TABLE B.

TABLE C.

Compilation showing the resources and liabilities of national, state and mutual savings banks located in Wisconsin

The Trust Company Law enacted by the Legislature of 1909, has not been cn trial long enough to disclose all of its defects. It is, however, apparent even at this early date, that certain limits should be fixed by law, both as to the amount that might be loaned to any one person, firm or corporation, as well as the territory where such loans may be made, in order that added protection. be given to the depositors, and also to materially simplify the work of examination and supervision. I can conceive of no good reason for permitting savings and time deposits in trust companies, to be invested under different rules than those established for the same class of deposits in state banks and mutual savings banks. This law as a whole is, however, an improvement over the old law, in so far as it requires the deposits received to be held or invested separately from other funds or properties held by the corporation, so that in case of insolvency cr liquidation, all such funds and investments made therefrom are primarily liable and must be used for the payment of such deposits.

LEGISLATION.

The Special Legislative Committee on banking appointed by the Legislature of 1909, in their report submitted January 15th, 1910, seem to have carefully considered most of the needed. amendments to the banking laws.

It will not be necessary therefore at this time to supplement their report, with further recommendations, except to emphasize the urgent need for additional examiners and clerks to properly perform the ever increasing duties imposed upon the State Banking Department.

When it is taken into consideration that the institutions under supervision have nearly doubled in number, and fully doubled in total assets during the past six years, and during the past year alone have increased 40 in number, and $22,000,000.00in total assets, it should be apparent that the force employed in this department is wholly inadequate to perform the work it is called upon to do.

The Legislative Committee of the Wisconsin Bankers' Association in their report submitted at the Convention of 1910, realized that more examiners and clerks must be provided, and endorsed the bill recommended by the Special Legislative Committee on banking on this subject, in the following language, to-wit:

"Some of the members of the Association may be inclined to think that the increase in fees to be paid for examinations is somewhat burdensome, but your Committee finds that the proposed fees are in line with those now exacted from national banks, and if we are to have an efficient banking department, and one that can make thorough examinations of all banks at least twice a year, in the interest of the banks themselves and of the general public, it is just to require the banks to pay liberally toward the cost of maintaining this department."

GENERAL REMARKS.

The institutions under the supervision of this department, with few exceptions, have had a very prosperous year, as will be seen by an examination of "Table B" of this report. The deposits in the state and mutual savings banks have increased