Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-30
lLAWLESSNESS VERY COMMON
Several Towns in Iowa Suffering from an
Era Of Law-Breaking
NEW LAW FOR DIES MONIES POLICEMEN
VIII Go Under Civil Service This
week-AnotheF Hitch IN the Water
Works CRse-Newspaper Mer-
ger Comes as n Surprise.
CFrom a stafr Correspondent

AthhNA NNN1eNA ~ NhS bNSRAC " VI
to put an end to conditions they cannot
tolerate. At Estherville an attempt was
made to burn a house with intent to muir
der. 1t was the residence Of r. E. Ridley,
a prominent citizen. His wife was in the
house very i'll at the time and about la
o'clock in the morning she smelled smoke
and awakened Mr.. Ridley who found the
kitchen was ablaze. Next door was an
other residence very close and another
sick woman was lying therein unable to
be moved. It was felt that the incendiary
had tried to cause the death of both wo-
men. An indignation meeting was held
and an organization formed to help in
ferreting out the crime, The people added
$500 to the reward of 5000 offered by Mr..
Ridley. It is believed the trouble arose over
temperance agitation.
The people of the town Of Hamilton. in
Marion county. have organized to put a
stop to similar lawlessness. A drug store
was blown to atoms in that town by a
charge of dynamite and there is no doubt
that the outrage came because of the re-
fusal OF the druggist to sell liquor to
someone. Investigation is being made and
It is believed some arrests will follow.
At Charlton the murder of Belden Cook
In a district of the town notorious for
liquor joints has aroused the people and
they have been making raids on the IL
legal liquor sellers in an attempt to clean
up the town. There is much indignation
among the people and a desire to prevent
further rouble.
At Corydon a similar state of affairs
exists. A public meeting was held to take
steps to stop the illegal sale of liquor and
an organization formed to carry on the
work Of prosecuting bootleggers. Nearly
81, 900 was contributed off hand for the
work, and the agents of the railroads and
express companies were notified not to re-
ceive liquor and a committee was named
to warn all liquor statesmen to leave the
town.
Police Under Civil Service.
1t is expected that tomorrow Mayor
Brenton will appoint a Board of Police and
Fire Commissioners for Des Moines. The
legislature authorized such a board and
the city council has passed an ordinance
In accordance with the law. The board
will take charge next week and hereafter
all appointments to positions on the city
' police force or the fire department will be
made by a nonpartisan board operating
under stringent civil service rules. 1t is
not known who will be on the board, a
number Of names having been considered
The fire department has been under civil
service rule for a long time and is very
efficient, but the police force has. always
been political In character. Nearly all the
present members Of the police force are
candidates for retention.
Failed to Get a Bond.
Another slight hitch, one Of many in the
last three years, has occurred In the ar
rangements for the laying Of water mains
to the site OF the army post. The COM
pany had planned to give a surety bond to
indemnify city officials from damage suits
on account Of the alleged illegal action in
turning over $50, 900 OF the city funds to the
company, but at the last moment the
fidelity companies refused to furnish the
bonds. 1t was regarded as entirely too
doubtful to be undertaken by the COM
panies and II any bond is given 1t will
have to be a personal one furnished by the
citizens of Des Moines. An effort is to
be made by officials of the water company
to furnish such a bond. The work of the
contractors has been commenced at the site
OF the army post and other contracts have
been let. but not much more work can be
done until water is furnished on the ground
and there is no considerable amount Of
water to be had.
Ior tne m entH.
The adjutant general is engaged in ar
ranging routes for the encampments of the
National guard. Nearly all the companies
OF the Fifty-hrst regiment from southern
Iowa will go to Atlantic by way Of Council
Bluffs except those near Des Moines. It
will not be necessary to have special trains,
but in the northern part Of the state the
companies Will be provided with special
trains In a number OF cases. The new
companies at Sheldon, Independence and
Cresco Will be ready to go into camp this
year, a special examining board being ready
to examine the officers for commissions.
The signal company, located in this city,
which is not attached to any regiment, will
go into camp with the Fiftieth regiment at
oskaloosa.
LabOrinE Men Assist Girls.
A largely attended meeting Of the labor
ing men OF Des Moines was held at Trades
Assembly hall today to take action toward
assisting the telephone girls in their con-
test. Much time was spent in the general
meeting considering resolutions demanding
OF the city that 1t buy and operate the mu-
tual telephone system. but no definite ac-
tion was taken. The telephone oper-
ators who are In the strike were
PASSSHN" II mccliuB was enthusiast
tic In support OF the strike and the oper-
ators we're given every possible assurance
OF support Afterward a meeting of the
o~ficials and committees Of the Trades AS
sembly was held and 1t was decided that
other strikes will be inaugurated this week.
but the exact program will not be decided
on until later.
Rain Continues in Iowa.
A heavy rain was falling practically all
day today over central Iowa, increasing
the danger and loss to crops and incon-
veniencing the public. More than an inch
Of rain has come down here on Saturday
and Sunday.
The Burlington road today changed 1875
miles OF narrow to standard gauge track.
The entire work was completed in nine
hours by having gangs OF men strung out
all along the line. The road was one re-
Gently acquired, running northwest from
Burlington.
ProhibitiOniSts ReOrEaniEinE.
cRESToN. Ia. June s29.-(speeial)-
The prohibitionists OF Union county held
a mass convention in the courthouse today
/ for tha nurDOSa NJ ranrU.pI.g,. a. -.