Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-20
SUPERVISION OF PRIVATE BANKS.

banker previously indicted. An editor
has already called attention to these
incidents with the remark that reviv-
al of the discussion Of private banks
would follow.
Whether the EDITORS prediction come
true or not it is to be hoped that such
a discussion will never die out until
the state of Iowa provides some form
of inspection for private banks. The
private bank when successfully and
honestly conducted is of great public
benefit, especially in a region of many
small communities such as Iowa, but
as an institution it is entirely ire
sponsible to the public. No state OF
national supervision is exercised over
it. No board of directors examine it.
No one but the banker himself is re-
sponsible and this can never be the
ideal form of trusteeship. A bank, in
fact, is merely a trustee of other peo-
DoHs funds.
There is no more reason why an ind'-
vidual should be allowed to call HIM
self banker and receive deposits with
out some sort Of a check or balance
upon him by the public, than there is
for savings banks or state or nationa!
banks to run wild. A good private
banker, with a large fortune, makes
a private bank strong, to be sure, and
out of 525 private banks in Iowa, the
most Of them are sound, but the trou
BILE is that private bank never be-
comes endangered until the private
banker is busted" and then there Is
nothing left to secure depositors. In a
corporate bank under state or national
supervision, several men as stockhold-
ers are liable for the security Of de-
positors, while several mem as direc-
tors have been examining the banks
affairs and the state examiner has
been checking them up. all of which,
helps to keep bank straight
Several western states have already
adopted some form of surveillance over
private banks, but Iowa, with more
private banks than all the eastern
states put together, has failed to move.
It is time something were done and
the wonder is that the strong and
sound private banks do not invite in
spection by the state and demand it II,
order to free themselves from the pub
lie suspicion that their affairs are more
in the dark than those of state regulat-
ed banks.
THE FALLING OFF IN RURAL POPULATION
The census of Warren county, just
completed, shows falling off of nearly
1000 from the figures of the federal
census Of 1900. Enumerators in 1900
returned "A population of 20,S76 for
Warren county, the present census es-
timating three townships from which
returns have not been made gives in
round numbers 1860. 1t is estimated
in Dallas county that the decrease will
amount to 1900. Other counties in the
state are finding notable decreases.
The falling off is in the rural districts,
towns and cities as rule showing
satisfactory growth.
There are number of reasons to
which this general falling off in rural
population may be attributed. The in
creasing size of farms the general
machinery in farm work and the pros
perity that has induced well to do far
mers to leave the farms for homes in
the towns and cities are all factors
to be considered. A capable OBJ
server, familiar with teamwork and an
interested student of agricultural con-
ditions, whose business, entirely with
farmers, takes him into a dozen Iowa
counties, estimates that less than one-
larly employed five years ago are need
ed or used in the farm operations of
today. Manure spreaders, twenty-five
foot harrows, two row corn cultivators,
hay leaders and the multitudinous ma
chinery that has made production easy,
have Put the hired mans nose out of
joint and sent the sons to colleges, into
trades and away to the cities.
The hired man lives in the village or
small town and works by the day, in
stead Of coming to the farm in March
and staying until after corn picking at
a stipulated wage that once included
board, washing and mending." The
farmer finds it profitable to hire day
hands and the farmers wife is relieved
of the labor of caring for the one, two
or three hired men whom former con-
ditions made necessary to the conduct
OF the farm.
While present conditions exist, rural
population is not likely to increase. The
tendency is not toward a division Of
lands in Iowa, but towards larger
farms. Perhaps the interurbans may
help to hurry the smaller farm, and the
consequent increase Of population.
AFREe MARKET FOR LABOR.
The United States supreme court has
denied the right Of states to fix the
bours Of priyate labor The decision