The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-02-02
SALOONS HARD HIT.
Supreme Court Holds Old Pc.
titions OF Consent Insufficient.
HARD FIeHT on COLONEL ROOD

His Appointments on the Board of Control
Create, Observation-Disclosures Will
Report Fayorably, but His Confirmation
In the Iowa Senate Will lie Opposed.
Dies MONIES, Jan. 3O.-A decision
WHICH will close thirds of the
saloons in Iowa was handed down by
the supreme court yesterday. 1t is con-
sidered the most generally important
decision given out in ten years. In
1894 the legislature passed the so-called
''mulct liquor law" which did not re-
peal the old prohibitory statute, but
suspended its penalties on condition OF
filing peti;ian Of majority of the
voters and securing consent of the town
council TO operation of saloons. This
took effect Immediately. In 1857 the
Legislature revised the code, codified al
session laws and published it as new
and complete code. This new code
changed in u few minor respects the
mulct law. The old mulct act has no
provision for a canvass of the consent
petition; the new code provided that it
must be canyassed and approved by the
county supervisors. Lorenz Ill, a Des
Moines saloon keeper, was assailed by
the Anti Saloon league on the ground
that he could not operate his saloon
under the new law without getting a
new consent petition and having it can
vassed by the supervisors. The district
court, Judge Bishop presiding, decided
in Ill S favor, and the case went up on
certiorari proceedings. The supreme
court, through Judge Waterman's opin-
ion, decided the whole matter. 1t holds
that the code of 1897 repealed all laws
heretofore passed; that the old mulct
law was repealed; shat consent petitions
secured and filed under the old law are
rendered worthless; that any saloon
keeper operating under q petition filed
prior to Oct. /, 1897, when the new code
took effect, is liable to be closed and
fined for contempt. This affects the sd.
looms in about two thirds of all counties
which have saloons in the state. The
liquor dealers have been watching the
case, which was conceded throughout
| the state to be q test action. In Des
Moinesa new consent petition has already
been secured i'll anticipation of a posi-.
BILE adverse verdict, but it is said that
mother county had taken this trouble.
| The saloons will close at once in most Of
the smaller places until new petitions
can be secured There is talk of asking
the legislature to pass a legalizing act
legalizing the old petitions, but indica.
| tons are that these will be defeated.
| Legislature Holds Brief Session.
The legislature met yesterday at
o'clock and after brief session ad
journed until today. A few minor bill
were introduced. The entire interes
of the members is over the appointment
of Colonel Rood as chairman of thu
state board of control by Governo
Shaw. The committee appointed b,
the senate to report on the appointment
will probably meet today. Senate
Finch, Il member of the committee
stated that there was a tacit under
standing that conclusion would b
reached on Tuesday. There is littl
doubt at this time that the COMMITTEE
will report favorably, although it i
equally certain bitter fight will result
on the floor Of the senate over the con
firmation of the appointment.