River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-23

udWH On the puOllc Ullnu ana the p6O-
pie become keenly alert to the neces-
sity of protecting their interests by
demanding careful, economical man
agement and insisting that personal
preference and political partisanship
be completely removed from the pub.
| lie service. When that time comes
the civil service must be perfect
organization, having behind it the
united support of the people. Every
man who takes a civil service exami-
| nation must feel confident that he
will have fair, equal chance in the
contest. The law must not be used
as a cover to protect the followers
| of any political party. If a man sue.
cessfully passes the examination and
secures an appointment, that position
should only be secure to him so long
| as he faithfully performs his duties.
If men secure places through the civil
service law and when they are COM
| fortably installed in their positions
use their time and influence in behalf
of any political party, the civil sery-
ice will be discredited in the minds
| of the people.
"No greater crime can be COM
| mitted against the public than to
have men in official positions advo-
cate certain measures in the interest
of the people and when enacted into
laws commence to manipulate them
to their own advantage. With the
awakening of public responsibility
the people are going to judge for
themselves the sincerity of purpose
of those who are in the public serv-
Ice. Men are inclined to question at,
times the construction that our courts
place upon the laws. 1t must be re
membered, however, that the safety
| of the individual as we'll as the Sc
curity of property depends upon the
| wholesome regard in the minds of the
| people for the majesty of the law and
respect for the honesty and integrity
Of our courts. Men who attempt to
discredit the courts, array one class
against another and arouse distrust
in the minds of the people, in the
hope that they may ride into promi-
nence on the waves of unrest which
they have created, should receive the
censure of all right-thinking citizens.
Recent developments have shown
that the government owes the people
greater protection in their dealing
with insurance companies and other
corporations. The average citizen is
not in a position to know all the ms
and outs of an insurance policy and
the workings of a great insurance
company. The state must impartial
~ and efficiently furnish the informa-
ticn to its citizens. Insurance COM
panies wishing to do business in the
state of Wisconsin should convince
tho authorities Of the honesty of
their methods and of the solvency of
their companies. Every transaction
should be public and the policyholder
by applying to the insurance depart
ment should be able to secure the
name and address of every other poll
cyholder in the company. The form
OF policy should be prescribed by the
state. Every policyholder as well as
the state insurance commissioner
should have free access not only ito
the books and records Of the COM
panies but also to the official meet
ings.
''In Wisconsin today any set of
men can secure a charter permitting
them to organize a corporation by
paying small sum into the state
treasury. This charter bears the great
seal of approval of the state of Wis
consin and the stock issued under
that charter can be sold by the pro-
moters to the people throughout the
state. A large share of the corpora
tons created are legitimate, bona
fide companies, organized and capt.
talized in an honest way. At the
same time many companies securing
charters from the state are promoted
and the shares are placed on the
market without reasonable evidence
of their honesty of intention. The
state of Wisconsin should not author
ize the creation of corporations, and
permit them unrestricted to do bust
ness. Neither should this state per-
nit corporations of the same Charac-
ter, organized in other states, to come
here, do business and sell their shares
to the public without restriction.
Beautifully engraved certificates OF
stock with gilded borders, bearing the
seal of corporation, can be made
mighty attractive to the investor by
agents receiving large commissions
for disposing of the shares. The Off
GERS of the company may be wealthy
and prominent citizens, and while the
corporation has been authorized by
the state, that very authority relieves
the individual from legal RESPONSE
bility. For the protection Of its citi-
Zens the state should not grant a char
ter to any corporation without an in
vestigation of its purpose and rec
ord of its financial responsibility.
Corporations should not be per-
mitted by the state to organize for
amounts in excess of their true capt.
tai, or be allowed to capitalize their |
good will, or future prospects, and
then sell their shares without restric- !
ton to innocent purchasers. If the |
state required all of these companies |
to organize under its supervision, cap
italize only for their true value, and /
have their transactions made public,
believe that the people of the state
would be relieved from many of the
x,r..oncc that result from the formation I