September 22, 1954 FOMC Minutes: Full Text
A meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee was held in the offices of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington on Wednesday, September 22, 1954, at 10:07 a.m. PRESENT: Mr. Martin, Chairman Mr. Sproul, Vice Chairman Mr. Balderston Mr. Bryan Mr. Leedy Mr. Miller Mr. Mills Mr. Robertson Mr. Szymczak Mr. Vardaman Mr. Williams Mr. C. S. Young Mr. Riefler, Secretary Mr. Vest, General Counsel Mr. Thomas, Economist Messrs. Bopp, Mitchell, Rauber, Roelse, Tow, and R. A. Young, Associate Economists Mr. Rouse, Manager, System Open Market Account Mr. Carpenter, Secretary, Board of Governors Mr. Sherman, Assistant Secretary, Board of Governors Mr. Youngdahl, Assistant Director, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors Mr. D. C, Miller, Economist, Government Finance Section, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors Mr. Gaines, Securities Department, Federal Re serve Bank of New York Messrs. Leach, Fulton, Johns, and Earhart, Alternate Members of the Federal Open Market Committee Messrs. Erickson, Powell, and Irons, Presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, Minneapolis, and Dallas, respectively Mr. 0. P. Wheeler, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Upon motion duly made and seconded, and unanimous vote, Messrs, Miller and Balderston by
were selected to serve as alternate mem bers of the executive committee for the remainder of the year ending February 28, understood that in the ab 1955, it being sence of Messrs. Martin, Szymczak, or Robertson, alternates for any one of those three would be, in the order named, Messrs* Vardaman, Mills, Miller, and Balderston. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the minutes of the meeting of the Federal Open Market Com mittee held on June 23, 195, were approved. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the actions of the execu tive committee of the Federal Open Market Committee as set forth in the minutes of the meetings of the executive committee held on June 23, July 7, July 20, August 3, August 24, and September 8, 1954, were approved, ratified, and confirmed. there had been sent to the members of the Before this meeting Committee a report of open market operations prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York covering the period June 23 to September 17, 1954, in clusive. At this meeting there was distributed a supplementary report covering commitments executed September 20 and 21, 1954. Copies of both reports have been placed in the files of the Federal Open Market Committee, Mr. Rouse commented briefly on the supplementary report, particu larly with respect to the sale of $25 million of bills from the System account on Monday of this week, and on the reaction of the securities market to the announcement made earlier this week of the offering of $4 billion of 1-5/8 per cent Treasury notes to be dated October 4, 1954, and to mature May 15, 1957. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and by unanimous vote, the open market
transactions during the period June 23, 1954, to September 21, 1954, inclusive, were approved, ratified, and confirmed. Chairman Martin withdrew from the meeting at this point, and members of the Board's Division of Research and Statistics and Division of International Finance entered the room for the purpose of assisting in the presentation of a review of the economic and credit situation, illustrated by chart slides. A copy of the text of the review, which was sent to the members of the Committee following the meeting, has been placed in the files of the Federal Open Market Committee. Following the economic review, there was a discussion of the out look, including reference to mortgage lending, the length of time during which the economy might move "sidewise" as contrasted with showing a definite upturn or downturn, and factors relating to the sharp rise in the average level of securities prices in recent months. At the conclusion of the discussion of securities prices, Mr. Sproul commented that perhaps the thing to be gotten out of the discussion was that the policy of active ease pursued by the Federal Open Market Committee has not brought about an inflationary and dangerous rise in stock market prices, but has helped maintain a stable economic and business situation which, in turn, has given encouragement to investors. The members of the staff who entered the room to assist in pre senting the economic review then withdrew. regarding recent open market opera Mr. Sproul asked for comments and Reserve Bank Federal Open Market Committee by the members of the tions
presidents who were not currently members of the Committee. Messrs. Erickson, Irons, and Leedy expressed general approval of the handling of the account in terms of the general policy of active ease authorized at the June meeting of the Committee, and Mr. Earhart concurred in this view, stating, however, that there had been some complaint from dealers in Government securities who faced losses on a substantial port folio. Mr. Earhart commented on the fact that aggregate excess reserves had been ample but that early in August there bad been slowness in their reaching the money markets where they might be used. In his view this indicated that the Committee might well give more consideration to rates in the money market along with such other considerations as the amount of excess reserves and free reserves. Furnishing reserves by buying Treasury bills at a time when dealers ' portfolios were low was a factor in the de cline in the bill rate to a point where many banks were no longer interested in bills at the prevailing rates and it became necessary to reestablish an interest. Mr. Powell said that during the past few months there had been a "stickiness" of excess reserves at country banks, and such reserves had not flowed into central money markets as rapidly as had been contemplated by figures on which Committee operations were projected. In other words, some of the aggregate amounts of free reserves which served as a guide to opera tions for the System account simply were not effective in the market. He questioned whether, when central reserve city banks were deficient in re serves early in August, it had been wise for the System account to sell bills
In hindsight, Mr. Powell it had to take them back. and then find that the larger total of been better to have allowed thought it might have was evidence they were doing damage. free reserves to remain until there a question from Mr. Erickson in response to Mr. Rouse stated that there had been a tendency on the part of some central reserve city which had been a factor in their accumulating a banks to overinvest, This had resulted in an atmosphere in the deficiency in their reserves. different from that indicated by the over-all reserve position market following the effective date of the reduction which had existed immediately in reserve requirements for member banks at the end of July. Mr. Rouse also commented on the lag in movement of excess reserves from country banks to reserve and central reserve city money markets, a factor for which some allowance had been made in arranging for transactions for the System account in trying to comply with the instructions of the executive committee. This factor, he said, together with unexpected fluctuations in the Treasury's balance in August, had created a most difficult period in which to handle open market operations. Mr. Johns said that he had no intention of being critical of the handling of the System account but that he had sympathy with the views expressed by Mr. Powell at this meeting and those expressed by Mr. Mills as recorded in the minutes of recent meetings of the executive comittee. He felt August had been an unfortunate time to raise a question in the minds of a good many persons as to whether Federal Reserve policy had turned from one of active ease to one of tightness. He was inclined
to think that an unnecessary risk of doing harm had been run, even though it was not apparent that any harm actually had been done. Mr. C. S. Young felt that operations for the System account had been carried on in accordance with the understandings at recent meetings of the executive committee and that they should be continued about on this basis, although he would suggest that after the current Treasury financing was out of the way, consideration be given to a further reduction in the System portfolio by way of a reduction in reserve requirements, if that feasible. Mr. Young also noted that country banks were not should prove the only banks which had been slow to put their free reserves to use: a good many reserve city banks were equally slow in making use of free reserves. Mr. Leach told of discussions which he had had with bankers re cently who were in general agreement that everything the System account right, although some regretted that the bill had done recently was about rate had been permitted to go as low as 5/8 per cent. Mr. Leach said that he would not have wanted the situation any easier than it had been; on the whole, he thought the Committee s policy and operations had been about right. Mr. Vardaman stated that, as he had indicated at recent meetings of the executive committee, he personally would prefer to have as a target figure for free reserves an amount of $800 million rather than a range counteract in some measure the million. This, he felt, would of $400-70 and many city banks to use their free reserves failure of country banks
more promptly. He indicated that his general philosophy of open market operations at this time was along the lines expressed by Messrs. Powell and Johns, and by Mr. Mills at recent meetings of the executive committee. Mr. Mills then made a statement substantially as follows: I have rather grave misgivings about the recent han dling of the account, not having a bearing on either easy or tight money, but on what may be the consequences of our withdrawals and injections of reserves. It has already been touched upon. It could be we have been engrossed too much in an effort to maintain a target volume of free re serves and that in doing so we have prevented the natural forces in the market having their effect. It may be we have confused the market as to what our intentions may be or what they were intended to be. Going back three weeks, we have withdrawn reserves, then supplied them, then withdrawn them again. It would seem very difficult for those in the market to reach judgments on the basis of this behavior as to how they should react to policy in making their own purchases and sales. Beyond that, the matter that can prove to be of serious concern is the result these injections and with drawals can have over a period of weeks by tending to set a pattern of interest rates, which could be fraught with danger because it allies itself very closely with a pegged market. It would be very difficult from the outside to look at our operations without having the impression they are aimed at a pegged rate. Now if the market should come a set rate, and if we should wish to the view that we have an abrupt change in policy, it will have a greater to make than would be the case if we had per impact on the market mitted the natural forces to have their effect. To il me that within the next few days we lustrate, it seems to face the fact we have withdrawn reserves; the Treasury will withdraw more reserves; float will withdraw a further amount; and the Treasury will come into the market before October 6, The consequence is that we now must inject a very sub stantial amount of reserves at a time when the market can only regard the action as a very palpable support of Treasury We should support them. But to give the im operations. that is a main objective of Federal Reserve pression that policy could be a danger. the executive committee had never set Mr. Sproul commented that free reserves, that its target had a specific figure as a target for
always been a range and had been understood and interpreted with some flexibility, depending on developments in the banking situation and in the market. As a matter of fact, he said, over the past several weeks the volume of free reserves had tended to be above the upper level of the range indicated by the executive committee, rather than in the middle or lower part of the range, whereas at times, such as in August, a majnrity the executive committee had expressed the hope that the of the members of level of free reserves could be kept nearer the lower limits of the range. Swings in reserves during the last few weeks had been of the order of it was felt that open market opera $500 million, Mr, Sproul noted, and of moderating these swings but not offsetting tions should be in terms Mr. Sproul thought that operations had been in the direction them entirely. of such moderation. Mr. Robertson said that to his way of thinking the only way in open market operations properly should be conducted was in accordance which with the needs of the economy as a whole. He felt operations in the recent past had been good. It was true, he said, that the reserves provided coun try banks early in August did not flow back into the money markets promptly, a factor which had been taken into .onsideration by the executive committee in giving a range to be used as a guide for the operation of the account. As the free reserves at country banks come into the market, he would hope that the total level of free reserves could move to the lower limits of the range rather than to the higher side. So far as general policy was con cerned, he hoped it would continue as at present.
Mr. Bryan then made a statement substantially as follows: I would in general associate myself with the comments made by Messrs. Powell and Johns and, certainly with the statement by Mr. Mills of deep misgivings. This is said with modesty because I am not certain I would have handled the situation any better, As I see the problem, it has been one in which the distribution of free reserves, in combination with our policy, has allowed a very considerable increase in short rates, which has at times carried over into longer rates. The result can be explained on many grounds; but the effect has been that we have permitted a policy of monetary ease to some extent to be contravened by the holders of free re serves, who have wanted liquidity, I am puzzled to know whether this partial contravention of a policy of monetary ease was a result that was wanted or desirable. The effect, as I see it, has been somewhat dangerous because the increase in rates came in an economic situation in which broad-scale and continuing economic recovery was far from assured. Among the adverse effects was the down ward drag on the value of capital assets. There is a ques tion, in my mind, whether we did not produce a result, not realized in a dangerous degree, but one that was contra indicated in the light of all the economic circumstances. We ought not overlook the possibility that the banks clinging to their free reserves may have been doing so for reasons to which we have given insufficient emphasis. They may regard theeconomic situation with less optimism than we have been inclined to do, We have had demonstrated in the discussions of the economic situation before the Presidents' Conference and here at this meeting, the fact that no one can say with certainty where we are going. The best that can be said is that, at the moment, we are fairly stable at a fairly high level. In a situation of that sort it has not seemed to me that it was appropriate policy to permit an increase in interest rates. At the same time, when the banks of the country who were holding the free reserves were showing that they had a preference for cash liquidity as against an in crease in earning assets, we were saying to them by our dis count rate that they could not restore their cash position except under the danger of considerable penalties. I thus also doubt the wisdom of our rate policy.
I think our discount rate policy at this time encour aged banks to hold liquid assets rather than to use them. This was a period in history when I think they should have been used. I say this with a repetition of the statement that I am not certain I would have done any better if I had been making the decisions; but I think the rediscount rate should have been in much closer relationship to the short term rates, stated that he felt the results of the Committee's Mr. Williams generally satisfactory. The Committee had been recent operations had been a maladjustment of free reserves and had been faced with a problem of a range for the country as a whole, playing by ear from week working on Williams doubted whether recent developments had given any to week. Mr. the theory that the System was trying to achieve widespread adherence to assumption that the behavior He questioned Mr. Bryan's a pegged market. reserves indicated a judgment as to of country banks in holding on to free Williams felt there was a large element the future course of business. Mr. of inertia in the situation and that it would be desirable for the Committee to obtain information through use of the field forces of the Federal Reserve Banks so that it would pursue its operations without the need for specu lation as to what the thinking was among country banks. Mr. Irons reported on a check made during the first part of August in the Dallas District among some 40 or 45 country banks which indicated that the overwhelming majority had a neutral feeling regarding the recent reduction in reserve requirements, which had come at a time when they were increase in loan demand, and that 80 per cent of the banks not getting an said they did not plan to employ their funds in the Government contacted
securities market since it was not worth their while to buy Treasury bills yielding less than 1 per cent. Mr. Irons thought that the frequency with which this comment was heard, stressing 1 per cent as a marginal rate, was significant. On the matter of rates, Mr. Sproul remarked that the downward ad justment of bill rates in the spring had reflected the market's analysis of what our policy moves implied, and this analysis had overshot the mark, ease than we had intended. Rates may be said to have assuming greater down too far at that time and the recent rate recovery has brought moved to a level that probably is more consistent with the general bill yields System is attempting to pursue. He added that he would kind of policy the much emphasis on the degree to which rising rates in the short not place as have "slopped over" into the capital markets as had Mr. Bryan. term market Chairman Martin reentered the meeting at this point. Mr. Fulton stated that in the Cleveland District there was some indication that to a considerable extent country banks were in an over loaned position and that when these excess reserves came into their posses sion early in August they held on to them. The only criticism of System operations which he had heard among banks was that the bill rate had been permitted to go to a point below that which they liked. Mr. Szymczak said that under the circumstances he felt recent opera tions for the Open Market Account had been very well handled. Such opera tions could not be perfect and must be based on the best information avail able at the time. The executive committee had used a range of $400-700
million of free reserves as a rough guide to its operations and while he personally had not liked the idea of supplying reserves through a reduction in requirements and then withdrawing them from the market, under the circumstances the operation had worked out very well as a means of providing a sort of stability in the market. Mr. Thomas made a statement in which he brought out the view that factor had affected the situation in recent months. The a technical market measured by free reserves had been fairly volume of money in the market had been the performance of stable. One of the factors in the bills in May and June and helped Mr. Thomas said, who had bought dealers, to put the bill rate down and who had been selling bills since July, thus doing the opposite of what dealers might be expected to do. Another factor, Mr. Thomas pointed out was that the Treasury retired short-term securities from March to June and put out additional short-term securities since July. Mr. Sproul then made a statement substantially as follows 1. All during 1954, in the face of a declining or sidewise movement of the general economy, we have followed a credit policy labeled a policy of "active ease". It has involved the use of all of the three main instruments of credit management - open market operations, discount rates, and reserve requirements. Its objective has been to encourage the free use of credit and an active capital and mortgage market. Its main technical guide has been the maintenance of a substantial volume of "free reserves" in the banking system* 2. While the use of such a guide has raised problems of central banking technique, which have been discussed here, the general policy has served the economy well. The ready availability and low cost of bank credit and of capital
funds have maintained a monetary climate favorable to business expansion and high employment, recognizing that credit policy is only one part of the whole complex. The present economic outlook suggests to me a continuance of existing credit policy, relying on open market opera tions to make it effective. 3. We appear to have been on an economic plateau for the past three or four months following upon the decline in economic activity which began in the summer of 1953. It is possible to view this record doubtfully, if we do not have a substantial upturn during the fall, The ex pectation of a substantial upturn may have caused a check to the previous liquidation of inventories and re duction of working forces, which could be resumed if anticipated gains are not forthcoming, and private capital outlays might begin to show signs of fear of a prolonged slump. 4. It is also possible to view the record, hopefully. The downturn was checked while the economy was still operating at a high level, the recession has shown no signs of feeding on itself in a way which would bring on a cumu lative downward movement, and the economy appears to have elements of strength which should prevent such a movement developing. While inventory liquidation does not seem to have been completed, the rate of liquidation has slowed down. While Government defense outlays may decline further, the decline will be small compared with that of the past year. Private capital investment and State and local capital outlays are holding up to earlier estimates. Con sumer spending, on which much of the rest of the economy depends, has remained high, encouraged by the present and prospective stability of prices and evidently not too fear ful of spreading unemployment and loss of income, Despite the dangers hold the hopeful view. 5. I prefer and of economic forecasting, we must make some judgments, and I believe that a generally sidewise movement of the economy is more likely during the next few months than a pronounced and cumulative movement either up or down. 6. This hopeful view is supported by the prospect of deficit financing by the Federal Treasury. The recent mid-year re view of the budget estimated a cash deficit of 1.8 billion in fiscal 1955. We estimate that it may be nearer 4 bil lion, with lower receipts and higher expenditures than in the official figures. These net figures for the fiscal year as a whole are the result of a much larger deficit in the July-December 1954 period and a surplus in the January-June
-l4- 1955 period. 7. The Treasury has already borrowed 4 billion of new money in this half-calendar year and will need to borrow about 6 billion more, including the 4 billion offering just announced. The rest of the program might call for 1 bil lion of cash financing in late November and the sale of 1 billion of CCC participation certificates, or the Treasury might be able to get by with no additional di rect new money financing. The present new money financing is directed toward the commercial banks, and the banks will need additional reserve funds in order to play their part, if the amount of bank credit available to the private economy is not to be restricted, 8. Adding this need growing out of Treasury financing to the needs of a moderate seasonal expansion of private busi ness, and the reserve effects of usual fall increase in currency circulation, suggests that the member banks will require about 3/4 billion to 1 billion of additional re serve funds between now and the end of the year if our policy of "active ease" is to be continued. The first substantial injection of reserve funds will be needed during the statement week ending October 6, when payment for the new Treasury issue falls due. The next big drain will be during the months of November and December when seasonal factors will gradually absorb reserves and another Treasury offering or CCC certificates may be ex pected to come to the market. In order to carry on existing credit policy, I would provide these reserve funds as needed, by open market operations. 9. For the immediate present, we have just passed a peak of excess reserves and free reserves well above the usual range. These additional reserves evidently were considered temporary by the market, as, of course, they were. Con sequently they did not express themselves in a sloppy money market. While they will be substantially reduced during the coming statement week by ordinary market factors, their presence has relieved some of the strain of meeting the re serve demands of the Treasury financing in the following week. 10. I should say we shall have to make some purchases during the statement week ending September 29 to maintain our position, and more substantial purchases during the week ending October 6. Chairman Martin expressed the view that the Committee had success fully been operating on a policy of active ease. His own thinking was
that the Committee wanted a flow of money and credit that was like a stream with a ripple on it; it wanted to maintain a flow so that the water would not go over the banks and when the flow built up in force, to have had a chance to build an adequate channel in which to retain the volume of water without having it flow over the banks. Chairman Martin did not think the Committee should give too much attention to minor fluctuations over short periods of time. He thought the Committee's policy and operations had more or less generated confidences in the busi ness and financial world and in the community at large. The Committee now had before it the problem of how to achieve a continuation of the ease which it had been pursuing, unless there was a view policy of active that this policy should be changed. In response to Chairman Martin's question, none of the members of indicated that there should be any modification of the general the Committee active ease which was being pursued by the Federal Open Market policy of Committee. Chairman Martin then said that for the guidance of the executive committee it would be his thought that in the immediate future it should continue to supply reserves to the market in accordance with the general policy of active ease, and that any errors it might make in the period of the next few weeks should be on the side of ease rather than the reverse. Chairman Martin also recalled that in August he had felt that if the to err in supplying reserves, it was wiser to lean on the Committee were now was that with the seasonal whereas his view side of tightness,
developments ahead, operations should be shifted so that they would lean on the side of ease. Without guaranteeing any particular prices in the Government securities market, there should be an adequate supply of re serves available to assure that the current Treasury financing would be successful. In response to a question from Mr. Bryan as to the difference in the situation in August when Chairman Martin would have leaned on the side of tightness and at the present time when he felt the Committee should lean the Chairman stated that he felt the difference in on the side of ease, related to the delicate area of busi timing was of real importance. This it was generally expected that the business ness psychology. In August, in the doldrums, a common occurrence for that time of situation would be clear indication that things would be year, and as long as there was no direction there was no serious psychological im going hog-wild in either pact on the economy in carrying on operations as had been done. On the other hand, as September receded into October and October into the general fall pickup of activity in many lines, it was Chairman Martin's judgment that a definite degree of ease in the market would exert a favorable psychological impact on the situation. Mr. Szymczak felt that the full Committee should continue the policy of active ease under which it had been operating. There should be no change in the discount rate at this time nor should there be a further reduction in reserve requirements at present. To the extent additional required during the latter months of this year, they should reserves were
be supplied through open market operations or through the discount window. Mr. Sproul said that he was in general agreement with Chairman as to policy and the way it should be carried out in Martin's statement the immediate future. He felt that the risk of erring on the side of in this immediate future period was less than the risk if greater ease made on the side of tightness. He would not contemplate aiming errors were not having an exact science to in any case, he said, and toward tightness s operations should be directed so that work with, that meant the Committee errors were made they would be on the side of ease. to the extent with the views expressed by Chairman There was general agreement Martin and Mr. Sproul. that he would hope the open market Mr. Mills added the comment interfere in the market in a way that account would not intermittently would upset the play of natural factors, and that interference by the Committee would solely be to cover the longer run need for reserves which could be expected to follow during the next three months. Mr. Sproul felt that Mr. Mills overemphasized the effect of buying and selling securities for the System account. He had not been able to observe any misunderstanding growing out of that procedure on the part of businessmen or bankers. The principal criticism had come from those who were playing in the market and who had attempted to make profits out of market moves. When they had guessed wrong they attempted to create a misunderstanding as to the Committee s policy. Mr. Sproul reiterated that he did not see evidence of the misunderstandings to which Mr. Mills
referred growing out of the Committee's purchases and sales. Chairman Martin said that he shared Mr. Sproul's views on this point, based on talks he had had with people in the business and financial community; the only misunderstandings he had observed were those based on wilful misunderstanding. Mr. Mills responded that if the Committee was going to be con tinually in and out of the market it was going to create a misunderstanding as to policy. Mr. Rouse stated that the recent period of operations for the account had been unusual, resulting from an over-supply of reserves in the market as a consequence of the reduction in reserve requirements and the need to absorb that supply until there was a need for the additional reserves. Chairman Martin said that he favored the minimum intervention of the account in the market at all times in order to acheive its objectives. Mr. Robertson felt the Committee should continue to follow a policy of active ease but that it should not intervene unnecessarily in the market. During the period immediately ahead, he felt the Committee should resolve doubts in favor of ease rather than tightness in the market. Mr. Bryan said that he was, of course, in favor of a policy of ease in the market. He wished to say again, however, that he felt dis count rate policy at the present time was out of gear with open market policy so that in effect the System was saying to the financial community its reserves could be replaced only through the investment account that
of the Open Market Committee. He felt that the policy of active ease applied only to those banks who could receive reserves through the flow of the market. If there were to be a policy of ease generally applicable to member banks the discount rate should be reduced, preferably to 1 per cent and at least to a level of 1-1/ per cent. Chairman Martin suggested that there be a discussion of the views expressed by Mr. Bryan as to lowering the discount rate. that Mr. Bryan's earlier discussion of the role Mr. Williams stated and of the relationship between the discount rate and open of discounting market rates raised important questions that were being considered by the Special System Committee on the Discount and Discount Rate Mechanism. With respect to a reduction at this time, he felt that such a reduction could be misinterpreted as indicating that the System judged economic developments to be weaker than the System actually believed them to be. agreed completely that the discount rate should come Mr. Fulton since this would give smaller banks access to reserve funds down, especially other than through the open market. Mr. Szymczak felt that a reduction at this time would be misunder stood by everybody and he did not think that the banks, particularly the smaller ones, were in need of additional funds. Mr. Sproul said he could not understand what is the obstacle to banks securing funds through the discount window at a rate of 1-1/2 per cent if they had a demand for loans or wanted to make investments, or if they felt they needed access to more reserves in order to assure their
liquidity. He felt that the Committee s policy of maintaining a sub stantial volume of excess and free reserves-not the level of the dis count rate-had relegated the discount window to a minor position in terms of actual use. So long banks as as a whole have substantial free reserves, maintained through open market operations, most of the reserve adjustments may be expected to take place in the money centers and in the market for Government securities, Mr. Sproul said, and in these circum stances and with existing market rates, the present discount rate may be said to be effective: it is close enough to market rates to keep banks on the threshold of borrowing but it encourages them to make most of their adjustments in the market. It isn't possible to pin down exactly the relative costs of borrowing and making adjustments through the market in all transactions, Mr. Sproul said, but the advantage now seems to be only slightly on the side of market adjustments. It was his view that if the present discount rate is fairly well adjusted to market rates, if reserve funds are readily available either by reason of open market opera tions or through the discount window, and if the System had no emphasis or change of policy it wished to signal or symbolize, it should reserve this major policy instrument for more effective use at a more appropriate time. Mr. Erickson said that banks in the Boston District were reluctant to borrow and he could see no reason for reducing the discount rate at the present time. Mr. Irons did not favor a reduction in the discount rate now and
had not favored the reduction made last April, His reason for not favoring a reduction now was the possibility that the differential between the market rate (i.e., the bill rate) and the discount rate might reappear as was the case when the discount rate was lowered in April. In his view, the actual level of the discount rate was not so important as was the spread between the discount rate and the market. He said, in response to a question from Chairman Martin, that if the discount rate were reduced to 1 per cent and the bill rate remained at its present level of just under 1 per cent, borrowing at the Dallas Bank might be expected to in but that if the bill rate remained appreciably below the discount crease, rate, borrowing would probably not increase. see no purpose to be served by reduction in the Mr. Leedy could time. There was no evidence that banks were hesitating discount rate at this to use the discount facilities because of the possible cost relationship a further reduction in the discount rate at this and he felt that by making might be helping to get the level of interest rates down time the System to a point where it would not be healthy for the credit situation. Mr. Leedy also thought such action might be misinterpreted as indicating con cern on the part of the System regarding the economic outlook. Mr. Earhart felt that, while in the past discount rate policy had not been kept fully in line with open market policy, at the present time the discount rate was at a sufficiently low level and he would prefer to reserve any further lowering of that rate for a time when a reduction might do more good.
Mr. C. S. Young thought that a reduction in the discount rate at this time would be misinterpreted and he would not now favor taking action. Mr. Leach did not think the discount rate should be changed now to implement an active ease policy, his concept of the policy of active ease in the bank credit field being a situation where any reasonably eli gible borrower could go to a commercial bank and readily obtain a loan at a reasonable rate. That condition now existed and lowering the discount rate would not make bank credit more readily available; on the other hand, if it resulted in other rates moving downward, this would produce inequities without being of benefit to the economy. Mr. Powell could see no immediate reason for lowering the discount rate, feeling that banks would borrow at existing rates if they had any real need for funds. Mr. Johns concurred in the views expressed by Mr. Bryan for about the same reasons as had been stated by Mr. Bryan. Mr. Vardaman felt it would be bad policy to reduce the discount rate at the present time since he could see nothing in recent developments which required such a reduction over the entire System. However, he stated that a reduction in the Atlanta District might possibly be advisable, and that conditions in the southern half of the St. Louis District were such as might require consideration of a reduction in that District. The same might apply to the Dallas District, but he was not sufficiently informed as to current conditions there.
Mr. Thomas referred to the situation that exists when additional reserves are needed for short periods of time. He noted that the dis count facility was one device for taking care of those temporary needs without making outright purchases or sales for the System account, and that another device was the use of the repurchase agreement. For these methods to operate smoothly, however, he said it was essential that rates be not too far above the market rate. Hence, some reduction in the dis count rate or the repurchase rate might be helpful. Mr. Robertson said that he was very much in favor of revitalizing the discount facility as an instrument of monetary policy and that he did not feel it to be essential that the discount rate be uniform in all Federal Reserve districts. The discussion of this matter closed with the statement by Chairman Martin that it would be desirable for members of the Committee and Presi dents of Federal Reserve Banks who were not currently members of the Com mittee to continue to study the comments made by Mr. Bryan regarding the discount facility and discount rate, and with the understanding that the Committee's general policy of active ease would be continued along the lines suggested by Chairman Martin earlier during this meeting. Messrs. Sproul and Rouse stated in response to Chairman Martin's inquiry that they had no suggestions for change in the directive to be issued by the full Committee to the executive committee concerning open market operations. Thereupon, upon motion duly made and the following directive to the seconded, committee was approved unanimously & executive
The executive committee is directed, until otherwise directed by the Federal Open Market Committee, to arrange for such transactions for the System open market account, either in the open market or directly with the Treasury (including purchases, sales, exchanges, replacement of ma turing securities, and letting maturities run off without replacement), as may be necessary, in the light of current and prospective economic conditions and the general credit situation of the country, with a view (a) to relating the supply of funds in the market to the needs of commerce and business, (b) to promoting growth and stability in the economy by actively maintaining a condition of ease in the money market, (c) to correcting a disorderly situation in the Government securities market, and (d) to the practical administration of the account; provided that the aggregate amount of securities held in the System account (including commitments for the purchase or sale of securities for the account) at the close of this date, other than special short-term certificates of indebtedness purchased from time to time for the temporary accommodation of the Treasury, shall not be increased or decreased by more than $2,000,000,000. The executive committee is further directed, until other wise directed by the Federal Open Market Committee, to arrange for the purchase direct from the Treasury for the account of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which Bank shall have discretion, in cases where it seems desirable, to issue par ticipations to one or more Federal Reserve Banks) of such amounts of special short-term certificates of indebtedness as may be necessary from time to time for the temporary accommo dation of the Treasury, provided that the total amount of held at any one time by the Federal Reserve such certificates Banks shall not exceed in the aggregate $2,000,000,000. Chairman Martin referred to memoranda on bankers' acceptances which had been distributed during the spring of this year and which had been included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting. He sug gested that, for reasons he stated, consideration of these memoranda be deferred until the next meeting of the full Committee. Mr. Szymczak suggested that it would be of assistance to the Federal Open Market Committee if the Special Committee on Foreign
Operations of American Banks (Mr. Alfred E. Neal, First Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Chairman) be asked to look into the question of bankers' acceptances and the suggestions made in the several memoranda prepared by members of the staff, and there was agree ment that Mr. Neal be asked to have his committee study the matter, and that the subject be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the full Committee. Mr. Sproul stated that in view of the fact that a situation might arise early in October in connection with the Treasury's financing when the System would wish to put funds into the market on a temporary basis, he contemplated proposing at the meeting of the executive committee to be held immediately following this meeting that that committee authorize the Federal Reserve Banks to enter into repurchase agreements at a range of rates of 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 per cent for a temporary period. This action, he felt, would support open market policy and would not do damage to the dis count facility. The discount facility, he noted, was one under which banks could obtain a relatively unlimited amount of reserves at a price (with reluctance on the part of borrowers to remain continuously in debt a limiting factor); whereas the open market window, including the repurchase facility, represented a means by which the banking system obtained the amount of reserves the Committee wanted to give it, for as long as the Committee saw fit, at going market rates. Mr. Sproul could see no incon sistency, when policy is one of credit ease, in providing these reserves, either through open market purchases, or infrequently and temporarily through
repurchase agreements, at a rate below the discount rate; and he felt that such a relationship might be desirable in the course of the next two weeks. Mr. Robertson stated that he did not agree with this position, and it was understood that the matter would be considered at the meeting of the executive committee to be held later today, inasmuch as the executive com mittee was authorized by the action of the full Committee at its meeting on June 23, 1954 to direct the Federal Reserve Banks to enter into repurchase agreements at such rates or rate ranges as the executive committee might prescribe, subject to certain conditions established by the Committee. Reference was made to a draft of letter which had been prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York relating to the procedure to be fol lowed for securing Federal Reserve notes by the pledge of participations in obligations held in the System Open Market Account, in the event a Federal Reserve Bank other than New York were appointed to operate the System Open Market Account in an emergency. Copies of the letter from Mr. Tiebout, Vice President and General Counsel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and of a draft of letter which might be sent by the Board of Governors to the individual Federal Reserve Banks had been distributed before this meeting. In response to a question from Mr. Leedy, Mr. Riefler stated that the draft of letter had been distributed for information only and that it was a matter to be considered by the Board of Governors and, if the Board so agreed, to be sent to the individual Federal Reserve Banks for their consideration. In a discussion of the time for the next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, it was tentatively agreed that such meeting would be
held during the period December 6-8, 1954, subject to change if it seemed desirable to change the meeting to another date. Mr. Sproul stated that at the next meeting of the Committee he would like to call up for discussion the actions taken in December 1953 and in March of this year when it was voted that transactions of the System Open Market Account shall be entered into solely for the purpose of providing (except for disorderly markets). Mr. Sproul said he or absorbing reserves much too narrow a view of central banking, was mis thought this represented to the public, and should have the Committee's early consideration. leading operations could be entered into without He did not believe that open market costs and availability of credit. This was well stated, he concern for the memorandum on the discount mechanism which said, in a recent stimulating and sales were made in the full knowledge said that open market "purchases (of the Open Market Committee) that they would have noticeable effects upon (a) the volume of member bank borrowing, (b) the level of rates in the money market, and (c) on the margin between those rates and the discount rate." Mr. Bryan suggested that Mr. Sproul circulate a memorandum on the subject between now and the next meeting of the full Committee, and Chairman Martin stated that the members of the Committee would be glad to receive such a memorandum if Mr. Sproul wished to distribute it. Thereupon the meeting adjourned. Secretary
Also: Record of Policy Actions·Minutes of the Executive Committee, July 7, 1954·Minutes of the Executive Committee, July 20, 1954·Minutes of the Executive Committee, August 3, 1954·Minutes of the Executive Committee, August 24, 1954·Minutes of the Executive Committee, September 8, 1954·Minutes of the Executive Committee, September 22, 1954