View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

1389

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
Atem

with the Federal Advisory Council was held in the offices of

the
°ard of Governors in Washington on Monday, September 18, 1944,
":10
PRESENT:




Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Eccles, Chairman
Ransom, Vice Chairman
McKee
Draper
Evans

Mr. Morrill, Secretary
Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Clayton, Assistant to the Chairman
Mr. Thurston, Special Assistant to the
Chairman
Mr. Smead, Director of the Division of
Bank Operations
Mr. Paulger, Director of the Division
of Examinations
Mr. Parry, Director of the Division of
Security Loans
Mr. Dreibelbis, General Attorney
Mr. Leonard, Director of the Division of
Personnel Administration
Mr. %raft, General Counsel
Messrs. Charles E. Spencer, Jr., William F.
Kurtz, B. G. Huntington, Robert V. Fleming,
Keehn V. Berry, Edward E. Brown, Ralph C.
Gifford, A. E. Bradshaw, Ed. H. Winton, and
George M. Wallace, members of the Federal
Advisory Council representing the First,
Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth,
Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Federal Reserve
Districts, respectively
Mr. Leon Fraser, President of The First National
Bank of the City of New York, and Mr. Julian
Baird, Vice President of the First National
Bank of St. Paul, Minnesota, who had been
designated by the Federal Reserve Banks of
New York and Minneapolis, respectively, to
attend this meeting in the absence of Messrs.

1390
9118/44

-2Traphagen and Wakefield who were unable
to be present
Mr. Walter Lichtenstein, Secretary of the
Federal Advisory Council
Brawn stated that, in a letter dated August 18, 1944, ad-

Clren.48ecl

to the Secretary of the Council, the Board asked for the Council's

°131414'
4a with respect to a proposed amendment to the Board's Regulation

11, 41
4terlocking Bank Directorates Under the Clayton Act," so as to reIclire411.7 question of possible violation of the law and the Board's reg1114ti°11 in the plan proposed by the postwar Small Business Credit Com41"1°11 of the American Bankers Association under which banks in the
eikr (It New York would become associated for the purpose of participatill4111 commercial and industrial loans originating at and made by other
15414 throughout the country, the plan contemplating that such loans
11°1114/De Passed upon by a committee, each member of which, in addition

to alith°ritY to commit his own bank, would be given by a resolution
cl°11tecl bY the board of directors of another participating bank authority
to
coMmit the second bank as well. Mr. Brown also said that it was
hie ilnd
erstanding that since the letter was written an agreement had been
c144,
4
1113 by the New York banks in connection with the proposed plan under
"'Lich n
° bank would be bound except by unanimous action of the members
the
committee, and that the request that the Board's regulation be
kle

"ed

had been withdrawn.

Speaking personally, he thought the question

'etched, that it was a common custom for banks to participate




1391

—3elvt..

dt arrangements which might well raise the question involved
the
proposed amendment, and that, while the Council felt that there
114-8 to

Objection to the modification if there were any doubt from a

ste,ndpoint, there might be considerable danger in incorporating
IlkCh

" exception in the Board's regulation which might raise a question

With

respect to other similar procedures. He also said that, if an
4111ET16,.
—4er-it to Regulation L were drawn, the Council would like very much
to 8„
ce the text of it before it was adopted by the Board.
Chairman Eccles stated that the matter had not been discussed
the

Board since the date of its letter to the Council, that apparently
w
a8 no reason for a further consideration of it at this time, and

the

that 8
°

far as the Board was concerned the matter mould be laid on the

table.

11r. McKee added that in the event the Board should decide to

4(lopt

atich an amendment a copy thereof would be furnished to the Council
beto_e
it was put into effect.
Mr. Brown then stated that the members of the Council would
.
to
be Informed with respect to the present status of the Wagner—
ellez1 b'
111 which would amend section 13b of the Federal Reserve Act

i ver7ktt the Federal Reserve Banks to guarantee loans made by banking
t414uti
(xls to business and industrial concerns.
Chairman Eccles stated that he would like to discuss this pro—
at

some length with the Council for the reason that he regarded




1392

9/18/44
—4—
an important matter because of the apparent misunderstanding
that 1,
- "ad arisen with respect to the scope and purposes of the legislation.
He added that, in order to clarify with members of the Council
that
his position in the matter was, he had prepared a statement,
iti8

/thleh had
not been seen or passed upon by the other members of the
13°8.1
'
cl, under the heading "Legislation to Finance Business in the Post1741' Periodn,

and which contained the pertinent facts in connection with

legislation. now pending for the financing of business during the recan'ellic`t1 and postwar period, especially the bill to authorize Federal
lieeerve Banks
to guarantee loans and the bill to expand the authority
(It the
-uLdiler War Plants Corporation. The statement, a copy of which
h4t been
Placed in the Board's files, was read by Chairman Eccles
4t"Ilillich he outlined briefly the history of the Wagner-Spence bill
44cl atated he
thought there was little likelihood of any considerat4lbeing given to the bill until after the national election in
‘4111ber-

He did think, however, that because of the additional re-

41)°11sibilities placed on the Smaller War Plants Corporation by the
C°11tre-ct

Settlement Act of 1944 the bill now before Congress provid-

f°1
'a $200,000,000 increase in the capital of the Corporation
tiltgle adopted.
During a reference to the major emergency legislation now being
(Illiciered by Congress and to the opposition to the Wagner-Spence bill




1393
9/18/44
—5—
that haci been
voiced by representatives of the American Bankers Assoeiatica, Mr. Fleming stated that representatives of the American Bankers
lation were in nashington today in connection with Treasury financ14 discussions at the Treasury, and that it might be possible to dise114 t e

h Proposed amendment to section 13b with them. He also stated
that i
t might be possible at the meeting of the American Bankers Assoeiatio
a at Chicago next week to adopt a resolution which would be more
tmror
alple to the proposed amendment and that, since there was little
cod of the bill coming up for active consideration until after
national election in November, there would be a possibility of del'el°Ping support for the bill.
Mr. Brown inquired whether the powers that would be granted to

the
conaici

er War Plants Corporation by the Surplus Property Act now under

"ation by Congress would permit the financing of the operation
Plaz1
ts after they were acquired as well as the acquisition of the

P1141t.

Vest, Assistant General Attorney, was called into the meet-

+II and in

response to Mr. Brown's question read a portion of subsection

(t) of
the bill which would authorize the Corporation, for the pur-

At%e
1441

Or earrYing out the objectives of the section, to make or guarantee

tkve

t° 8mall business enterprises in connection with the acquisition,
and operation of plants and facilities, and, in cooperation

to

ue disposal agencies, to arrange for sales of surplus property
k4all business concerns on credit or time bases.




Subsection 14(e)

1394

9/18A4

—6—

O

t'lle bill Would give the Corporation power to purchase any surplus
131‘0
PertY for resale and other disposition to small business when in
its i
u1448nent such disposition was required to preserve and strengthen
the
e°111petitive position of small business or would assist the Corporatioh .
" the discharge of the duties and responsibilities imposed upon

It was suggested in the ensuing discussion that, while the Cor-

N'ati
°n would not be authorized under these provisions to make or

'
el a.ratitee loans
cortrer

for any or all purposes, the authority that would be

'
l ed would be very broad. At the end of the discussion, copies
°I' the
etatement read by Chairman Eccles earlier in the meeting were
444ded
'
4:1 the members of the Council and to Mr. Lichtenstein.
There were also distributed copies of the memorandum prepared
ard for presentation to the Council with respect to furnishing
tc) th
-e C°uncil drafts of bills being considered by the Board.
lir* Brown stated that the Council still felt very strongly

that,
bef°re drafts of legislation prepared by the Board were intro"in Congress, copies thereof should be furnished to the members
()r the cotulcii and
they should have an opportunity to express their
'1'417"rith respect to the drafts.
At Chairman Eccles' suggestion, the memorandum prepared by the
was
read, after which Mr. Brown stated that it had been the exDerlerice
of the Council that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,




1395
9444
—7—
the

`'umptroller of the Currency, and other agencies of the Government
/ler.
'more willing to discuss drafts of legislation with the Council and
to seek
eic its comments and suggestions than the Board appeared to be, and
that
there had
been no objection to drafts of holding company bills pre—
Pare,4

'A at the Treasury being discussed with the Council. A discussion
lie point brought out the fact that the Glass holding company bill,

which

'lad been prepared in the Treasury and which included the so—called
'death
sentence", had not been discussed with the members of the Council
In connection with Mr. Brown's comments, Chairman Eccles said

that there
was
Oj
the Board

a considerable difference between the responsibilities

of Governors and the Comptroller of the Currency or the

Podere.).

Deposit Insurance Corporation in that their responsibilities
Were lar
gelY in the field of bank supervision, whereas such responsi—
14te

144

•
that

secondary with the Board, the primary function of which
of influencing credit conditions.

11r- Brown said that everyone realized that, when the Board was
qieNe
ei
proposed legislation or was considering it with other agencies
c)f the
'civernment or with Congress, it could not be fully discussed with
to

but after it had put its views in draft form and was ready

'1-11.e the bill
to a member of Congress as representing the views of
the toa
to

in 99 cases out of 100 there could be no possible objection
,
88111g it with the Council before it was introduced, and that
*ere of the Council, who in most cases had had more banking




1396

—8—
elq3"ierice than members of the Board, could make suggestions which
Isic)/11c1 make the legislation more workable and would prevent injustices
being done.

He added that, if the holding company bill prepared by

the Bc>ard which contained a reference to banking as interstate commerce
hacl been introduced in Congress, the Board would have found it very dif—
riellit to get it removed even though it might be found to have no rela—
ttonship to
the important provisions of the bill.
Chairman Eccles stated that it appeared that the question
/fhether,
ueliking was interstate commerce had been settled by the courts.
M. Brown responded that "that was neither here nor there"
411(1

acided that
the Board's attitude would make it much more difficult

41' the C°1111ci1 to act, except in opposition, if it were to have no
.1°1513°1"bilrlitY to comment on legislation prepared by the Board until after
''tllas i
ntroduced in Congress.
MI% Ransom repeated an opinion which he had expressed previously
the question involved was not one of legal prerogatives, that he
,ilat
t
44(1

Council with the
e.
lled the relationships and the history of the Cocil
::
to41
ng

the last nine years, that these relationships had been con-

l'Ittect

th

8uocessfully and amicably without reference to legal rights,

at on such matters as the holding company bill he thought the
should
co
have all the counsel and advice that the Federal Advisory
/111q1
was willing to give without the necessity of discussing specific
'age in any
particular bill.




1397

—9—
Brown stated that he did not think there were any members
q the

Council who wanted to put the discussion on the basis of legal

Ilghts)
that the question of legal rights had been raised by Chairman
Eccles
/ and that, if in practice the Council could have an opportunity
to
'49Dre33 its views on matters which were not secret but which were
11413Q1‘tant to the banking system, that was highly desirable as a means
q 417°14aing major controversies that otherwise would result.

He made

the ttirther statement that he had been asked to come to Washington on
1111111els°11s occasions with other representatives of banks to consider
legi81e-tion which was vital to the banking field, that it was a question
q 4131)ttech, that the Council wanted to work in harmony with the Board,
4" that the essential question was whether it would be possible to avoid
eitilations
Where the Board would have legislation introduced without
4:7111g the
Council or its executive committee an opportunity to discuss
szcloress views with respect to it.
111% Ransom felt that it was a question of the Board getting the
kivie
:
1414 °f the Council on a problem rather than the discussion of the
--ELge of a specific bill, that the Council, in relation to the Board,
Noo.
8°mewhat in the position of amicus curiae or "a friend of the
(314stll
—.0 would not expect to ask for advance information as to the
;411

ent of the court. He did not think it was possible for the six
Of the Board and the 12 members of the Council to debate the




1398
9/1%4
—10—
ePeeitic language of a bill.

He then said that the Board's Annual

RePe'rt or 1943 stated what the problem with respect to bank holding
"
e0 4-es was, and that if the Council mould advise the Board as to
what to do
in the situation there set forth it could be immensely
helpful.

Mr. Fleming stated that, when the Banking Act of 1935 was
coasideration,
he talked to the President who felt it was highly
clesitiable that the banks be consulted, that copies of the proposed
le€1814tion were sent to him and considered by representatives of the
b4k8
'and that those discussions were productive in making the legis—
i4t1()11 workable.

He also said that, while the Board was charged with

the res
ponsibility of policy formation, the members of the Council were
14"41ch closer in touch with bank operating problems in the various
e.nd that a full and frank discussion with the Council would be
°1)" tc be productive of great good, and if any man on the Council
ell°11141 rail
to treat in confidence any of the matters discussed he
wkl(laot be fit
to sit on the Council. He added that, as a member
° the Business
Council of the Department of Commerce, he had
'tic&
--c1Pated in many discussions of proposed legislation with representa—
%,ea
of the Department, and that, with one possible exception, there
11,4(1

been

.
no violation of confidence.

Chairman Eccles reviewed briefly the history of the Banking
kt or
1935 including efforts of representatives of the banks to have




1399
—114tie two of the bill, which made major changes in the banking system,
8ePal
'
ated from the other two sections of the bill, and said that, if
slIch efforts had been successful, title two of the bill never would
halie
Passed. He did not agree that the matter under consideration

not a legal

matter, as the Board and the Council and their respec—

,
ghts and obligations existed only because of legislation passed
5'ess, that the obligations of each and the relationship to each
other
were fixed by statute, and that this relationship could not be
ehaav„..,
"CI without regard to the statute.
He felt that it was not a per—
al
matter or a question of confidence in the members of the Council
or the,
zioard, but a question of the kind of constructive relationship
that —
flould be maintained in the public interest in the light of the
c4)14gat'
1°n3 imposed by the law. He made the further statement that
the
0011
,
—4e1l had a responsibility as representatives of the banking in—
t e t
that the obligations of the Board were entirely different, and
th4t,
if he were to return to the banking business, he would not expect
Boa

bklta

rd or any other public body to advise with representatives of
°11 all basic matters that might be regarded as essential but

ch

Illlght affect the banks adversely.
With respect to holding company legislation, he stated that

°ard and the Reserve Banks had had responsibility for holding com—
tiPervision for a period of years, that the System had acquired
c41113et n,
e--7 in dealing with the problem from a supervisory standpoint,




1400
9/18/44

—12—

that it was a question of meeting practical problems relating to bank
41(1ing companies, and that he regarded the System as more competent
to
‘kv that than any other public body. He felt that it was important
that ,he
Council should be informed on problems that were developing
that
the Board could have the advice of the Council with respect to
them,that the Council had a right to make any recommendations or suggest
i°r1s that it might wish and that it could ask for any information
that he
Board might have with respect to these problems, but that he
-- think that the form of the legislation being considered by the
was factual information of the kind the Council might expect to
receive,

Mr. Ransom expressed the opinion that the Council did not have
tht le
gal right to copies of legislative proposals or regulations being
O icI
el*ed by the Board, but that, in his opinion, if the Council were
e- With respect to the matter before the draft of bill or regulaticm
-.4 we
re prepared, it would be very helpful to the Board.
14.1% Fleming said that that was all the Council would ask.
lAr. Kurtz stated that, as he understood the position of the
there was no intention on its part to pry into the administrati,lre re
ePonsibilities of the Board, that he did not know what the legal

Nht,Of the

Council or the Board were, but that all the Council asked

11'6' that
if the Board proposed legislation or other action which would




1401

9/18/44

-13-

ilac°nsiderable significance to member banks, such as the holding
c.°14)allY bill, the Council be fully advised and given an opportunity
t0 di

scues it with the Board. He also voiced the opinion that, if
the t
443ard was to have the cooperation of the Council, it in turn must
114e 4.1..
'us Board's cooperation to that extent, and that the members of
the 0
431111cil did not know what was being considered in the way of legis°- and had to look to the Board to keep it advised.
Mr. Ransom inquired whether, so far as the holding company bill
Ifa.8

ncerned, the statement made in the Board's last annual report

17°11.141 not
serve that purpose.
Mr. Kurtz' response was in the negative, and he stated that
110141111g company legislation vitally affected the First, Ninth, and
Neltth

Federal Reserve Districts, and that, in his opinion, the Board

41011341 discuss any
proposed legislation with at least the representatives
°lIthe
Council from those three districts, as those three men were

ch4x'eed with

the responsibility of knowing everything about the matter;

oth
se they would not be true representatives.
In response to a further comment by Mr. Kurtz that the defendant
1.4).4141 have
his day in court, Chairman Eccles said that there was ample
(13c)i-Iti'lnitY during the consideration of the legislation by Congress for
41\Y
interested person to be heard. Mr. Kurtz said that the Council
11°1111-cl not be
placed in a position of appearing to object to the legisit.t3
-4)113 and
Chairman Eccles replied that the Council was under no




1402
9444
—14—
°Illigation to agree with the Board.

Mr. Kurtz felt that it would

lanfortunate if it appeared that the Council was in opposition to

the 13",,

""41icly and that the question involved was whether the Board felt

that

44.
'
46

was under obligation to consult with the Council with respect

-4'Y legislation that the Board might propose that would have a
ThateM-al effect on member banks.
11r. McKee expressed the opinion that the question was not that
brom
that legislation was difficult to get enacted in any event, that
thehol
ding company bill was necessary if the Board was to do an effec4Ve 4
'Job of supervision, and that there were things in the bill which
NPle
on the outside wanted to know about, and, if the Board discussed
Propos
ed legislation with the Council, its members would be under obliga—
ti°11 t
° Say nothing about the proposal until the bill had been introduced.
11.1% Kurtz questioned whether the members of the Council would
Dalder
that obligation, and Mr. McKee responded that for that reason

theome

stion was one of judgment on the part of the Board in each case
thether
a Proposed bill was one that should not be discussed with the
oo rci

'and that the holding company bill was in that category.
Chairman Eccles said it seemed to him that, if the Board made

4atts

f legislation which it was considering available to the members

the co
uncil, they would be in a position, if they were opposed to it,
too,,
lize forces to defeat its passage, and that, if the Council wanted
:
to
Cil8

such matters before the bills were discussed and be obligated




1403

9/18/44

—15—

11"° saY anything in opposition to them before they were formally
itItt.°duced, the problem would be a different one from the one under
c4scUseion.

Mr. Winton said he did not think that if the Board talked to
then
in confidence the members of the Council would betray that
eclIfidence and undertake to go to Congress or work against legislation
ed

by

the Board before it was introduced, although if they did

rlot
-gree With the bill they would be at liberty to oppose it after it
114c1

beea introduced.
Chairman Eccles responded that that would change the whole mat-

ter.

their

*. Winton went on to say that the members of the Council in

discussions on this matter had been actuated by a strong desire
to I,
1111 and helpful cooperation with the Board, that they could not

he,

-r-u-t. Without fullinformation, and that there was no intention

tI31,
q8111
,
r,

any of the authority of the Board. However, he felt that the
Ntet„
j- and the Board had a job to do, and that in the interest of ef-

- cooperation it would be helpful if the Board would discuss with
t4n
'
411nci1 legislation which it had put in final draft form to see if
the
C°11ncil would have any suggestions that might be useful. He added

tha

3

4
the

1711i1e the Council had confidence in the Board and its staff, no

grouP

"knew all the answers" and by close and sincere cooperation

11°'41'd and the Council would do a better job.




He made the further

1404

9/18/44

-16-

st4tezent that the memorandum which had been read was not a fair
StateMent

of the position of the Council as it did not have in mind

that the Board would be expected to discuss everything that it might
have b
'
elore it in the way of legislation or regulations, but rather
that When
a bill was ready to be introduced the Council or its executi.'7
e c°mmittee might be helpful if it had an opportunity to discuss it

"hat if possible an agreement could be reached before the bill was
offered.
He thought greater support could have been obtained for the
Ihtener-Spence bill to amend section 13b of the Federal Reserve Act if

the members of the Council had known in advance that it was going to
be
ii*t4duced, and that the bill would not have encountered the diffiellItY that it
did.

He also said he thought the Council was still in a

Dosition to get support for the bill from the American Bankers Associat411. Ile concluded with a repetition of the statement that, if the
took the Council into their confidence on these matters and gave
It411 °PPortunity to make suggestions, he would feel obligated not to
anY proposed legislation on the outside until after the bill
Ntd

a

bee•
TI
introduced.

Such a solution of the problem, he said, would be

ical one without the Board or the Council surrendering any of
Ite

egal rights.

011, of

Mr. Ransom commented that the problem could not be other than
•
Judgment on the part of the Board, and in that connection pointed




1405

911V44

-17-

(Illt that) if an officer of a holding company to which the draft of
hoica
ng company bill was prineipaDy directed were a member of the
e01.41-%4
41
',

it would not be desirable or practicable to discuss the hold-

c
°InPanY bill with the Council. Whenever it was possible, he said,
to two
'e a matter up with the Council there was every advantage to the
1140aa,d 4
44. following that course.
14r. Winton said he realized that there were unusual situations
that v'c'uld have to be handled as Mr. Ransom had outlined.
Ifir. McKee expressed the feeling that the Board and the Council
nOt, far
apart in their approach to this whole matter.

He also

stated that it was his personal belief that the Board should discuss
eire"Ling With the Council that properly could be discussed for the
44°r1 that the Council was in a position to be helpful, but that the
g

Company

bill involved matters that could not be taken up with

the
collricil without disclosing information that was confidential to
thetoard.

Vinton acknowledged that the holding company bill might be
ki exe_
'Iption to the matters that could be discussed with the Council un46a th
ere were members who were not personally interested in holding
$11,

allies With whom the matter might be discussed in confidence.
111r. Brown said that from what he knew of the draft of holding
c41ParkY
-il prepared by the Board it would cover situations which he
4 not 1,
-elieve the Board knew existed and which the Board did not




1406
9118/44
tritend

-18-

to cover in the bill.
Chairman Eccles replied that the Board was informed of such

*tam .
tlons and had intended that the bill should cover them.

He also

414 that so
many of the matters that require legislation were so inv°"Ired and affected so many different interests that the Board would
have to be

the judge when they should be discussed with the Council.

/4-1-rited out that many of the opinions expressed by the Board on
4:8 , •
-Lation drafted elsewhere were much more important from the stand11)111t of the effect on the banking system than legislation proposed
th
e first instance by the Board, and that for that reason the statetterit

In the memorandum to which Mr. Winton had referred had been into show how far the position that had been taken by the Council
Ivolaci
go if it were carried to its logical conclusion.
Mr. Brown said that the Board had discussed drafts of regulat4t,v
With the Council but had not followed that course in connection
Ivith
legislation, and he asked wily, if other agencies of the Government
ng to discuss proposed legislation with the Council, the Board
W4 11
°t willing to do so.
Chairman Eccles' reply was that if some other agency discussed
1114
t

ol%

-e Council a bill prepared by the Board that was a different matbe
cause it would not then be known whether a bill was a preliminary
fInal draft, but that, if it were discussed by the Board with the
2.1) and the background information given in connection with it,




1409

9/18/44
the

-19-

members of the Council woad be in a position to go to Congress

411duse that
information in opposing the bill before it was introduced,
as

%would be under no commitment to do otherwise.
Mr. McKee expressed the opinion that the Board had no right to
ksc,
8 matters arising in connection with bank examination and holding
"
colthn_
supervision with anyone in the System other than the officers
cif the

,ederal Reserve Banks having responsibility in connection with

thea
e matters,
and that the holding company bill was in that field and
had

bee

discussed with other agencies of Government because of their

Ile8PQnsibilities in the same field.
Chairman Eccles pointed out that the Board had assisted in the
Pl'eParation of executive orders which were signed by the President and
etated that
certainly the Board would have no right to discuss the
44rt8 of such orders with the Council.
Chairman Eccles added that, if the members were interested in
the
Plnion submitted by the Board's Legal Division with respect to the
ktte
r under discussion it would be made available. During the meeting
°I),ies

were handed to Mr. Kurtz and Mr. Fleming at their request.
Mr. Berry felt that it was inconceivable that a condition would

411" "ere a bill prepared by the Board that was ready to be introduced
ell/dbe effectively opposed by the Council before it was introduced if
"Ilesion between the Board and the Council did not bring out points




1408

9118144

-20—

would justify its being defeated, and that if there were such
disci, •
"sslon the Council could call attention to the objectionable phases
"he bill and could go a long way in support of the resulting bill.
There was a discussion of the meaning of the question whether
tile
'ase "reserve conditions in the various districts" in section 12
Of the

Federal Reserve Act covered proposed reserve requirements, and

ellairalan Eccles pointed out that there was a clear distinction between
"I'e8erve conditions" and proposed reserve requirements which might af—
fect
the reserve position of member banks. He also said that tight reConditions could not exist in any one district under the present
(lerlItarket policies of the System, and that, while changes in reserve
l'egilil'ements were a matter within the general affairs of the Federal Re%Ire &istem, so were open market operations and other credit actions
he system,
and it could not be claimed that these were matters that
11°113.4- be
discussed with the Council in advance of the actions.

the

The discussion concluded with a statement by Mr. Kurtz that

be Zle
i stion was a practical and not a legal one, and that there should
e meeting of the minds of the Board and the Council regarding

Reference was made to the dates for the next meetings of the
•
Advisory Council and of its executive committee and it was
Ike

IDY the Council that the executive committee should meet in
gt°11 on Wednesday, October 25, that no meeting of the executive




1409
9/1s/44

-21-

e(ftlittee would be held in November, and that the next meeting of the
f1111 Council
should be held in Washington on December 3 and 4, 1944.
Chairman Eccles said he did not know whether the Council had
ssed the new Regulation V program providing for war contract terrairlati°n financing but that he thought the Banks should get behind the

13:Na'?"
n
-L" and

make commitments to contractors to finance the termination

qthei,
'lax production contracts as there probably would be thousands
ot
Co1Lractors who would need financial assistance pending the settlement
Of

h

-eir claims.

He also said that it would not be possible for the

8e3MA

-''ces expeditiously to make partial payments to all contractors,
that
the V Loan procedure presented the most effective way to handle
the s.
and that, if properly handled, it would be the means of
renting undesirable attempts to meet it.

The brief discussion which

t°11.°11ecl indicated that the banks were aware of the situation and were
to go to work on it.

Mr. Fleming said that so far as the Re-

4117e City bankers were concerned, it would be effectively handled.




Thereupon the meeting adjourned.

Chairman.