Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-05
GOVERNOR TENER'S LAST MEsSACE1


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a.a1,stional. and 1t became the duty Of |
~ 'sonartment to meet those attacks,
'sIch ii did successfully.
H. - aonartment argued with success In
lpS e,,,re,ne Court OF the United states
ne .aa raising the constitutionality of
le ,at,,,s prohibiting foreign-born aliens
". o,vnine shotguns and rifles, involv-
,nportant questions as to the police
ns - os the state and the construction
fows..rnatlonai treaties and, in the same
". ln tbe department sustained the
foll,,.,, fouis Under the state and Federal Con-
a.,,s ailpas ~ a very important provision
nv.al anthracite mine code, requiring in
- 'n1''.ss.st 'ns s and protection of the miners
ne ,n.,,,nz of barrier pillars between ad-
nv s.i,s mines: also the case involving the
oussi,utionality of the pure food law
,aoa which is the principal act under
i - ,ba Dairy and Food Department
Fnicn The constitutionality of the
ps.in 80, law, and of various provisions
JULY. 4a yipe laws have also been upheld
wy wv hiohest courts of the State, and
II une regulating private bankers, and
nesi ne ~ other important department laws
been sustained in the lower courts.
ad,tion to this class of important
III tt,is department has been success
obtaining judgments from the
,..ts concerning corporate taxes. which
s,,ited IN increasing the State revenues
7, several millions. In one important
s,,, ase s75OOOO was collected from one
company
Qualification Of La1cs
r.. legislative Reference Bureau, at
oossion Of 1918, was directed by the
rai w Assembly to make eXarnination
tSa general statute laws of the State
~. W. nronare n list of obsolete statutes
w statutes whereon some doubt exists
,shether they have been repealed by the
raneral repeating clause In subsequent
eets. Accordingly Dill mas peen pre-
caraA reciting by title and repeating up
ssd of Zoo laws. The bureau was also
S,aao,sd to prepare compilations and
pnsns bv topics, of the existing general
arss and to report to the General AS
rsmbly in 1915 such codes as nave been
nronared. The bureau has codified and
.ssniIed the general laws of Pennsylva-
~ reIotine TO taxation in all it's phases,
s.a+a and local, relative to business cor
porat,ons (except railroads, canals, bank
~ and insurance, which will be codi-
asd separately and to boroughs.
Sren II the codes mentioned above
.hould not become laws, the amount ex-
bended on this work Is justified by the
results shown
Banking
There we're 4S9 banks, trust companies
nd savings-fund institutions doing bus
sross in pennsylvania at the close of the
,aar 1910 This number has grown to 4S7
|tho resources have increased from S1,O69,-
IA ass25 TO S1,27S, GA, ,951.7S; the deposits
hnve grown from $747,515, 554.36 to 1929, 1884,
zasS2 and the number of depositors from
7I4,Oi9 to 2,S15,S21.
Building associations in this state at
.be close of 1910 numbered 1850 and now
'%,,,har 17e3. The resources have in
rreased from s1S1, ,302 OSS.27 to 1898 564, 4556O
hi January, 1914 making the total re-
eources of all incorporated financial in
etitutions in the State for 1914 about $l,-
fO0000,O00.
II Il TO be regretted that the Legisla-
flire has not yet deemed 1T necessary 10
snact measures similar to those in use by
fhe National Government and many Oh
.he states for a more expeditions and in
expenslve method of winding up the al
Hairs Of insolvent financial corporations.
Iagislation should be enacted requiring
nll individuals engaged in private banking
to take out a license, and the provision
In the present law eXempting certain
pryate bankers should be repealed. They
poslts upon the credit of individuals, un-
less subject to the examination and
serutiny of the Banking Department, in
order that such deposits may have the
greatest possible measure of security.
Insurance
Realizing that there were but two States
In the Union where more capital was in
vested in insurance enterprises, and but
one State wherein the volume OF business
Transacted was greater than in Pennsyl-
vania, the General Assembly of 1911
enacted comprehensive legislation reor-
ganzing the Insurance Department and
extending it's jurisdiction, until today the
Insurance laws of this State compare
fayorably with those of any other State.
Policies Of life insurance and health and
accident contracts have been so standard
lied that beneflciaries can readily under
stand what protection they or their fami-
lies will receive in the event of mis-
fortune.
The liquidation of insolvent institutions
had been source of dissatisfaction on
account of the delay and excessive cost
OF administration. The act of 1911,
authorizing the Commissioner to liquidate
insolyent companies, has proved beneficial.
some twenty-five companies and associa-
Hons have already been wound UP, or are
IN process of liquidation, with minimum
cost and no unusual delay.
Little additional legislation is required;
but standard fire policy should be
acopted; authority should be given the
commissioner to examine and supervise
fate-making associations and provisions
o made for the licensing of fire insur-
anee adJusters.
National Guard
me National Guard has maintained its
sAelency. It is composed of about 1900
solag men of the State and is compe-
ssnF ofhcered. visited the several en-
ampments and was impressed with the
interest manifested by the officers and
h The training and discipline of this
Nssnization teaches respect for law and
hpsnorlty and prepares the young men to
aaeefAsand and accept responsibility. The
sll1sn-soldier is the nations reliance for
a's aeLense Of her institutions, and Penn
2naala should be prepared to do her
having a strong force OF trained
nc e-ciplned men. The General Assem-
should give thoughtful consideration
= inc needs OF the National Guard.