . -6- 3/17/62 Letter, aPProved by five members of the Board on 1 -arch 16, 1932, to the General :"anacer of the ITational Association of -inance Companies, replying to various letters addressed by him to members of the Federal Reserve Board, the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury, and members of the Board's staff, and referring particularly to his letter of January 5, 1932, addressed to the Governor of the Board which contains a statement that "inasmuch as the matter (the eligibility of paper of finance companies for rediscount by Federal reserve banks) was never formally before the Board until the filing of our petition on October 21, 1931, we assure that ')rior to that time the matter was only casually considered by the Board's Counsel"; the Board's letter stating that the principles of law involved in the -)etition filed by the Association have been involved in questions which have been raised from time to time in the Past and the advice of the Board's Counsel with respect to finance comany paper was based Upon carefully considered and uniform interretations of the federal Reserve Act extending over a considerable period of years which have been adopted by the ioard in determining the eligibility of various classes of paper; that recognition was given by the Congress to these interpretations in the enactment of the amendments to the Federal Reserve -ct relating to the Paper of factors and of cooperative marketing associations; and that conse uently the Board feels that no useful purpose would be served at this tire by a review of the opinions which have formed the basis of the Board's rulings. The letter also stated that under the provisions of the so-called GlassSteagall Bill, a Federal reserve bank may in certain special circumstances, With the permission of the Federal Reserve Board,make advances to its member banks on their notes, subject to the conditions and limitations prescribed -7- 3/17/32 in that Act, and that the security which may be acceoted by the Federal reserve banks for such notes is not confined to the classes of paper eligible under other Provisions of the law for rediscount or purchase by the Federal reserve banks. Letter approved. Letter to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, approved by five members of the Board on Larch 16, 1932, referring to the report o2 examination of that bank, made by the Board's examiners as of January 23, 1932, and rec_uestin-; that the Board be advised as to any action that may have been taken as a result of the recomrendations made by the examiners and their discussions with the ofricers of the bank recarding a number of the natters referred to in the report. The letter also recuested advice particularly as to the attitude of the bank toward the recomnendation Of the examiner that the bank and its branches retain the originals or certified copies of financial statements of borrowers in lieu of the present Practice of maintaining a card index which sets forth condensed analyses Of borrowers' condition, as well as toward the recommendation that more detailed information regarding borrowers' assets and operations than is now Shown on the analyses cards, be obtained by the Lemphis Branch. The letter further requested that the Chairman's reply to the Board's letter be brought to the attention of the Board of Directors of the bank. Letter anoroved. deports of Standing Committee dated Larch 15, 16 and 17, recorriending approval of the following changes in stock at Federal reserve banks: -8-. 3/17/32 Ao ications for District :To. 5. First National Bank, Luray, Shares : 3 Va. District No. 7. Iowa State Savings Bank, Fairfield, Iowa. Lenawee County Savings Bank, Adrian, rdchigan. Onsted State Bark, Onsted, rdchigan. 1 2 1 Total Applications for SnRENDER of Stock: District No. 7. State Bank of ;lisconsin, I:adison, Wis. (V.L.Abs. by First National Bank of I:adison, Wis.) John ;leedman National Bank, Farmer City, Ill. (Insolvent) First National Bank, Foosland, Ill. (Tnsolvent) First National Bank, LeRoy, Ill. (Insolvent) Polo State Bank, Polo, Ill. (Insolvent) Farmers &Wabash National Bank, Wabash, Ind. (Decrease in surnlus) Story County Trust Cc Savings Bank, Ames, Iowa. (V.L.Suc. by nonmember bank) First National Bark, Shawano, Wis. (Cons. Wisconsin National Bank with the above bank) 4 '7 933 90 18 54 54 39 44 District No. 10. Citizens National Bank, Great Bend, Kans. (Insolvent) District No. 12. First Willapa Harbor National Bank, Raymond, Wash. (Insolvent) 3 54 1,286 45 45 _ 72 Total 72 1,403 Approved. Thereupon the meeting adjourned. Secretary.
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