Chap. 198.—An ACT to require banks incorporated within the com-
monwealth of Virginia, to make stated reports to the auditor of pub-
lic accounts.

‘Appréved December 1, 1884.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
all joint-stock companies now organized, or that may here-
after be organized under the laws of the commonwealth, for
the purpose of conducting a banking business, whether sav-
ings or general, shall be required to make to the auditor of
public accounts, statements of their financial conditions at
such times, identically as the national banks, organized under
the laws of the United States, are required to make their
statements to the comptroller of the currency; and also sto
publish such statements in condensed form as published by
said national banks, in some newspaper printed in the city
or town where such bafking business may be’ carried on;
and, if none there, then in a newspaper published in the town
nearest thereto. Said statements shall be made in accordance
with the form to be prescribed by the auditor of public
accounts, and shall be certified under oath by the president
or cashier of the bank, and attested by at least three of the
directors of said bank. It shall be the duty of the auditor of
public accounts, to call upon the banks for the statements
hereinbefore mentioned, and at the times prescribed, and to
have prepared such blank forms as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of this act. Whenever calls for statements
are made by him, he shall forward to each bank in the com-
monwealth, two blank statements, one copy of which, after
being properly filled out and certified to by the bank to which
it is sent, shall be returned to the auditor of public accounts
within ten days next succeeding the date of such call, and
the other copy, filled up in like manner, shall be filed in the
said bank. And it shall also be the duty of the auditor of
public accounts, upon written application made to him by
stockholders representing one-fifth of the amount of the capi-
tal stock of any banking institution, to appoint some one to
make special examination in person, into the condition of
such institution, and to report the same to him, and all ex-
penses incident thereto, shall be born by the institution so
examined. |

2. Any banking institution failing to comply with the pro-
visions of this act, for a period longer than ten days after
being called upon by the auditor of public accounts for a
statement, shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars,
to be recovered by motion in the county or circuit court of
the county in which said bank is located, and should failure
to render such statement continue for thirty days next suc-
ceeding such call from the auditor, then the institution so in
default, shall be subject to a fine of one thousand dollars
additional, collectable in like manner, and the auditor of pub-
lic accounts shall give notice of such default in a newspaper
published and located as prescribed in the preceding section
of this act, and the officer of any bank who knowingly makes
a false statement of the condition of his bank, shall be deemed
guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be fined not less
than one hundred dollars and imprigoned in the penitentiary
not less than one nor more than five years.
3. This act shall be in force from its passage. .