The copper era., 1909-01-28

and for the six months ended Decem- Der 3l, 1909, s, ,S43.O9.
 BANKS.
 There are thirty-two territorial banks and thirteen national banks in Arizona. Included in the list of cial houses, which, in addition to general merchandise business, carry on banking business.
 The called statements of all the banks of the territory for November 27, 1908, showed an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of S1,- 99S, ,38O.O9 for territorial banks, and S1, ,557 ,4Ol.55 for national banks. De- posits in territorial banks amounted to S8, ,O25, ,975.79, and in national banks to S5, ,S23, ,23S.92 Loans and discounts of territorial banks amounted to S5,- 463, 177.OS, and of national banks, s3,- 895, ,47O.S7.
 All the territorial banks are close ly examined by the territorial bank comptroller. at intervals. There have been no failures of territorial banks within the past two years, and but one failure of a national bank. Two other national banks suspended in the panic last winter, but soon re- sumed business.
 THE PUBLIC EXAMINER.
 The law enacted by the twenty third legislative assembly creating the office of public examiner, has operated to the marked adyantage,ot the taxpaying public. The public examiners frequent examinations of official accounts are resulting in modern, common sense methods of keeping accounts. Until the various county officers that deal with fiscal affairs had passed under his scrunity it was not realized by many that in not a few counties the officers were following slipshod and antiquated methods of keeping their books, with resulting confusion and inaccuracy, and, in some cases, appearances of shortages which did not exist. Even more important, however, the alert ness of the public examiner has re- suited in recovering many thousands of dollars which otherwise would have been lost through carelessness or ad- herence to objectionable precedents.
 l am glad to say, however, and it is a fact of which we have reason to feel proud, that almost invaria bly, the officers honest and conscientious, and anxious to discharge their duties in a creditable manner. Indeed, I think it may be said of this territory that we have fewer defalcations or other instances Ot dishonesty in office than is found in any other subdivision of the union.
 There has been some criticism be. cause I have not made public any of the numerous special reports which the public examiner has made to this office. I shall be glad to make such reports public, if you see fit to enact law requiring it, but in the absence of such requirement I have felt that my duties did not go to that extent In all cases where the practices Oi county officers have been criticised Inv tho Dt1Lli,- eyaminar bova faIt that the real end to be achieved was the correction of these improper practices rather than the public humiliation of officers who were really acting from conscientious mo tives. And in the cases of miscon duct which have come to light-mis conduct which very probably could not have been proved d crime-it has seemed to me that it would be in- vidiouS to single out these cases for publicity, in the absence of any law upon the subject.
 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
 The legal department of the terri. tory is steadily growing Tn import ance. During the past two year: many suits of magnitude have beer prosecuted or defended by tine attor- ney general on behalf of the people and the services rendered by him have been ot inettimable value tC the territory.
 Ia addition to those active services which have called him to nearly all sections of the territory, the attor uey general has rendered numerous opinious at the request of territorial and county officers. and the various branches of his duties have made heavy demands upon his time.
 THE LIVE STOCK SANITARY BOARD
 The biennial report of the live stock sanitary board and of the ter ritorial veterinarian comprise com prehensive statements of the Cond i. tion of the live stock industry, of the operation of the sanitary idw enacted by the twenty-third legislative as sembly, and of sanitary conditions in the territory. It is gratifying to know that Arizona stands forem Ist in the enforcement of laws for the pro- tection of live stock.
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