Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-21
work Of legislators and state Officers dnring each
Banning Laws and Bank Examination.


bsnktar bnsiness provided that iwo-thirds Of all
~ tbs ~ sag AZ sye1 Law The report Of me
state bank examiner for the last biennial tern
banking laws Of ths stare Not least among
these Is thu at gratifying in Itself, that since
the period OF lowest depression In the banking
business IN the year 1896 the business OF banks
within this state has DiOle than doubled. Ds-
posts have increased during the last six years
from about sixty-three million dollars 70 more
than one hundred and hfty millions The WISDOM
OF surrounding fhs reserve wealth OF the people
Of the state. With every safeguard to De secured
By reasonable legal requirements upon those Who
hold I y rus ad Il eiparg bea bansdrs Ind heIp
chief difficuty in placing loans, essential 10
for depOsiiors In the final reckoning
The bank exsmipeT points out that the pflh
eipal cause 0f the embarrassment OF banks ciosrp
BY that department. mas been tbs inaAdng OF ~
Sessive loans TO single individuals or aims, and
emphasizes the fact thai existing laws TO meet
banking conditions are punitive Ahd MOI fsHsl'al
IN their application recognized evils Loose
legislation fOr the regulation Of any business
brings Istural results IN lax methods OF eondaot
Of such business whore chances Of large prohis
are involved IN negligence.
regard as Of especial Importance the recon
raandatlons of the bank examiner respecting the
regulation Of private banks The savings OF no
Community should be hazarded, under the seem
lng protection Of law and without security OF ans
Kind, In the private ventures OF an Individual
who adopts the title OF banker 10 Inspire pnhbe
Gbnfdence commend to your consideration
The most simple requirements OF ordinary prl-
denee the restrictions which he suggests
proper upon this class Of banking privileges.
Some Complaint has Teen made that existing
Laws discourage the establishment OF savings
banks within the state, and the fact that there
q but one such Institution IN Wisconsin i Of
fered e evidence although n,4iiy ~ han Ks
dissent from the opinion that every influence
which encourages thrift and provision for the
future among sll classes OF people should be
promoted. II follows naturally that those 'rho
save should be given the largest return upon
their invested savings possible With assured Sc
curfty, and the laws should be so framed as to
offer the largest measure Of encouragement 70
savings bauks compatible With safety to their
The bank examiners department has estab
iished it value 10 the state and TO Legitimate
banking Interests within the state. Within the
last biennial period L has sustained severe
loss by the death OF Bank Examiner Edward !.
KIDD, whose able. conscientious ana conservative
conduct Of the office, Notwithstanding Inefficient
work, inspired confidence alike among bankers
and with the general public. His tireless indus-
created and eoGhded to bis care In 1890 have
Brought within reach the Important results which
Zion and supervision which should serve TO pro
fsct the public without embarrassment to amy
legitimate branch OF the banking business
Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The work OF this department has been eonsid-
sTably extended both In scope and In complete
Cess Of detail within the last two years. The
report OF the commissioner has become valuable
public document which Will bear comparison
VIII that issued by bureaus in states which have
made more generous provision for the work The
mis- bureau. 1t Is believed with results which
viii jnstify the transfer Of the work IN the
Sudgment Of the Legislature The oficial reports
show that factory inspection has been
thorough AID complete than IN previous years,
6at the force OF inspectors . Is Rot yet large
fematic inspection OF the factories OF the state.
The increase in the number Of manufactures IN
recent years having been relatively larger than
ehe Increase In the force OF factory inspectors.
Tho duties Of this bureau are divided into three
spection, and the state free employ ment Offices.
The regular office force OF the bureau at Madison
~ tf,ras.
persons, and OF itself IA manifestly inadequat e
for the many duties imposed; IN fact, the com
obliged work extra hours during the entire
term In order 10 keep up with the work. re-.
by one clerk, with sufficient remuneration to
cure training aid experience. The Inspection Of
Jaws, was reorganized immediately after the
legislative session OF 1901. Inspectors are re
oulred to make weekly reports IN addition to the
regular reports upon places Inspected. enabling
tbs bureau 10 keep the work much more closely
June a. 1901, to August 81. 1909. 1855 fac.
tories and other places where labor - employed
tued and 1884 other official acts granting per
Eats to children. granting licenses, etc.--grre
performed BY the factory inspector and his depn |
ties. This Is q daily average OF about fourteen /
inspections and oficial acts to each inspector,
a.uch better showtng than has ever been ap- |
pro@ebed In the past, and with the result thas I
the Violations Of law have been reduced TO a I
snuch oe-- number than ever h"farc.
The state -ree erat! Jyment offices also have
done effective work. During the first year of
their existence the two Offices, located at Mil
ESukee and West Supcri -. received S0i3 applf-
"a lions for employ ment and 1851 appicat ions for
help, while $3.50 positions We're allied through
these agxacies.
The commissioner suggests some changes 10 cx-
lsting laws which In his opinion essential 20
Fhair better enforcement and the Accomplishment
OF the purposes for which they we're originally
Resigned To mitigate the evils OF child labor
ohiidren at school during the school year, a
sia14tes 10 maze n impossit,e FOR unscTtn,,lons
n,s, J,ta ii, nd
OF the permit system which operates to the eva
zion OF other provisions o. the law. Better en-
aetments to regulate sanitary conditions In fac
tories are called for. Bills for laws covering all
OF these subjects, and many others Through which
organized labor seeks q hetterment OF conditions,
viii be presented hope ans believe that they
will receive that careful consideration at your
ests OF large proportion Of our people as Is
represented by wage earners
The value OF the work OF statistican depends
upon the accuracy and rapidiiy with which that
work Il performed aud the SKIN capacity ex
ercised In Interpreting the data after Il has been
occurred Training Is OF the greatest Importance
Ii would be desirable indeed II the entire civil
service OF the state could be removed from the
realm Of political spoils and placed under the
control Of commission where appointments
would be based upon merit Until such system
Is established services Of the expert character
competent TO conduct the bH.eaH of statistics
ture, state officials, and the public rely upon
sheir not being sacrificed with the changes fo
iowing beuntal elections
For these reasons ! recommend that the stat
ute nxiag the term of the commissioner of labor
and statistics be amended 40 that the term shall
be for six years instesd ~ for tive.
The ns.atiye Lobby.
AsseYhLer your representative caIaetty.. er
cry interest affected by legislation proposed or
pending IS entitled to be heard. Private eiifsssn
public service corporation, each should be at
forded opportunity 10 lay before the legislature
every fact and offer every argument Bnt the
Lsgisla tBre should not he unmindfHl Of the boast
made Ia the railroad bobby two years ago fol
lowing the DE. II the railway taxation bills.
that NO bli had been enacted into law during
The sixteen years last past In the interest Of the
at the outset should pass such with
respect 10 lobbying As would stand upoa the
statute books perpetual challenge 20 that
claim.
1 am not unmlndfdl Of the fact that members
OF the Legislature the agents Of their
stitnents; that they must ever b. ready TO be
made acquainted with their wishes and with the
Interests OF the public. But that system OF
lobbying, more reprehensible IN its character
than has yet been suggested TO the public, has
Years Is well known 10 every Ia public life.
That Y Il desirable g pat an end 70 this evil,
all Will agree. That Il Il possible. all should b.
anxious TO demonstrate.
desire 10 be distinctly understood as favor
ing the fullest and freest public discussion before
committee and. under proper regulations, 10
fore either or both branches Of the Legislature
BY individuals or the representatives ~ Interests
anected, or which claim to be affected. In any
manner. by proposed legislation but urge upon
your consideration the enactment OF Law that
shall make II an onense. punishable by the
az we'll. for -nv lobby agent or lobby represea
tatiYe, employed aud paid for his services l,y
Others e attempt personally aud directly TO in
nuencq any member OF the Legslasure to vote for
or afainst any Affecting the interests
Teprssented by such lobbyist.
Protection to Railway Employees.
To your careful consideration | recommend the
question Of efficient piotec ton 10 employees
discharge Of their duties through cerelessness or
negligence OF other employees or agents Of the