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Minutes of actions taken by the Board of Governors of the ' leClerea Reserve System on Friday, November 17, 1950. PREsENT: Mr. McCabe, Chairman Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Szymczak Evans Vardaman Norton Powell Mr. Carpenter, Secretary Mr. Sherman, Assistant Secretary Mr. Kenyon, Assistant Secretary Minutes of actions taken by the Board of Governors of the Peder_, _ dl Reserve System on November 16, 1950, were approved unanimously. Telegrams to the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, New York, 13hiladelphi ---a) Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and San P .48e(3 stating that the Board approves the establishment without by the by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on November 14, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on November 15, by the Federal Reeerve 0,..u4S of New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago on November 16, eY the pede ral Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Kansas City on November 17) 1950) ana u --- LI' the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston today, of the tete disco , -4. m-uti. and purchase in their existing schedules. Approved unanimously. Memoranda from Mr. Marget, Director of the Division of national Finance, recommending increases in the basic annne 84411"ee of the follow ng employees in that Division, effective hclveller 26, 1950: 11/17/50 -2- bate of Memo and Name 11 10 50 Florence I 11/13/50. Robert Title Jaffy Solomon Salary Increase To From Economist $4,725 $),Itoo Economist 4,725 5,400 Approved unanimously. Memoranda dated October 30, 1950, from Mr. Marget, Director or the D ivision of International Finance, recommending increases in the basic annual salaries of the following employees in that Division, erfecti„ November 26, 1950: Name Prank M. Tamagna Arthur B. Hersey Title Acting Chief, Financial Operations and Policy Section Chief, Special Studies Section Salary Increase To From $9,000 T517700 8,800 9,200 Approved unanimously. In accordance with the informal discussion at the meeting of theBoard on November 14, 1950, consideration was given to the rec°1414e4dations contained in a memorandum submitted by Mr. Carpenter 114aer date of November 15, 1950, and reading as follows: "As 111fonia1the members of the Board know, there have been discussions of the organization of the staff x4- h respect to the administration of Regulations W and tanl the suggestion has been made that the Board underAg to obtain the services on a temporary basis of Mr. ; 47Tllr Phelan, Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank or ' York, to serve as Director of a new division of the staff Re to be called the Division of Selective Credit thgnni°u. Mr. Sproul advised Chairman McCabe yesterday " Mr. Rounds that the Bank would be willing to mair the ture services of Mr. Phelan available for this 40 2 °8e i and that he is prepared to report for duty on "4aY, November 20, 1950. or? +OA 7) C .4 11/17/50 -3- "In accordance with the informal discussion at the meeting of the Board on Tuesday, it is recommended that the Board approve the following arrangement: 1. Effective as soon as Mr. Phelan recommends that the change be made, there will be created in the staff a new division to be called the Division of Selective Credit Regulation which will take over (1) the activities and personnel in the Division of Bank Operations engaged on work in connection with Regulation W, and (2) the activities and personnel in the Division of Real Estate Credit which Division will thereupon be di scontinued. 2. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York will make the services of Mr. Phelan available to the Board to enable him to serve for a temporary period beginning November 20, 1950, as a member of the Board's staff and as soon as the new Division of Selective Credit Regulation is created he will be appointed the Director of that Division. It will be underStood that the period of his service will be or at least three months with the understanding .', ,11at in January if his services are still needed ''ne Board will request that the arrangement ilclaer which his services are made available be extended for a further period of three or four months. 3. Effective as of the date upon which the new Division of Selective Credit Regulation is created, Mr. Charles T. Fisher, Jr., who has urged that he be relieved as promptly as possible ! c) ., his duties as Administrator of the Office of Irral Estate Credit, will continue as a Special ' -onsultant to the Board on financial and credit matters with the same compensation and allowances for official travel as were approved by the Board for him as .idministrator of the Office of Real Estate Credit. 4. Mr. Phelan will remain on the pay roll 21 ' the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Board will reimburse the Bank for his salary and itravel and other official expenses incurred by htM, • including hotel accommodations in Washington. A 7('')(4 11/17/5o -4"Since he will retain his present home and will have occasion to travel frequently between Washington and his home, such travel will be regarded as reimbursable official travel. Reimbursement of salary and official expenses as outlined in this paragraph will be on such basis as is approved by the Board's Personnel C ommittee." Approved unanimously, with the understanding that the appropriate accounts in the 1950 Budget of the Office of Real Estate Credit would be increased by amounts sufficient to cover the costs of reimbursing the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Mr. Phelan's services and travel expenses prior to establishment of a Division of Selective Credit Regulation. or 1, 0%7 Letter to Mr. Clarke, Secretary of the Federal Reserve Bank 04'4) reading as follows: " Pt s acknowledged of your letter of November 14 adv.,Recei 'sing that your Bank has consented to an extension4. to arrange ments with the Department of State pursuant, 04 nich Mr. Fred H. Klopstock has been made available Aft,- Part-time basis to serve the Bureau of German reoairs as a consultant on the proposed German banking IDenization, and that a leave of absence without or ' d "as been granted to Mr. Eugene R. Schlesinger in tim : r1,that his services may be available on a partOf ib ua , s,is as a consultant to the Washington office tnit" e Economic Commission for Latin America of the bef,ed Nations, this arrangement to terminate on or 'fte March 31, 1951. fo "These arrangements, which have been discussed inhave lY by your Bank with members of the Board's staff, are- ueen brought to the attention of the Board and noted without objection." Approved unanimously. 11/17/5o -5- Letter to Mr. Leedy, President of the Federal Reserve Bank Of r-Quisas City, reading as follows: 8 "Reference is made to your letter of November '1950, requesting the Board of Governors to approve increase in the salary structure of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. m, "The Board of Governors approves the following taiMUM and maximum salaries for the respective grades Of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, including the Branches, effective Immediately: Minimum Maximum Grade Salary Salary 1 1440 $1980 2 1620 2220 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1800 2040 2280 2580 2880 3180 3600 4020 4.)oo ) o4o 12 13 )640 14 15 16 6300 7020 7860 2460 2760 3120 3480 3900 4320 486o 546o 6o6o 6780 7560 8460 9480 10620 the "The Board approves the payment of salaries to emPloyees, other than officers, within the limits rreed for the grades in which the positions of the tilective employees are classified. It is assumed efath8i1 employees whose salaries are below the minimum grades as a result of the structure increase 8.8 oe brought within the appropriate range as socT Practicable and not later than January 31, 1951. Approved, Mr. Vardaman voting "no". Letter 4-,,c) Honorable Charles 4. Tobey, United States Senate, 4t°11, D. C., reading as follows: 11/17/5o -6- YOU very much for referring to us Mr. Bishop's letter concerning the new restrictions on 1(31 , 1sing credit. We welcome all constructive comment criticism, whether favorable or adverse. "As you authorized Y Congress know the new regulations were T4 in the Defense Production Act of 1950. .111 1411ting Title VI of this Act Congress recognized ce substantial inflation already existing in the field and took vigorous steps to prevent further inflationary pressures and to assure the jailability of materials and labor required for he defense program. It is unfortunate that it is necessary to employ such regui ations to restrain inflation; we believe it de whenever possible to rely upon voluntary to do the job. But past experience has shown hat credit o Credit - even though sound, and usually through thefault of lenders - does contribute to inflation when Iltd ; uPPlY of goods is limited. The expansion of credit, current circumstances, adds to demand at a time An4 Part of the supply of goods must be diverted to ;7211se in,,4---Poses. The real estate credit controls JI:lict the zstem the general philosophy of the Federal Reserve u it is better to attack inflation at the ittlice than to combat its symptoms. We feel that the 2ct controls such as these are preferable, in va esent situation, to direct controls over prices, ott , and the like, which interfere in the daily lives . are much more destructive i=4:d C/f TZ7117Tia7fir 1 oue "It is the expectation of the Board and the Federal yolreing authorities that the regulation will reduce the of of housing construction from the record levels if ti, J5°. It has been suggested that it would be desirable be c" e Production of new housing units next year could thatUt to about 800,000. Should the regulation have cot effect, such a level of construction would still actii!"4e favorably with the high levels of construction v4Y in other years since the war. call be lease do not hesitate to call upon us if we of further service." Approved unanimously. A 0 11/1715o •••, 41i.--,Li t -7- Letter to Honorable Wayne L. Hays, House of Representatives, 114gU) n, D. C., reading as follows: 1 "This refers to November 10, your letter of 50; in which you quote a telegram from Mr. William 2 Ilress Cronin, President, Cronin China Company, nerva; Ohio, concerning Regulation IN. cut f2PParently the 'Group E category ten dollar referred to by Mr. Cronin arose from an ;confirmed news report. Although such a possible :.'ang)e had been the subject of confidential con;ideration by this Board's staff and the Federal erve Banks, it has not been, and is not presently, Ler con sideration by the Board of Governors. "The Board's staff, often in consultation with Federal Reserve Banks, is constantly considering as and suggestions in connection with the general °f the System including problems in connection With Regulation W. This method of operation insures arour,l, 'oil consideration of the various technical and other , of these problems and often results in many tePec ats oultit"ive ideas being discarded without any need for Th.side consultation or formal Board consideration. of course, is done on a confidential basis to avoid ,4 the very thing that the communication from Mr. il lustrates. It is not the Board's wish to Use of se needless unrest among trade groups because be !tate studies of possibilities which may never '-'0t1sidered by the Board. do 40tIf we can be of any further assistance, please hesitate to write." Z li: Approved unanimously, with the understanding that similar replies would be made in other cases where applicable. Letter to Honorable Edward J. Robeson, Jr., House of lePl'esevv4. -".tives, Washington, D. C., reading as follows: elacio is is in reply to your letter of October 27 Pree i;'ng a further letter from Mr. R. Silk, Jr., ( 40 'Aent of .011es. Patrick and Silk, Newport News, Virginia, Roverniing the terms of this Board's Regulation W, consumer credit. 11/17/50 -8- note that among other things Mr. Silk contends that insufficient notice was given before the recent ! Illenament to the Regulation was effective. We have heard this same protest in various forms, most of them t eLE,Iilling. that by its action in adopting the amendment Board violated the provisions of Section 709 of ,"e Defense Production Act relating to conferences with trade representatives. s.1 "We shall appreciate it if you will assure Mr. el-Lk that all aspects of the regulation were thoroughly ,xPlored with represe ntatives of various industries before the original regulation was issued effective September 18, 1950. The Board fully recognized at that en that the trade representatives favored terms even A-e ' er than those prescribed in the original regulation. lis ei 1t1. result of those consultations the Board also was aware that many sellers and lenders would not be ca e5111PathY with the recent amendment. After giving clreful consideration to those facts, the Board cone.:11ded that the terms issued effective September 18 and i ;amended effective October 16 should be prescribed th the Public interest in order to help in protecting di :national economy and the defense effort against the '4”.rou5 consequences of further inflationary pressures. the The Board was also faced with the fact that in the Period Prior to the September 18 effective date of Of °riginal Regulation there had been a large expansion searedit as a result of forward buying and high-pressure ti"ing based on the anticipated terms of the new Regulaco -; In addition to the fact that the Board was fully the 1112rt of the views of the industry representatives, sucia 711ulic1tY attendant upon further consultations with ' of representatives would have raised serious danger had , 1,fther 1 expansion of credit similar to that which 1- eceded the Septemb er 18 effective date. wad In the circumstances, the Board was convinced, istated in publishing the amendment in the Federal ster that: 'Special circumstances have rendered izriacticable and contrary to the interest of the tive°nal defense consultation with industry representa.) including trade association representatives, tore e formulati on of the above amendment; and, there,ii,j1,12s authorized by the aforesaid section 709/ the ' s' 4 ent has been issued without such consultation.' 4 "/17/50 -9- "Mr. Silk also expresses the belief that this Board 'had no detailed analysis of the effects of Regulation 14' when the amendment was adopted. The responsibilities delegated to us by the Congress are in the broad fields m°neY and credit. Therefore, we try to look at all Of the special credit powers granted to the Board against t Fi background of the general credit situation. Regulaii°n W in the field of consumer credit, Regulation X t4 real estate credit, Regulations T and U with regard . 2 security loans and margin requirements are all types vi sPecialized credit instruments designed to supplement : 11eral credit controls such as discount rates and open o When dealingwith dealing inflationary PressurePerations. , these in turn must be coordinated with fiscal pt)'Licies to achieve maximum effectiveness. ar "Loo kiL-146 at the general credit situation, there foe ale.rming symptoms of the extent to which inflationary roes are already at work. It is truly startling, inst ance, to realize that the total loans of all rallercial banks are estimated to have increased more Z ( 1!. $5 billion since the beginning of hostilities th,„,°1 ; e0.• This may be compared to an expansion less to- 1 billion in the comparable period of 1949, and you ' 93 billion in the same months in 1947, which, as remember, was a highly inflationary period. in consumer credit outstanding and real at : 111:4 11 :h 1 credit during this period has been a bd ::t.7.r cause of this increase in credit. Nearly $2 duril°n °f new consumer instalment credit was extended vol ng the third quarter of this year -- a record -- and the net growth in outstandings during that the Period was roughly 20 per cent larger than in t firs.c°111Parable 1949 months. The increase during the war)", i nine months of this year was larger than the increase during any other postwar year. The 1,Tier real estate credit is equally striking and e greater significance in its volume and effect aciai Panding bank credit -- or, in other words, in ng to the already excessive money supply. to te, " 4These few figures on the credit situation help As 4-YOU4t uP our concern over the growth in credit. bil know, there are two sources of demand or $1001 Power -- money and credit. The man who borrows just as potent a customer as the man who gets is "14 his pay check. So long as the demand l'elatively in balance with the supply of goods Z of7 4117/50 -10- :all is well from an economic standpoint. However, the defense program now under way hits an economy already moving at full steam, which is quite different from the situation in 1940-41. If the program is to be met, there will of necessity be c utbacks in the output of civilian goods. Therethe credit controls are designed to restore ore .„ of a balance between total demand and the supply available goods. If this objective is not accomplished, the result, with demand in excess of supply, will e higher prices and continuing inflationary trends. to th"We are constantly reviewing the factors relating ese regulations. We are getting excellent c oc1) 1°Peration from the trade in supplying the latest data rti4rket trends and, of course, are constantly receiv„g l'elports from the twelve Federal Reserve Banks and four branches on the situation in all parts 7-ithetinanYt;y. I believe you will agree that our record °I lonstrevio .J us administration of these Regulations rates that we maintain an open mind on such tiosti°10-s and we have been quick to adapt the RegulaPrells t° changing economic conditions. This we are f_cpared to do again whenever the underlying economic 61. Is warrant such action. to us"We thank you for referring Mr. Silk's second letter the 11, We are glad to receive such expressions from in our continuing study of the r cons.;:113.12efel field." lit Approved unanimously. , Te legram to First Vice President of the Federal Mr. aeser\re Bank of St. Louis, reading as follows: It ReguiRetel November ng 14 concernin g application of t X in case involving proposed loan to build'4er to finance construction of houses where 10 er holds an October 11 firm commitment covering 13rrs to purchasers of the houses. We agree that hilgdure outlined in your telegram is not proby Regulatio n X." buil:t Approved unanimously. 11/17/50 -11- Letter to the Presidents of all Federal Reserve Banks, IseMillg as follows: "The purpose of this letter is to transmit the 13oF41,,a 8 views on the administration and enforcement of '.xegulation X, and to inform you of the program already for the correlation of the enforcement program with with other supervisory authorities. "Enforcement by Supervisory Agencies -- The resPolis-L ul.Lity which the law has placed on the Federal ;eeeerve System for the regulation and limitation of al estate construction credit makes it essential that aXi effect ive and uniform enforcement procedure be estabt,s"ed throughout the country. As a means of correlating e activities of all supervisory authorities in a uniform bly clure, a summary of the general actions to be taken various supervisors is set forth in the attached ' 11 line of Enforcement Program for Regulation X'. with " r:!cently, meetings have been held in Washington the vresentatives of supervisory authorities for ce4 Purpose of discussing the general enforcement proto be followed in connection with Regulation X. !e rePresentatives concurred in the program set forth era.`td,le attached Outline, and gave assurances of coop1°11 ft, in the enforcement of the Regulation. rte followinggroups were ipl ' esent:Presentations from the 4 The Comptroller of the Currency Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Home Loan Bank Board Farm Credit Administration National Association of Supervisors of State Banks National Association of Insurance Commissioners BosrtNel 4ts mentioned in section I-B-2 of the Outline, the orT, will continue to maintain contact with the head but ' ees of the cooperating Federal supervisory agencies, tactexPects the Federal Reserve Banks to maintain conassis,with the regional offices of those agencies, regall'ing. them in any way possible. Copies of the age4,,tion. have been supplied to the Federal supervisory 41:leas-Lesfor the use of their field staffs, and an be filate supply of the 'Outline of Enforcement' will °rwarded to them. 11/17/50 -12- "The Board would like each Federal Reserve Bank to maintain close contact with State supervisors and assist them in whatever manner is feasible in providing effective supervision of financial institutions subject °n1Y to State supervision. Copies of the Outline °uld be forwarded directly by the Federal Reserve ' lIanks to State supervisors. It will be the responsit;IlitY of the Federal Reserve Banks to work out with 114 . State authorities, if necessary, the means of dling such State institutions as may not be -4roPr1ately covered under the State program. The : Administration and Enforcement by Reserve Banks -ro; would like to be informed about the program 1.11-4.11e administration of Regulation X now in force .rle Federal Reserve Banks. This information should diclude the names of official personnel and others Rerent, ---LY responsible for the administration of the me!,lillati°11 in the Banks and branches, and the general tiLlods which have been pursued to bring to the attenRecn of the trade and the public information about the sati°4 X. It would also be of interest to know mett-e°Pe of the program contemplated for the enforceced of the P -egulation through investigational proe and, in this connection, it is contemplated tiolit thatthe To. ,,eserve Banks will furnish the Board with viuhr reports in respect to activities in connection adv; wle e nforcement of Regulation X. You will be Sed shortly of the nature of such reports. lati "°f greatest importance at this time is the formuvest °f Plans for the institution of an effective incuiti ative Program. The Board is aware of the diffistarie8 14hioh are involved in organizing an adequate Jubte investigators, especially in view of the Pareef 1951, expiration date. However, it is preProve whatever cost may be reasonably Progr-a17 to organize an adequate investigational about tianua.,, ein ,' and would appreciate the inauguration are ; ' 1 1 1, 1951, of field investigations since they fore -4uestionably a most important part of the enenl procedure th : The basic investigative procedure is summarizd °Iltline of Enforcement Program attached hereto, arid tov becauseau of the relatively short period between that tletiy,the expiration date, the Board believes the reas -"es there on a conducted be °nably broad outlined should scale. V 11/17/50 -13- "It is not possible to establish an exact measure of the investigative work that should be accomplished, nd the results of future experience will need to be 1Ployed to determine satisfactory goals which will tablish an effective enforcement of the Regulation. The o bjective to be attained probably cannot be defined a set percentage of registrants to be in:;stt72-Zeodf Rather, a selective approach is suggested Will concentrate the effort in places where the illst can be accomplished. It seems essential, for prstance, that investigations be made of a reasonable :e; Z P Iolitlsof , large real estate and mortgage company especially F.H.A. approved mortgagees, c rIce „ a substantial volume of all new residential -truction is financed through such organizations. ePresentative selection of other kinds of registrants th:tiTiestigation is necessary, and it may be desirable atIon W and Regulation X investigations of oemdeazg be subject to 1/7x=ir7fcit o; regulations 7! W co.; 10 stateuln connection with the regular examinations of Member banks, it is expected that under the Uzrent Policy, they will be covered at least once a Yeaz. "112,Elstration -- No decision has been made resPv otilag the eve necessity for a formal registration. Howa the Board would be interested in knowing whether yol :t has been compiled of possible registrants in iticillistrict, and, if so, how many registrants are ed who are not regularly examined by a supervisory agelleY. peae:Statement of the Borrower -- Discussions wiwith ellPervisory agencies elicited the information that the1 Y °a believe many ve1 financial institutions are not sufficiently or re..infermed of their responsibility for the maintenance asre ,,e()rds which disclose whether extensions of credit urgecir are not real estate construction credit. They t&t, if it has not already been done, a circular lett, i- ue sent to all banks (and other known registrants) sette first4g forth the means by which compliance with the lies te r:/ze of section 4(c) of Regulation X may be z ecl If such a circular letter is deemed to be reclu ble in your district, it should include the minlmal —ements suggested in the Board's telegram 3-1166. 11/17/5o -14- .24,12221 11o;' Regulation X -- Consideration is "112 liritg given to -iTie-TTIpa TOTI--of a handbook containing : 11a Regulation, amendments nnd interpretations, similar to that formerly distributed for Regulation W. Would Such a handbook be of assistance to the staff of your "Public Relations -- The emphasis placed on the enforceramin this letter is not intended to 4divert attention from other important administrative tetivities, Particularly an educational program designed 1/ci) btain amicable public acceptance of Regulation X. el -airness to those affected by the Regulation, int1,11ding home owners, home-buyers and registrants alike, , 14 e Board believes that a vigorous educational effort !flotild be continued to acquaint such persons with the vtlZraP°se of the law and the effect of Regulation X on edu and their businesses. It is also necessary that „cational activities form a part of the investigational .?edure, for, while an early and vigorous enforcement 4.,1 8-.1- create get oteervalTpect for the Regulation, it is desirable of the Regulation be obtained to the t possible by the voluntary acquiescense it st=rsl. Of r ee gs t7 lihet : The effective administration of Regulation X, c0 , 47er for a short or a longer period, presupposes aand the Re exchange of information between the Board the B 8erlie Banks. It is anticipated that you will keep and t(18.rdinformed of the conditions in your district Min4 he sPecial problems which you encounter in the adJa-.stration and enforcement of the Regulation. It will obs4rec1ated if you will advise the Board of your - 4tio1s on the operation of the Regulation and of ealy; 04 ir-uggestions or recommendations you wish to make based '7 ob servations and experience. Regui's in the case of the enforcement program for Mitt del''!on Wp the program for Regulation X has been subY°I1 leilAf.,the Department of Justice and we will inform the Lheir concurrence is received. In the meantime to te'°gram may be put into effect in so far as it relates 841)e"e activities of the Federal Reserve Banks and other rvisorY agencies." Approved unanimously..// -'- le Or .41/ A ' 11ei 4 .4 Secret