Chapter 229. To amend the national banking laws
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CHAP. 229.— An Act To amend the national banking laws. May 30, 1908.[[H. R. 21871](/us/bill/70/hr/21871).][[Public, No. 169](/us/pl/70/169).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That national banking associations,National bank circulation.National currency associations.Formation by national banks. each having an unimpaired capital and a surplus of not less than twenty per centum, not less than ten in number, having an aggregate capital and surplus of at least five millions of dollars, may form voluntary associations to be designated as national currency associations.
The banks uniting to form such association shall, by theirApplications. presidents or vice-presidents, acting under authority from the board of directors, make and file with the Secretary of the Treasury a certificate setting forth the names of the banks composing the association, the principal place of business of the association, and the name of the association, which name shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Upon the filing of such certificate the associatedCorporate powers. 547 banks therein named shall become a body corporate, and by the name so designated and approved may sue and be sued and exercise the powers of a body corporate for the purposes hereinafter mentioned:*Proviso.*Limit.Members to be of contiguous territory. *Provided*, That not more than one such national currency association shall be formed in any city: *Provided further*, That the several members of such national currency association shall be taken, as nearly as conveniently may be, from a territory composed of a State or part of a State, or contiguous parts of one or more States: *And provided further*, That any national bank in such city or territory, having theSubsequent admissions. qualifications herein prescribed for membership in such national currency association, shall, upon its application to and upon the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, be admitted to membership in a national currency association for that city or territory, and upon such admission shall be deemed and held a part of the body corporate, and as such entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the liabilities of an original member: *And provided further*, That eachBanks restricted to one association. national currency association shall be composed exclusively of banks not members of any other national currency association.
The dissolution, voluntary or otherwise, of any bank in such association shall not affect the corporate existence of the associationExistence not affected by dissolution of a member. unless there shall then remain less than the minimum number of ten banks: *Provided, however*, That the reduction of the number of said*Proviso.*Reduction below minimum. banks below the minimum of ten shall not affect the existence of the corporation with respect to the assertion of all rights in favor of or against such association.
The affairs of the association shall be managedManagement. by a board consisting of one representative from each bank. By-laws for the government of the association shall be made by the board, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. AOfficers. president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of not less than five members, shall be elected by the board. The powers of such board, except in the election of officers and makingExecutive committee. of by-laws, may be exercised through its executive committee.
The national currency association herein provided for shall have andPowers. exercise any and all powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, namely, to render available, under the direction and control of the Secretary of the Treasury, as a basis for additional circulation any securities, including commercial paper, held by a national banking association. For the purpose of obtaining such additionalAdditional bank circulation.Securities for, to be deposited with association. circulation, any bank belonging to any national currency association, having circulating notes outstanding secured by the deposit of bonds of the United States to an amount not less than forty per centum of its capital stock, and which has its capital unimpaired and a surplus of not less than twenty per centum, may deposit with and transfer to the association, in trust for the United States, for the purpose hereinafter provided, such of the securities above mentioned as may be satisfactory to the board of the association.
The officers of the association mayApplication to Comptroller of the Currency. thereupon, in behalf of such bank, make application to the Comptroller of the Currency for an issue of additional circulating notes to an amount not exceeding seventy-five per centum of the cash value of the securities or commercial paper so deposited. The Comptroller of the CurrencySecretary of the Treasury may direct issue. shall immediately transmit such application to the Secretary of the Treasury with such recommendation as he thinks proper, and if, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, business conditions in the locality demand additional circulation, and if he be satisfied with the character and value of the securities proposed and that a lien in favor of the United States on the securities so deposited and on the assets of the banks composing the association will be amply sufficient for the protection of the United States, he may direct an issue of additional circulating notes to the association, on behalf of such bank, to an amount in his discretion, not, however, exceeding seventy-five per centum of 548 the cash value of the securities so deposited: *Provided*, That upon the*Provisos.*Amount on State, etc., bonds. deposit of any of the State, city. town, county, or other municipal bonds, of a character described in section three of this Act, circulating notes may be issued to the extent of not exceeding ninety per centum of the market value of such bonds so deposited: *And provided further.* That no national banking association shall be authorized inLimit as to commercial paper. any event to issue circulating notes based on commercial paper in excess of thirty per centum of its unimpaired capital and surplus.
The term “commercial paper” shall be held to include only notes“Commercial paper” designated. representing actual commercial transactions, which when accepted by the association shall bear the names of at least two responsible parties and have not exceeding four months to run. The banks and the assets of all banks belonging to the associationLiability of association for redemption. shall be jointly and severally liable to the United States for the redemption of such additional circulation; and to secure such liabilityLien created.R.S.,sec. 5230,p.1011. the lien created by section fifty-two hundred and thirty of the RevisedLiability between members.
Statutes shall extend to and cover the assets of all banks belonging to the association, and to the securities deposited by the banks with the association pursuant to the provisions of this Act; but as between theAdditional, or exchange of securities. several banks composing such association each bank shall be liable only in the proportion that its capital and surplus bears to the aggregate capital and surplus of all such banks. The association may, atSale of securities held, on failure. any time, require of any of its constituent banks a deposit of additional securities or commercial paper, or an exchange of the securities already on deposit, to secure such additional circulation; and in caseDeposit of proceeds. of the failure of such bank to make such deposit or exchange the association may, after ten days’ notice to the bank, sell the securities and paper already in its hands at public sale, and deposit the proceedsSuit if sum insufficient to redeem notes. with the Treasurer of the United States as a fund for the redemption of such additional circulation.
If such fund be insufficient for thatWithdrawal and substitution permitted. purpose the association may recover from the bank the amount of the deficiency by suit in the circuit court of the United States, and shall have the benefit of the lien hereinbefore provided for in favor of the United States upon the assets of such bank. The association or the Secretary of the Treasury may permit or require the withdrawal ofAction if members fail to maintain redemption fund.Vol. 18, p. 123. any such securities or commercial paper and the substitution of other securities or commercial paper of equal value therefor.
Sec. 2. That whenever any bank belonging to a national currencyUse of fund of other members. association shall fail to preserve or make good its redemption fund in the Treasury of the United States, required by section three of the Act of June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, chapter three hundred and forty-three, and the provisions of this Act, the Treasurer of the United States shall notify such national currency association to make good such redemption fund, and upon the failure of such national currency association to make good such fund, theAssociation to sell securities of defaulting bank.
Treasurer of the United States may, in his discretion, apply so much of the redemption fund belonging to the other banks composing such national currency association as may be necessary for that purpose; and such national currency association may, after five days’ notice toDeposits of proceeds for redemption of notes. such bank, proceed to sell at public sale the securities deposited by such bank with the association pursuant to the provisions of section one of this Act, and deposit the proceeds with the Treasurer of the United States as a fund for the redemption of the additional circulation taken out by such bank under this Act.
Sec. 3. That any national banking association which has circulatingAdditional circulation by banks, on other than United States bonds. notes outstanding, secured by the deposit of United States bonds to an amount of not less than forty per centum of its capital stock, and which has a surplus of not less than twenty per centum, may makeApplication to Comptroller. application to the Comptroller of the Currency for authority to issue additional circulating notes to be secured by the deposit of bonds 549 other than bonds of the United States.
The Comptroller of the CurrencyApproval by Secre-retary of the Treasury. shall transmit immediately the application, with his recommendation, to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall, if in his judgment business conditions in the locality demand additional circulation, approve the same, and shall determine the. time of issue and fix the amount, within the limitations herein imposed, of the additional circulating notes to be issued. Whenever after receiving notice ofIssue on deposit of bonds with Treasurer. such approval any such association shall deposit with the Treasurer or any assistant treasurer of the United States such of the bonds described in this section as shall be approved in character and amount by the Treasurer of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury, it shall be entitled to receive, upon the order of the Comptroller of the Currency, circulating notes in blank, registered and countersigned as provided by law, not exceeding in amount ninety per centumNot to exceed 90 percent of market value. of the market value, but not in excess of the par value of any bonds so deposited, such market value to be ascertained and determined under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The Treasurer of the United States, with the approval of the SecretaryBonds of States, cities, etc., acceptable. of the Treasury, shall accept as security for the additional circulating notes provided for in this section, bonds or other interest-bearing obligations of any State of the United States, or any legally authorizedConditions as to city, etc., bonds. bonds issued by any city, town, county, or other legally constituted municipality or district in the United States which has been in existence for a period of ten years, and which for a period of ten years previous to such deposit has not defaulted in the payment of any part of either principal or interest of any funded debt authorized to be contracted by it, and whose net funded indebtedness does not exceed ten per centum of the valuation of its taxable property, to be ascertained by the last preceding valuation of property for the assessment of taxes.
The Treasurer of the United States, with the approval of theDiscretion of Treasurer. Secretary of the Treasury, shall accept, for the purposes of this section, securities herein enumerated in such proportions as he may from time to time determine, and he may with such approval at any time require the deposit of additional securities, or require any association to change the character of the securities already on deposit. Sec. 4. That the legal title of all bonds, whether coupon or registered,Transfer of title in trust. deposited to secure circulating notes issued in accordance with the terms of section three of this Act shall be transferred to the Treasurer of the United States in trust for the association depositing them, under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
A receipt shall be given to the association by the TreasurerReceipts from Treasurer. or any assistant treasurer of the United States, stating that such bond is held in trust for the association on whose behalf the transfer is made, and as security for the redemption and payment of any circulating notes that have been or may be delivered to such association. No assignment or transfer of any such bond by the Treasurer shall beAssignments.Custody, etc., of bonds. deemed valid unless countersigned by the Comptroller of the Currency.
The provisions of sections fifty-one hundred and sixty-three, fifty-oneR. S., secs. 5163-5167, 5224-5234, pp. 998, 1010-1012. hundred and sixty-four, fifty-one hundred and sixty-five, fifty-one hundred and sixty-six, and fifty-one hundred and sixty-seven and sections fifty-two hundred and twenty-four to fifty-two hundred and thirty-four, inclusive, of the Revised Statutes respecting United States bonds deposited to secure circulating notes shall, except as herein modified, be applicable to all bonds deposited under the terms of section three of this Act.
Sec. 5. That the additional circulating notes issued under this ActStatus of additional circulating notes. shall be used, held, and treated in the same way as circulating notes of national banking associations heretofore issued and secured by a deposit of United States bonds, and shall be subject to all the provisions of law affecting such notes except as herein expressly modified: 550 *Provided*, That the total amount of circulating notes outstanding of*Provisos.*Limit of issue of notes by bank. any national banking association, including notes secured by United States bonds as now provided by law, and notes secured otherwise than by deposit of such bonds, shall not at any time exceed the amount of its unimpaired capital and surplus: *And provided further*, ThatMaximum of additional notes. there shall not be outstanding at any time circulating notes issued under the provisions of this Act to an amount of more than five hundred millions of dollars.
Sec. 6. That whenever and so long as any national banking associationRedemption fund.Special requirement for additional circulation.Vol. 18, p. 128. has outstanding any of the additional circulating notes authorized to be issued by the provisions of this Act it shall keep on deposit in the Treasury of the United States, in addition to the redemption fund required by section three of the Act of June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, an additional sum equal to five per centum of such additional circulation at any time outstanding, such additional five per centum to be treated, held, and used in all respects in the same manner as the original redemption fund provided for by said section three of the Act of June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four.
Sec. 7. In order that the distribution of notes to be issued underProportional assignment of additional circulation to States. the provisions of this Act shall be made as equitable as practicable between the various sections of the country, the. Secretary of the Treasury shall not approve applications from associations in any State in excess of the amount to which such State would be entitled of the additional notes herein authorized on the basis of the proportion which the unimpaired capital and surplus of the national banking associations in such State bears to the total amount of unimpaired capital and surplus of the national banking associations of the United States: *Provided, however*,*Proviso.*Emergency assignments.
That in case the applications from associations in any State shall not be equal to the amount which the associations of such State would be entitled to under this method of distribution, the Secretary of the Treasury may, in his discretion, to meet an emergency, assign the amount not thus applied for to any applying association or associations in States in the same section of the country. Sec. 8. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the TreasuryInformation, etc., as to acceptable securities. to obtain information with reference to the value and character of the securities authorized to be accepted under the provisions of this Act. and he shall from time to time furnish information to national banking associations as to such securities as would be acceptable under the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 9. That section fifty-two hundred and fourteen of the RevisedTax on circulation R. S., sec. 5214, p 1008.Secured by two pei cent bonds. Statutes, as amended, be further amended to read as follows: "Sce. 5214. National banking associations having on deposit bonds of the United States, bearing interest at the rate of two per centum per annum, including the bonds issued for the construction of the Panama Canal, under the provisions of section eight of ‘An ActVol. 32, p. 484. to provide for the construction of a canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,’ approved June twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and two, to secure its circulating notes, shall pay to the Treasurer of the United States, in the months of January and July, a tax of one-fourth of one per centum each half year upon the average amount of such of its notes in circulation as are. based upon the deposit of such bonds; and such associations having on deposit bonds of theBy bonds of higher interest.
United States bearing interest at a rate higher than two per centum per annum shall pay a tax of one-half of one per centum each half year upon the average amount of such of its notes in circulation as are based upon the deposit of such bonds. National banking associationsBy other securities. having circulating notes secured otherwise than by bonds of the United States shall pay for the first month a tax at the rate of five per centum per annum upon the average amount of such of their notes in circulation as are based upon the deposit of such securities, and afterwards 551 an additional tax of one per centum per annum for each month until a tax of ten per centum per annum is reached, and thereafter such tax of ten per centum per annum, upon the average amount of such notes.
Every national banking association having outstanding circulatingMonthly returns of circulation on other than United States bonds. notes secured by a deposit of other securities than United Stales bonds shall make monthly returns, under oath of its president or cashier, to the Treasurer of the United States, in such form as the Treasurer may prescribe, of the average monthly amount of its notes so secured in circulation; and it shall he the duty of the Comptroller of the Currency to cause such reports of notes in circulation to be verified by examination of the banks’ records.
The taxes received on circulating notesUse of taxes on notes secured by other than United States bonds. secured otherwise than by bonds of the United States shall be paid into the Division of Redemption of the Treasury and credited and added to the reserve fund held for the redemption of United States and other notes.” Sec. 10. That section nine of the Act approved July twelfth, eighteenRetiring circulation. Vol. 34, p. 1290, amended. hundred and eighty-two, as amended by the Act approved March fourth, nineteen hundred and seven, be further amended to read as follows:
"Sce. 9. That any national banking association desiring to withdrawWithdrawal of notes secured by United States bonds.Vol. 18. p. 124.Deposits of lawful money. its circulating notes, secured by deposit of United States bonds in the manner provided in section four of the Act approved June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, is hereby authorized for that purpose to deposit lawful money with the Treasurer of the United States and, with the consent of the Comptroller of the Currency and the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, to withdraw a proportionate amount of bonds held as security for its circulating notes in the order of such deposits: *Provided*, That not more than*Proviso.*Monthly limit. nine millions of dollars of lawful money shall be so deposited during any calendar month for this purpose.
“Any national banking association desiring to withdraw any of itsNotes secured by other securities. circulating notes, secured by the deposit of securities other than bonds of the United States, may make such withdrawal at any time in like manner and effect by the deposit of lawful money or national bankDeposits. notes with the Treasurer of the United States, and upon such deposit a proportionate share of the securities so deposited maybe withdrawn: *Provided*, That the deposits under this section to retire notes secured*Proviso.*Retention of deposits to redeem notes.Vol. 26. p. 289. by the deposit of securities other than bonds of the United States shall not be covered into the Treasury, as required by section six of an Act entitled ‘An Act directing the purchase of silver bullion and the issue of Treasury notes thereon, and for other purposes,’approved July fourteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety, but shall be retained in the Treasury for the purpose of redeeming the notes of the bank making such deposit.
” Sec. 11. That section fifty-one hundred and seventy-two of the Revised Statutes be, and the same is hereby, amended to read as follows:Issue of notes.R. 8., sec. 5172, p. 1000, amended. Sec. 5172. In order to furnish suitable notes for circulation, theEngraving and printing. Comptroller of the Currency shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, cause plates and dies to be engraved, in the best manner to guard against counterfeiting and fraudulent alterations, and shall have printed therefrom, and numbered, such quantity of circulating notes, in blank, of the denominations of five dollars, tenDenomination. dollars, twenty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, five hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, and ten thousand dollars, as may be required to supply the associations entitled to receive the same.
Such notes shall state upon their face that they are secured by UnitedCharacter of security. States bonds or other securities, certified by the written or engraved signatures of the Treasurer and Register and by the imprint of the seal of the Treasury. They shall also express upon their face the promise of the association receiving the same to pay on demand, attested by the signature of the president or vice-president and 552 cashier. The Comptroller of the Currency, acting under the directionAdditional notes to be prepared. of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall as soon as practicable cause to be prepared circulating notes in blank, registered and countersigned, as provided by law, to an amount equal to fifty per centum of theAmount.Deposit for delivery subject to order. capital stock of each national banking association; such notes to be deposited in the Treasury or in the subtreasury of the United States nearest the place of business of each association, and to be held for such association, subject to the order of the Comptroller of the Currency, for their delivery as provided by law: *Provided*, That the*Provisos.*Use of present form.
Comptroller of the Currency may issue national bank notes of the present form until plates can be prepared and circulating notes issued as above provided: *Provided, however*, That in no event shall bank notesPresent form not for additional circulation. of the present form be issued to any bank as additional circulation provided for by this Act.” Sec. 12. That circulating notes of national banking associations,Redemption in lawful money.Vol. 18, p. 123. when presented to the Treasury for redemption, as provided in section three of the Act approved June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, shall be redeemed in lawful money of the United States.
Sec. 13. That all acts and orders of the Comptroller of the CurrencyAuthority of Secretary of the Treasury. and the Treasurer of the United States authorized by this Act shall have the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury who shall have power, also, to make any such rules and regulations and exercise such control over the organization and management of national currency associations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sec. 14. That the provisions of section fifty-one hundred and ninety- oneDesignated depositaries reserve not to include public deposits.R.
S., sec. 5191. p. 1004. of the Revised Statutes, with reference to the reserves of national banking associations, shall not apply to deposits of public moneys by the United States in designated depositaries. Sec. 15. That all national banking associations designated as regularInterest payable on special deposits of public moneys. depositaries of public money shall pay upon all special and additional deposits made by the Secretary of the Treasury in such depositaries, and all such associations designated as temporary depositaries of public money shall pay upon all sums of public money deposited in such associations interest at such rate as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, not less, however, than one per centum per annum upon the average monthly amount of such deposits: *Provided, however*, That*Provisos.*Safe - keeping not modified. nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to change or modify the obligation of any association or any of its officers for the safe-keeping of public money: *Provided further*, That the rate of interestUniform interest. charged upon such deposits shall be equal and uniform throughout the United States.
Sec. 16. That a sum sufficient to carry out the purposes of the precedingAppropriation. sections of this Act is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. 17. That a Commission is hereby created, to be called theNational Monetary Commission created.Appointment.*Post.* p. 931. “National Monetary Commission,” to be composed of nine members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Presiding Officer thereof, and nine members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker thereof; and any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Sec. 18. That it shall be the duty of this Commission to inquire intoInquiry as to changes in monetary system, etc. and report to Congress at the earliest date practicable, what changes are necessary or desirable in the monetary system of the United StatesAuthority. or in the laws relating to banking and currency, and for this purpose they are authorized to sit during the sessions or recess of Congress, at such times and places as they may deem desirable, to send for persons and papers, to administer oaths, to summons and compel the attendance of witnesses, and to employ a disbursing officer and such secretaries, experts, stenographers, messengers, and other assistants as shallOfficials. be necessary to carry out the purposes for which said Commission was 553 created.
The Commission shall have the power, through subcommitteePowers. or otherwise, to examine witnesses and to make such investigations and examinations, in this or other countries, of the subjects committed to their charge as they shall deem necessary. Sec. 19. That a sum sufficient to carry out the purposes of sectionsAppropriation. seventeen and eighteen of this Act. and to pay the necessary expenses of the Commission and its members, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Said appropriationImmediately available.Accounts. shall be immediately available and shall be paid out on the audit and order of the chairman or acting chairman of said Commission, which audit and order shall be conclusive and binding upon all Departments as to the correctness of the accounts of such Commission. Sec. 20. That this Act shall expire by limitation on the thirtiethTermination of act. day of June, nineteen hundred and fourteen. Approved, May 30, 1908.