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# Bank Comptroller's Report. The official Report of G. Van Steenwyk, Comptroller and Superintendent of Banks in Wisconsin, of date of October 1st, 1860, is just out. As a monitor of the present condition of our banks, it is of no account, because the depreciation of stocks has taken place long since the date of Report. From the Report we learn that there are near five millions of dollars in State Stocks, principally Southern, though but some $200,000 in secession State Stocks deposited with the State Comptroller and State Treasurer. These are called securities pledged for the redemption of the four millions of bank paper. Added to these the stockholders pledge their individual bonds for about a fourth of their circulation. The Report shows $148,429.50 in specie on hand. The Banks, under advisement of Comptroller, are trying to rid of their Southern securities and instead thereof Northern State Stocks. Had this been thought of years ago, our bank paper would now be as good and near par as Ohio, Indiana or Michigan money. The Bank of Montello and Bank of the Capitol failed to poney up securities when ordered in January, '60; their stocks were therefore sold and consequently the gold is in the hands of the Comptroller to pay over to bill holders, dollar for dollar. A remarkable banking phenomena is here presented: the paper of these broken banks is worth more than if they had not broken. A similar result would follow if every bank in the State were to fail. Therefore, Wisconsin paper of broken banks will never be marked with a star or dagger in the Money Reporters! History, from Old Hickory down fails to record a parallel instance in any State where bankers were so perfectly outwitted by law. But, it is also remarkable that our banks, while running, are considered so far doubtful that Wisconsin money is at a discount from 6 to 12 per cent., in the money shambles of Wall-street. Twenty-one of our Wisconsin Banks are voluntarily winding up and the specie is on hand to redeem every dollar—another mystery and irregularity in the history of banking, suggesting the inquiry: why report the paper of these winding-up banks at a heavy discount in Wall-street? The State tax on the Bank Stock, paid to the State for the current year, amounted to $106,155.43, which relieves the taxpayers of just that much taxation; that is, the people would have to raise just so much more tax were this sum not collected from the banks. Amendments to the banking law are suggested by the Bank Comptroller, and also by the Bankers; any amendments to the law might prove dangerous. A law that heads a class of financial characters whom only a Jackson could master, by means the most arbitrary and tyrannical at that, ought to stand as unalterable as the laws of Meades and Persians. The only change that ought to be entertained for a moment is a total repeal of the banking law or annihilation.