The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-01-17

peril our most important resonrca aS ,-af,
a. the whole financial system Of our state.
Status Of War Claims:
~ It IS my: duty to, advise you Of the Stain.
ID 'S St clalhl OF wisconsin against the Unit
Su states to indemnify the state for az
Deillon: The claim was filed HY i nrevi1i,9s
admlnistration 1t has within the last fT3
years received Careful attention from the
attorney general and other state Officers
ana at the proper auditing department ~
!he United States with a view I'd classify
Ing lilg, the claim i'm and separating the items
Wnlch fall clearly within legislation here
tofore enacted, from those not at any time
heretofore provided for. 1t seems to be
very clear that over 100000 of this claim,
9pelng Tor interest paid by the state on
luhds borrowed and interest lost bY the
SAFE or Understanding securities to raise
money with which to equip troops and en-
aDle Wisconsin to do her part in the preser-
walton of the Union, Should be: without
question: as a matter Of justice repaid to
the state.
The state Of New York made similar claim
against the United States and brought suit
IN the court Of claims to recover. The de-
tense of the statute of limitations was in
terposed, and it was held III that case as
the claim had been specifically presented
within the six years to the proper depart
ment of the government, chat when trains
mltted to the court of claims Under the act
of March 3, 1888, it was competent for The
court to render Judgment upon it.
The claim of Wisconsin does not appear
to have been specifically presented Within
SIX years after it accrued. as was the claim
OF New York, and therefore it seems that
the obstacle, and the only obstacle to it's
payment, is to be found in section 1869
Of the Revised Statutes Of the United
States. which declares as follows
Every claim against the United States. cog
nizable by the Court of Claims, shall be forever
barred unless the petition setting forth a state.
ment thereof is filed in the court; or transmitted
to it by the secretary of the Senate the clerk
of the House of Representatives, as provided by
law, within six years after the claim first ac-
crues.
This statute has been held applicable to
the claim of a state against the govern
ment.
ment was offered to the Southern war
claims bill, which had passed the House
and was pending in the Senate, removing
the bar of this statute of limitations from
any claim of states for costs, charges and
expenses incurred under the acts of 1861
and 1862 above referred to. The amend
ment was adopted by the Senate, aud the
committee upon a difference which does
not relate to this amendment. 1t IS rea-
sonably hoped that before the end OF the
present session of Congress the bill will
have passed and the way thereby made easy
to secure this act Of justice to the state.
Bank Examiner.
In my message to the Legislature in 1897
l called attention to the need of revising
the present banking code and it's apparent
banking business of the present day. Steps
were taken to prepare a new code to be
voted upon by the people, and such code
was presented and voted upon at the last
general election, but was not adopted. 1t
is worthy of your consideration whether 1t
would not be wise to again bring this mat
ter before the people so that it may again
receive their attention. L recommended at
that time also, some changes in the law
concerning the office of bank examiner, and
pointed out that it was the clear intent
of the banking law now in existence that
the state treasurer should stand in the re-
lation to the state banks which had been
occupied prior to the adoption OF the pres
ent code, By the bank comptroller. 1t is
very doubtful whether the law passed in
1895 creating the office or bank examiner
is in harmony with the law adopted by
vote of the people in 1865. again make
the recommendation that the duties or BANK
examiner be delegated to the state treas
urer where the existing banking code
seems to place it, and that that official be
empowered to appoint competent deputy
for the purpose of aiding him in examin-
ING the banks. who shall report directly
to him / made this recommendation i'll
1897 believing that it would reduce the
expense of bank examination, while more
certainly complying with the fundamental
law, and furnishing at least as much pro-
lection to the people. measure was
passed by the last Legislature ostenslbly
for the purpose of remedy1ng some or the
defects pointed out, but which in reality
removed the authority further away from
the state treasurer, where it is placed by
the fundamental law, and leaving the OF,
fee of bank examiner open to unlimited
employment of help, therefore necessarily
increasing the expenses instead of reducing
them as recommended. This measure, for
the reason noted, l was compelled to return
without my approval.
An additional reason for the change rec
commended is found in the fact that the
state treasurer is one of the commissioners
empowered to loan the public funds. 1t
would serve we'll the public interest III one,
at least. of the commissioners were re
nuired. in the exercise of his duty, to be-
come familiar with the banking institutions
soiyencv and methods of conducting bust
ness. In such knowledge should be found
Valuable security against loss to the state
in addition to that afforded by the Donds
required by law