Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-01-20
portant recommendation which should re-
ceiVe your thoughtful attention.

portant recommendations which should re-
ceiVe your thoughtful attention.
Soldiers Monuments.
The commission appointed by the Legs
lature of 1898 to select sites and erect monu-
ments to Wisconsin troops who took part
IN IN the battle Of Chickamanga has COMPLETED emp
is but just to say of this commission that it
has succeeded in erecting what are conceded
to be the most attractive monuments on the
Held of Cmcka naug2, and yet 1t mas peen
able to keep far within the amount appro-
priated fol-, the purpose There still re.
mains of the appropriation the sum Of
$4792.51. By tie provisions OF the law the
commission is not authorized to expend this
money for any purpose but that specified.
thorized to eXpend the balance of the fund
IN the erection of a monument to the Wis
consin regiments which participated in the
battle of Mission Ridge. The suggestion
needs no argument to sustain it. I cordial
~ approve the recommendation that The I'M
expended balance Of the appropriation be
ment.
Banks and Banking.
The existing banking code of Wisconsin
is utterly inadequate to meet the require
ments OF the banking business of the pres
people, nor does it throw around the bust
ness itself those safeguards which are cal
cuiated to secure the best results, and is
quite out of harmony with the most ap-
proved methods of modern banking.
There should be a careful and immediate
commission or otherwise. The Legislature
of Michigan has banking code which may
pc worthy of your consideration. 1t is
modelled upon the admirable national bank
ing system. Such a measure must, under
the constitution, be submitted to vote Of
taken upon 1t at this session if it be found
practicable.
l think in the existing situation that the
duty and responsibility of examining into
the condition of the state banks should be
placed upon the state treasurer, who was by
a vote or the people substituted for the
bank comptroller when that office was abol-
lshed. 1t is the clear intent of the banking
law that thereafter the state treasurer
should stand in the relation to the State
comptroller. 1t is a matter of grave doubt
whether it is in harmony with the law
adopted by the people that the work of SUI
pefVlslon OF the banks, so deliberately pro-
Vlded for by chapter 291 of the laws of 1895.
should be intrusted to an officer appointed
by the state treasurer with the approval Of
the governor, and who is to report entirely
TO the governor The law seems to be
drawn unon the theory that it is the state
treasurer'S business under the banking code
so TAR that it would not be lawful to
thorize the appointment of bank examiner
without his intervention. This theory seems
TO be all right, but the law should other
wise conform to it. l recommend that the
duties of bank examiner be delegated to the
state treasurer, and that he be empowered
10 appoint competent deputy for the pur-
pose who shall report directly to him. This
| would involve vastly less expense than the
present method.
Conclusion.
In conclusion I desire to earnestly urge
upon You the necessity for wisdom and
economy IN the expenditure OF the public
funds. The history OF every state shows
that in proportion as a wise economy is
practiced in the expenditure of the public
money is the administration of public affairs
clean and efficient Yet it should not be
forgotten that economy does not imply in
adequate provision for the actual needs of
public institutions.
1t is apparently the popular judgment that
legislative sessions have been unnecessarily
prolonged. The times are hard and the
people are in no humor for extravagant or
unnecessary expenditures and pledge my
self to cooperate in every possible way with
what know will be your wish that the
work before US be carried forward with due
dispatch and economy.
EDWARD SCOFIELD,
Governor
Executive Chamber,
Madison Wis Ian Il 1907