Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-01-18
portant recommendations which should re-
ceiye your thoughtful attention.

Soldiers Monuments.
The commission appointed by the Legs
lature of 1895 to select sites and erect monu-
ments to Wisconsin troops who took part
in the battle of Chickamauga has completed
its work, and its report has been filed. 1t
is but just to say of this commission ghat it
has succeeded in erecting what are conceded
to be the most attractive monuments on the
field Of Chicka nauga, and yet it has peen
able to keep far within the amount appro-
priated for the purpose There still re-
mains of the appropriation the sum Of
S4492.51. By the provisions of the law the
commission is not authorized to expend this
money for any purpose but that speclhed.
The commission recommends that it be au-
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, | cordial
~ approve the recommendation that the I'M
expended balance Of the appropriation be
used in the erection Of the additional monu-
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
ent day. 1t does not sufficiently protect the
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
revision of our banking law by the aid OF a
commission or otherwise. The Legislature
of Michigan has banking code which may
be 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 or
the people. / recommend that action be
taken upon 1t at this session If it be found
practicable.
| 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 of 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
banks which had been occupied by the bank
comptroller. 1t is matter of grave doubt
whether it is in harmony with the law
adopted by the people that the work of SUI
pervision of the banks. so deliberately pro-
vided for by chapter POI of the laws of 1895.
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 upon the theory that it is the state
treaSurer'S business under the banking code
so far that 1T would not be lawful to au-
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. / recommend that the
duties of bank examiner be delegated to the
state treasurer, and that he be empowered
to 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 / 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
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
prolGneed The times are hard and the
unnecessary expenditures. and I 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 II 1907