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379
A meeting of the Federal Reserve Board was held in the office of the

1/

Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday, May 10, 1927 at 11:00 a.m.
PRESENT:

Governor Crissinger
Mr. Platt
Mr. Hamlin
Mr. /liner
Mr. James
Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Eddy, Secretary
Mr. McClelland, Asst. Secretary

The Governor presented application of The Pigeon State Bank, Pigeon,
laiehigan, for membership in the Federal Reserve System and for 18 shares

or

stock in the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; together with recommenda-

ti4n8

or

the Board's sub-committee: (1) That the application be approved

11)ject to the nine general conditions of membership contained
in the
ard ts Regulation H, and the further condition that prior to the payment

'e a

dividend the bank shall carry to surplus account not less than onepa -t of its net profits for the preceding dividend period until its

e4r131118 fund shall amount to ',;125,000 and (2) That the Bank be advised that
the t
,Joard is now considering the question of what changes should be made
earldltions of membership in the light of the provisions of the McFadden
Act,
and if any changes in the present conditions are found necessary the
tat
.
17111 be subject to such charges, and acceptance by the bank of the
e /1,44
A.tions now being imposed will be deemed to be acceptance of any changes
144 th°se conditions which the Board finds to be necessary in view of the
4.14elldnents contained in the McFadden Act.
Upon motion, it was voted to approve the
application in accordance with the recommendations of the sub-committee.
The Governor also presented application of the Bank of Avoca, Avoca,
• yo

for membership in the Federal Reserve System and for 60 shares of




38,0
5/10/27
stock in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, together with recommend.Of the Board's sub-committee: (1) That the application be approved
subject, to
the regular conditions of membership contained in the Board's
Regulation H and (2) That the bank be advised that the Board is now conthe question of what changes should be made in conditions of
151e*ership in the light of the provisions of the licFadden Act, and if any
changes in the present conditions are found necessary the bank will be
eUbject to such changes, and acceptance by the bank of the conditions now
bej

imposed will be deemed to be acceptance of any changes in those condi-

tlelle which the Board finds to be necessary in view of the amendments conned in the McFadden Act.
Upon motion, it was voted to approve the
application in accordance with the recommendationsof the sub-committee.
Letter dated May 5th from the Assistant Secretary of the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, advising that the board of directors on that
(tEtY raade no change in the bank's existing schedule of rates of discount
ELtla Purchase.
Noted.
Telegram dated May 6th from the Secretary of the Federal Reserve Bank
or Cleveland, advising that the board of directors on that day' made no
,
ch.411
J-11 the bank's existing schedule of rates of discount and purchase.
Noted.
Telegram dated May 9th from the Secretary of the Federal Reserve
11441,
- of Lanneapolis, advising that the board of directors on that day
1444
no change in the bank's existing schedule of rates of discount and




381
5/10/27

Purchase.
Noted.
Telegram dated May 7th from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
of Dallas,
advising that the board of directors on that day made no change
the ba.nles
existing schedule of rates of discount and purchase.
Noted.
Telegram dated May 5th from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
SEtn Francisco, advising that the board of directors on that day made no
harige in the bank's existing schedule of rates of discount and purchase.
Noted.

11

The Governor then presented telegrams exchanged under date of May
8th with the Assistant Federal Reserve Agent at Cleveland, with reference
to the

possibility of the organization of an Edge Act Corporation by Otis

1141:1 Company
of that city.
Noted.
Letter dated L.y 5th from the Secretary ,.!; Treasurer of the First
?ecler18.1 Foreign Investment Trust of New York City, advising of the pay14erit °11 that date of the firt3.1 installment on the capital stock of the
e°1"Poration.
Noted.
Letter dated :11.y 6th from the Federal Reserve Agent at Chicago, with
ene e to application for membership in the System filed by the Center

Lttle
'
L tate Savings Bank, Center Line,Michigan; the Agent advising that
Ett, th
"0 present time the condition of the bank does not warrant favorable
1,000
lar4e4dation on the application and that the management of the bank




382

5/10/27
rea

•••11
.
1
,..

lizing that fact has filed a request that the application lie without

action until after another examination can be made at the end of several
"
111 tha.

the

The Agent in his letter requested instructions from the Board in

matter.
;1 7.
Referred to the Committee on District ,
Report of Executive Colaiaittee on letter dated May 6th from the

Se cretary of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, requesting approval

Of the

action of the Executive Committee of that bank in voting to ex-

tencl for a period of 45 days from April 8th, with full pay, leave of
4beence

on account of illness granted Mr. William E. Evans, an employee

the Pittsburgh
Branch; the Committee recommending approval.
Approved.
Report of Committee on Salaries and Expenditures on letter dated
14Y 7th from the Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis,
l'eqUeeting approval of the action of the Executive Committee of that
b4nk in voting to extend until June 1st, with full pay, leave of absence
c311 a ccotult of illness pr eviously granted Mrs. Myrtle Peters Fletcher, an
el711110yee of the Auditing Department; the Committee recommending approval.
Approved.
Report of Committee on Salaries and Expenditures on letter dated
1411Y 4th from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank at Poston, advising

"the action
of the directors of that bank in voting, subject to the ap111'°73.1 of the Federal Reserve Board, to extend leaves of absence on account
Of illilee4P to Mr.Joseph Buckley of the Transit Department, Miss Olive
44//er of the Bookkeeping Department, Miss Ruth ':larren of the Transit




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5/10/27

-5-

Department, 1iss Mary Quealy of the Transit Department, and Miss
Elizabeth MacNeil of the Money Department; the Committee recommending
aPProval.
Approved.
Report of Committee on Salaries and Expenditures on letter dated
!day 6th
from the Controller of Administration of the Federal Reserve
Bank of
Chicago, advising of payments in the amount of

584.05 and

1175.
10, respectively, made to Snell Brothers, attorneys at Ida Grove,
It:17m, and to the Clerk of the District Court at Ida Grove, for services
and court costs in connection with claims against the failed Citizens
State

Bank

of iirthur, Iowa; the Committee recommending that the payments

be noted with
approval.
Noted vrith approval.
Letters dated May 5th and 9th from the Assistant Federal Reserve
Acent at New
York, vrith reference to branch banking developments in New
jereeY; the Itssistant "gent advising that the State Banking Commissioner
has
issued permits for the establishment of branches to the Central Home
Company of Elizabeth, the Elizabethport Banking Company of
l'izEtbeth, Bayonne Trust Company of Bayonne, Clinton Trust Company of
Newttrici Guardian Trust Company of Newark and the Perth Amboy Trust
C°411341-1Y of Perth Amboy.
Noted.
Report of Committee on Examimtions on letter dated lily 7th from
the Pedera.1 Reserve Agent at Cleveland, recommending approval of an applitierl of the City Trust and Say ings Bank of Youngstcrtn, Ohio, for per-




384
5/10/27

-6-

llliseion to purchase the South Side Savings Bank Company of Youngstown,
located at 1507 Market Street, and to operate same as a branch, in lieu
of the branch
recently approved by the Board for establishment at 1702
Market Street; the Committee also recommending approval.
Approved.
Report of Committee on Examinations on letter dated May 7th from the
Federal Reserve Agent at Minneapolis, transmitting and recommending apProNal of an application of the Fourth Northwestern National Bank of
Mirineap olis,

an outlying institution, for a reduction in its reserve re-

from 10% to 7

of demand deposits; the Committee stating that

the Fourth
NorthwesternNational Bank was formerly a branch of the Northemn

National Bank of Minneapolis, and that it can see no reason for

l*eftzsing the application.
Upon motion by Mr. Platt, the application
was approved, Mr. Miller voting "no".
Letter dated May 5th from Mr. Alexander P. Trowbridge, advising that

he v.r
.441 report to the Board upon the plans and specifications for the
118414 to be installed at the Havana Agency for the

SUM

of 0200, provided

stUdY is made in his own office, as a trip to Atlanta, which he does
believe would be necessary, would involve an additional per diem fee
131118 the
cost of the trip.
After discussion, Mr. Miller moved that the
Governor be authorized to employ Mr. Trowbridge,
in accordance with the terns of his letter, if in
his judgment it seems advisable.
Carried.
this point, Mr. McIntosh entered the meeting.




4,8r4.
Q...)

5/10/27

-7-

Report of Committee on District ),-5 on letter dated May 4th and telegrail' dated May 5th from the Executive Committee and the Governor, respecti
'velY) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, requesting approval of
the acceptance by the bank of bid of the Mosier Safe Company, aggregating
21(4,499.00 for the installation of the vault in the new Baltimore Branch
Bank building; the Committee recommending approval, provided the vault
6Pecifications are approved by Mr. Trowbridge who is acting as consulting
architect in connection with the ccnstruction of the Baltimore building.
Upon motion by Mr. Hamlin, the recommendation of the Committee was approved.
Letter dated May 3rd from the Chairman of the Federal ?,eserve rani:
or Dallas, advising of the rejection of the offer of225,000 made by
that bank urder the
authority recently granted by the Board for the purhase
11(71

as quarters for the proposed San Antonio branch, of the building

°ecuPied by the San Antonio National Bank.
Noted.
The Secretary then presented a telegram addressed ty the Chairman

Or

the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas under date of May 9th to the Governor
tils Bank who is now in Washington, advising of the action of the board

or d
irectors of that bank in voting, subject to the approval of the Board,
to 1,„
'(,
se temporary quarters for the San Antonio Branch in the Frost
Nat
i°hal Bank building at a monthly rental of $850 until permanent
glItrters become
available and requesting that the Federal Reserve Board
re"nsider its recent action in voting that the branch should not be
"tablished until permanent quarters are secured.




After discussion, Mr. James moved that the

386
5/10/27

-8-

Board reconsider its action of April 18th in voting that the branch of the Federal Reserve Dank of
Dallas at San Antonio shall not be opened until
permanent quarters are available.

Mr• James' motion being put by the
Chair was carried.
Mr. James then stated that he would submit to
the Board at its next meeting a formal resolution
authorizing the immediate opening of the branch in
temporary quarters.
At this point, nr. licintosh withdrew from the meeting.
The Governor then submitted a memorandum from Counsel dated May 4th,
with r eference to the action of the Board at its meeting on December 22,
19243 in authorizing The Chase National Dank of the City of New York to
eistaAlaish branches in Havana, Cuba, Panama City and Cristobal, Canal
4110; Counsel stating tl.at the Board's formal order was isstEd incorrectlY fl the
nano of the Chase National Dank of New York and submitting a
torta of nun.°
pro tune order desired by the Chase National Bank of the
City of
New York.
Upon motion, the order submitted by Counsel
was adopted nunc pro tune and ordered spread upon
the minutes as follows:
"WHEREAS, on or about December 19, 1924, the Chase National
Ple.nic of the City of New York applied to the Federal Reserve Board
far an order authorizing said bank to establish branches in the
bb
CjtY of Havana, Republic of Cuba, the City of Panama, Republic of
'
analna, and the City of Cristobal, Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama;
:1-/EREAS, by action taken at its meeting on December 22, 1924,
the Federal Reserve Board, acting pursuant to the said application
°I* the Chase National Bank of the City of New York, adopted the
-"°110'aing order:
'The Chase National Bank of New York, having on or
about December 19, 1924, filed an application with this
Board for the purpose of obtaining authority to establish
Branches in the City of Havana, Republic of Cuba, the City
of Panama, Republic of Panama, and the City of Cristobal,




387
5/10/27

-9-

Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama., and the said application
having been considered; and it appearing that the said
application is properly rilde under the laws of the United
States of luirerica and. should be granted, Now, therefore,
it is
ORDERED, that the said application be and it hereby
is approved, and that the said Bank be and it hereby is
authorized to establish Branches in the City of Havana,
Republic of Cuba, the City of Panama, Republic of Panama,
and the City of Cristobal, Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama.'
1 11-1ERD".S, the said order refers to the said bank as the 'Chase
litational Bank of New York' but the correct title of said bank is
The Chase Nations.). Bank of the City of Nevr York';
"z-E;iuyis, the Federal Reserve Board in adopting said order,
ilraS acting upon the application of the Chase National Bank of the
elty of New. York and intended by its action to grant permission to
the Chase National Bank of the City of New York to establish the
branches named in said order and applied for by that bank;
VIHEREAS, the omission of the words 'of the City' from the
corporate title of the bank was a clerical mistake;
Nai, MIRE:FORE, IT IS ORDERED that the said order of the
Federal Reserve Board adopted on the 22nd day of December, 1924,
and fully set out above, be and it hereby is corrected in accordance with the intertion of the Federal Reserve Board in adopting
sald order to read as follows, to take effect as of December 22,
1924:
The Chase National Bank of the City of New York,
having on or about December 19, 1924, filed an application with this Board for tliB purpose of obtaining
authority to establish Branches in the City of Havana,
Republic of Cuba, the City of Panama, Republic of Panama,
and the City of Cristobal, Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama,
and the said application having been considered and it
appearing that the said application is properly made under
the laws of the United States of nmerica and should be
granted, Now, therefore, it is
ORDRED, that the said application be and it hereby
is approved, and that the said Bank be and it hereby is
authorized to establish Branches in the City of Havana,
Republic of Cuba, the City of Panama, Republic of Panama,
and the City of Cristobal, Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama."
'
ileMorandum from Counsel dated 1ay 7th submitting application of the
Ilea City Bank of New York for permission to establish branches in




388
5/10/27

-10-

Agto.di1la, Bayamon,

CagUn

Fajardo, Guayama, Humacao, Juncos and Rio

Piedras, all in Porto Rico; Counsel stating that the application is in
Proper form, and that he knows of no legal reason why it flaould not be
granted.
After discussion, it MS voted to refer the
above application to the Comptroller of the Currency for an expression of his opinion as to the
advisability of its approval.
Matter ordered circulated at the meeting on May 5th, namely, letter
clated

2nd from the Chairtie-n of the Cornittee on Banking and Currency

Of the House
of Representatives with reference to the reported development
Of chain banking in the United States. The Governor also submitted a
iller4c)ranclum from Mr. James with reference to the preparation of a reply
to Lir.
LicFaddents letter*
After discussion, the above letter was referred
to the Law Committee for the preparation of a reply.
The Governor then submitted memorandum from Counsel on letter dated
4151sil 30th from the Federal Reserve Agent at St. Louis, enclosing copy
Of

4

trust agreement between the National Bank of Kentucky and the LouisTrust Company, both of Louisville, Ky., through which it is pro-

13°66d to bring about joint control of the institutions, at the same time
Preserv,
InG their corporate entities.
The Governor stated that the Federal Reserve Agent at St. Louis
"(1 l'oPresentatives of the two banks involved in the agreement are in
"1-11gton

today for conference with the Comptroller of the Currency,

IL" 17(lad like to present the matter verbally to the Board or a Committee.




After a brief discussion, Mr. Platt moved
that it is the sense of the Board that it has

389

5/10/27

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no authority over the proposed trust agreement.
Mr. Cunningham moved as a substitute for Mr.
Platt's notion that the Board receive the Louisville
representatives referred to by the Governor.
Jr. Cunningham's substitute mot ion
was put by the Chair and carried.
Mr. Martin, Federal Reserve Agent at St. Louis
and the Louisville representatives then entered the
meeting and discussed their proposition with the
Board.
Following the discussion, :Ir. James moved that
the Federal Reserve Board interpose no objection to
the arrangement entered into by the National Bank of
Kentucky and the Louisville Trust Company.
Mr. James' motion being put by the Chair
was carried.
Lir. Martin, Federal Reserve Agent at St. Louis and the Louisville
C°11411ittee then withdrew from the room.
The Board's Counsel then entered the meeting and submitted a letter
addy

esEecl to him under date of May 6th by Judge Ueland, Counsel for the

Pederal Reserve Bank of iiinneapolis, with reference to the par clearance
411it

brought against that bank in 1925 by the First State Bank of Hugo,

14411.3 a nonmember.

For the information of the Board members, Counsel

l'e7ievied the matter, stating that the suit was for damages alleged to
}Ave
ueen suffered by the plaintiff: (1) Through loss of exchange charges,
(2
) Through being compelled to carry a larger cash reserve thereby losing
irlt

est on the money, and (3) Through injury to its reputation graving

out 0
t the counter collection of checks by the Federal Reserve bank.

He

stilted that
the damages sought by the plaintiff aggregated $19,105 - 115,000
11111itive damages and $4,105 actual, and that verdict in the case, which




390
5/10/27

-12-

tr led in the State Court, was in favor of the plaintiff and awarded
dairilages amounting to :)1,229.99.

He inquired whether the Board desired

to arrange for the employment of special counsel to assist in further

Pr"eedincs in the case.
After a full discussion, Mr. Miller moved that
it is the opinion of the Board that the issues in
the par clearance case of the First State Bank of
Hugo, ilinnesota., against the Federal Reserve Bank
of Minneapolis are of interest to every Federal
Reserve bank and that arrangements should, therefore,
be made for a competent presentation of the System's
interests; and further that for this purpose the
Board recommend the employment of Honorable Newton
D. Baker as special counsel on behalf of the Federal
Reserve banks., the cost of his employment to be prorated among the Federal Reserve banks.
Carried.
The minutes of the meeting of the Federal Reserve Board held on 'jay

5th Were
then read and approved.
R
EPOI,___Z__2yLSTANDING COMLIITTELS;

Dated, Lay
6th,
7th,
9th,
10th,

bated,

Recorilmending changes in stock at Federal Reserve Banks,
as set forth in the Auxiliary Minute Book of this date.
Recommendations approved.

May 3rd, Recommending action on applicatiors for fiduciary powers
9th,
10th,

as set forth in the Auxiliary Minute Book of this date.
Recommendations approved.

tkttec
i
,

May 5th,

te.ted,

May 5th,




Recommending approval of the application of Mr. George S.
Silzer for permission to serve at the same time as President and Director of the Interstate Trust Company, New
York, N.Y., as Chairman of the Board and director of the
New Brunswick Trust Company, New Brunswick, N. J., and
as Chairman of the Board and director of the Broad 6:
Market National Bank, Newark, N.J.
RecomnIendation approved.
Recommending approval of the application of Mr. Harry
Scullin for permission to serve at the same time as
director of the First National Pank in St. Louis, Mo.
and as director of the St. Louis Union Trust Company,
St. Louis, No.
Recommendation approved.