The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-02-02
Fines Should TO to the Town or
Civ.

We quite agree with the Sioux City
Journal that
The legislature should seriously
consider the proposition to make
fines imposed for violation of the la y
against saloons, gambling houses and
houses OF prostitution payable, not
to the school fund nor to the county
treasury. but to the city treasury
There ii a demand for such change
among the friends of Temperance
in the larger Iowa cities, because ii
will bring to their aid in enforcing
the law u strong reinforcement from
the business element of the comman.
ity. Aside from this. the proposition
is just. The police expenses have to
bc borne by the city. The burden OF
taxation therefore is borne by the
city. 1t il only fair that the fines I'm
posed should go into the city treasury
rs fund for defraying such expenses
OF course there should be suitable
guards and provisions made for Sc
curing not only justice to the city
treasury, but also efficiency i'm en-
forcing the law.
The one negative argument with
many who otherwise favor killing
the traffic is the loss of revenue to
cities and towns. This loss has SER
iously crippled many places and
closed down upon local improve
inents. To such persons the traffic
acts as bride. Such a law as above
proposed would prove an incentive
to enforcing the law.-[Decorah Re-
publican.
Perhaps the Republican and Jour-
nal overlook the fact that the State
Constitution sets these fines apart
for the exclusive support Of the pub
lie schools Of the counties within
which they are imposed and collect
ed. Art. 8, sub div. 2, sec. 4, of the
State Constitution reads as follows:
THE clear proceeds of oil fines COL
lected in the several counties for any
breach of the penal laws shall be ex-
clusively applied in the several coun-
ties in which such money is paid or
fine collected, among the several
school districts of said county,"
Our statute books are already dis
graced with two laws which come in
direct conflict with the section of the
constitution cited.
Sec. 8, chapter 143, Acts of the
Twentieth General Assembly multi
fies the constitution in diverting
these fines as follows:
Zone half the amount SO secured
shall go to the informer and the 9TH
er one half shall go to the school
fund Of the county.
The pharmacy law appropriates rs
per cent more, SO that 70 psr cent Is
already set to other uses than the
constitution provides and here we
have two leading journals that seem
to be ignorant both Of the constitu-
ton and Of the unconstitutional laws.
Section 2, chapter 50, Acts OF the
Twenty-first General Assembly, VIC
lates the constitution of the state in
these words.
Twenty-Five per cent of all moneys
recovered as fines under the provis.
ions of this act shall be paid into the
State Treasury and reported to the
State Auditor. and held subject to
the commissioners Of pharmacy al
needed to be by them used, solely tc
defray the expenses Of prosecutions
under, and the enforcement of, thi.
act or acts to which this Is amenda
tory"
Before we have any more legisla
lation In the direction Of diyertine
fines and penalties from the channels
provided by the fundamental law O
the state, il such diversion is just
and desirable, let the constitution be
SO amended that the statute will be
in harmony Herewith.