Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-12-02

county treasurers and auditors, so as to at
ford q suitable check upon their mutual ac-
ton, and insure the thorough supervision
and safety of state and county funds" In
the prosecution of his duties under this re-
Quirement OF the law, the examiner encoun-
ters much embarrassment on account OF the
homogeneous provisions OF the statutes re-
lating to the administration OF the public
revenues What these embarrassments are,
and their evident remedy, are made known
to you in the examiners report and are ia
miliar to those who have examined his re-
ports for recent years In the matter or
enforcing a uniform system of book
keeping by county auditors and treasurers,
he has met with reasonable success, but this
does not afford q suitable check upon their
mutual action" because the laws, as they
now stand, have taken what only can prove
to be an Gpequate check out of the hands OF
any coordinate and independent officer, and
placed it solely in the hands of the very
officer in regard to whose account the check
is necessary to be devised" The theory of
our system relative TO the collection and dis
tribution OF public funds is, that the county
auditor shall act as a check upon all trans
actions OF the county treasurer. In practlce
he is in no sense any check whatever, as
he can audit the treasurer's accounts
only by means of data furnished by
that officer himself. A remedy for
this is so apparent and so urgently
demanded by the simplest principles appll-
cable to all business methods, that it would
seem only necessary to call attention to this
defect in the system to have the remedy
promptly applied. l trust that this will be
done at this session, as recommended by the
examiner, even though it may involve some
innovations in the tax law of the state. Your
attention is directed to the tlagranG instances
cited by the examiner. of incorporation
of public funds by boards of county com
missioners Though these cases are rare, their
existence should suggest some security by
legislation, against their possible recurrence
in the future. The examiners statement OF
county finances shows receipts for 1884 of
$9,3S1. 1876. 80, including balance on hand,
and disbursements of 81 1863, 703. 80.
BANKING STATISTICS
are summarized as follows:
Increase
since 1882.
Number of banks 214 SO
Cap. stock CI49 banks. SIS, 9o4, 754 $6,553,537
Surplus fund ga b'nks) 2,30o,144 500, lG7
Deposits $50 banks)... 27,2S4,117 4,573,S12
Loans and discounts
(S6 banks)........... 31,512,756 lO,42o,4 49,
Of the above banks, 4S are national, 80
state, 6 savings, and 12S private. The fig
banks of the state are not very satisfactory,
as showing the resources and liabilities OF
these institutions The increase in the sew
eral items will indicate to some extent, how
ever, their growth in business.
INSURANCE STATISTICS.
The growth of the insurance business of
the state furnishes cumulative evidence OF
our rapid material development. The report
of the insurance commissioner furnishes the
following comparative statement:
Risks Premiums Losses
written received. incurred.
1888. SIS ,O63, COG So, AS, S25 81, 92O,192
1SS1..... 122,O7O,5Oo 1,596,353 914,950