Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-07-18
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL


NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. July II. 1902.
The state board Of control has given
out figures showing the total number
OF insane persons in Iowa June 80.
1902, to be 1876, total increase OF
| 136 over the previous year. Along
with these figures Is table showing
the number of insane In the state dur
ing the past three years, together with
the increased number each succeed
ing period. The average yearly In
crease during the three years is l25-
%. Judge Robinson Of the board OF
control stated that at this rate
tho state would have to furnish
every eight years added accommoda.
tioSs eas rs Insane eaUas to the capa'
city Of one of the present state hos
pitfalls. It is impossible now for more
than 1000 insane persons to be &C
commodated in any one of the state
hospitals. However the increase men
toned above includes insane in coun-
ty and private institutions, and Judge
Robinson does not anticipate that the
above contingency will ever arise
burden of increase.
The treasurer of state has just paid
of $4,000 in time warrants against
the building fund for the state univer.
sity raised by the special levy OF 100
of mile. In all there have been
$49, 100 Of these warrants. They were
issued in September, 1898. without in
terest, and sold at discount for the
purpose or anticipating the revenue
from the special building, fund levy.
The first of them, to the amount Of
$4,000, fell due July 10. 1902, and it
was those warrants falling due on that
date that have just been paid off.
They were held by the Burlington
Savings bank of Burlington, VT. and
were purchased by that bank for but
1920. There will be $4,000 of these
warrants due November l and one for
$4,000 due December 80. The dis
counts on these warrants amounted t.
$500, representing the sum lost by
the state in anticipating the revenue.
This practice was dlsapproved by the
legislature last winter and has been
prohibited. The warrants were used
in the purchase of books by the re.
gents.
State Labor Commissioner Brig
ham and Deputy Holder has just re.
turned from Davenport, where they
entered on the work OF factory inspec-
ton for 1902. This is the first inspec-
ton under the new law Of the twenty.
ninth general assembly, and Mr.. Brig.
ham has made up his mind to enforce
the new statutes rigidly. While many
factories were in excellent condition
1t Davenport, Mr.. Brigham found many
attractions of the Jaw. Children 10
years Of age are employed, and many
between the ages of IL and Is, fire.
quently laboring with dangerous ma.
chinery. Many violations Of the law
requiring safety appliances for dan.
gereus machinery were discovered.
In some buildings there were poor
sanitary arrangements and lack Of dre
escapes. Mr.. Brigham said he Is de-
termined to correct such abuses. He
held q conference with the county at.
torney OF Scott county, Julius fischer,
and Mr.. fischer assured him Of his In.
tention to cooperate heartily. The
law allows 60 days for the correction
Of abuses after written notice Is given
by the commissioner. Mr.. Brigham in.
tends to visit the factories again in
90 days and II the law is not then
obeyed, then the county attorney will
begin prosecutions. Fire escapes will
be particularly insisted upon. Ninety
days notice is allowed for the equip
ment Of factories with safety appli'
Rnces and sanitary appliances. From
now until October, Mr.. Brigham and
his deputy will be occupied much OF
the time with factory inspection. 1t
will not be possible to visit every fac
tory in each town or city, but as large
! number as possible will be given st.
.ention, considering the fact there IL
= biennial appropriation Of but $1,000
for tho gathering of reports on the
condition of factories.
Governor Cummns has announced
the appointment of George w. Dyer
Of Nevada, to- succeed Judge VIM. s.
Kenyon, who has Just retired from the
bench in the Eleventh district. Judge
Kenyon. who resides at Boone, has
served several terms on the Story
county bench and Is we'll known all
over the state. Recently he sent in
his resignation to the governor on
the plea that private business interests
demanded his time. Judge Dyer is q
man Of about sixty years of age and an
attorney Of experience. He 10 well
known in Story county, although he
has not an extended acquaintance
throughout the state.
Governor Cummins is being flooded
with letters from sentimental women
who are moved to deep compassion
over the prospective fate of Albert G.
Phillips, one of the Buena Vista coun
ty bank robbers and murderers. Phil
lips is under sentence of death and I'M
less he is given new trial or the gov
ernor commutes his sentence he will
hang next December, lor murder
Since he has been in Anamosa prison
Phillips has been writing poetry. Some
of it was recently published in the
Register and Leader. It went broad
cast through Iowa and the result is the
governor is getting letter after letter
from women who want to know how
he can be SO cruel as to permit such a
nice young man, with such admirable
literary talents, to be hanged. They
say it Is just too horrible for any use
and hope the governor won't think CT
allowing such thing. The poetry OF
Phillips was first published in the Ana
mosa Prison Press and the governor
is said to be wondering whether il
would be we'll to conf1ne it's circulation
to the walls Of the prison or at least
to the male section Of the community
Phillips Is bright young mulatto
aged a. His attorneys are seeking a
new trial for him.