NATIONAL BANKS. 485 



of $1,000,000 and received $1,100,000 of government 

 funds, which are being used by this bank, as well as all 

 these other ex-officials are using government funds for 

 their own profit and advantage. F. O. Matheissen, one 

 of the prominent characters in the infamous sugar trust, 

 was conspicuous in organizing this bank and is a promi- 

 nent stockholder in it. I examined the record with regard 

 to this bank, and I want to give what it says. The book 

 which designates the amount that these banks shall receive 

 shows this order concerning the Western National, Mr. 

 Jordan's bank: "Fill the bank from banks outside of 

 New York." 



Is not that good? [Laughter.] 



I have a letter from the secretary of the treasury con- 

 cerning this bank which I desire to read for the edification 

 and instruction of this house. It is dated Washington, D. 

 C, October 8, 1887, and is directed to the treasurer of the 

 United States. 



SIR: The Western National Bank of New York city 

 has been designated as a United States depository, and the 

 security fixed for the present at $1,000,000 of United 

 States four per cent, bonds. In order to avoid the usual 

 delay in obtaining a balance by accumulating revenue 

 deposits, I will thank you, when the bonds are received, to 

 cause to be transferred to said bank from national bank 

 depositories other than those in New York city such 

 amounts as may be deposited therein to the credit of your 

 general account in excess of their authorized balances, 

 until the sum of $1,100,000 is reached, which amount the 

 Western National bank will be authorized to hold as a 

 fixed balance. Respectfully yours, 



C. S. FAIRCHILD, Secretary. 



Now, this was an order to the treasurer of the United 

 States, whereupon he issued his order to the banks outside 

 of New York to transmit their balances directly to the 

 Western National bank not to the secretary of the treas- 

 ury but directly to that bank, and to telegraph the amount 

 of their remittances to the secretary of the treasury. 



And then at this session of Congress the secretary of 



