Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-30
TIE l0N||NE IN IOWA
Legal Battle Probable Over the
Bill Passed Regulating Ton.
tine Companies.
Curious Philippine Artillery Re.
ceived Tuesday by the State
Historical Department.
Small Hope of Apprehension Of
Peterson Murderers-A
Bribery Case.
Special to Times-Republican.


gal battle in prospect for the state of
Iowa to determine the right of the state
to protect it's citizens from the tontine
schemers. The home promoters and
managers of the tontine business are
laying plans for a contest with the
state and an attack on, the new law
which they feel certain will soon go in
to effect. The legislature passed
most stringent bill requiring that per-
sons, firms or partnerships engaged in
any of the modern tontine schemes
taking in payments at stated periods
and promising property or something
OF value under contingencies shall in
corporate under the building and loan
law and every such incorporation shall
file a bond with the auditor of state in
the sum of $50,000. The bill was saw
agely attacked by persons engaged in
the tontine business, and Governor
Cummins has thus far failed to sign
the bill. He has another week in which
to decide and in the meantime has Sc
cured an opinion from the attorney
general as to the legality and regularity
of the bill. The chief point of attack
is that it practically prohibits the right
Of private contracts and that it would
shut out all installment business. But
1t is certain that the governor will at
least permit the bill to become law
even tho he does not sign it. A few
days ago there was filed with the sec
<>f ,<o%. -
ration of the Bankers Tontine Mercan-
tile Company, of this city, and char
ter was demanded. The papers were
filed by one who has been connected
with one of the local tontine concerns
against which the law just passed is
directed. But the papers were cleverly
drawn and the purpose of the new COM
pany is stated to be to deal in, buy and
sell farm machinery and implements,
furniture, diamonds. etc. AS this looked
somewhat suspicious the attorney gem
4 raj was asked for an opinion and he
decided that the plan Of the company
might be to evade the law just passed
and under the 4g,lise of dealing In plows
and rocking chairs conduct q tontine
business in Iowa. The secretary of
state has, therefore, refused thus far to
grant the charter to the company and
| 1t is probable that the promoters will
go at once into court to test the right
of the secretary to refuse to recognize
the company. In the meantime one in
corporated company here in Des
Moines and several unincorporated as
sociations are doing tontine business,
and they will continue to do so until the
law is in force and a test made in court
as to it's power
Charles Aldrich of the historical de-
partment of Iowa, is getting together
one of the most unique and interesting
collections of artillery to be found any
where. Yesterday he received several
additional pieces, so that his collection
now consists Of eighteen separate
pieces. Those received yesterday came
direct from the Philippines thru the
war department by favor of Congress-
man John A. T. Hull. The most showy
piece is mounted cannon made of
brass, about three feet long, with n
two-inch bore. 1t is mounted on very
heavy wooden truck with wooden
wheels on wooden axles, the hubs
bound with iron bands. The work is
OF the most primitive character and
would hardly have been a credit
to Europeans in the dark ages.
Two other pieces are bamboo
cannon. One is what appears
tc be a piece of two-inch gas
pipe surrounded by heavy layer of
bamboo bound with iron bands. The
bamboo wound with wire, and another
1ov Of IA hn1
way. The pieces are about five feet
long. They appear to not have been
mounted and were probably left lying
on the ground when fired. Another
piece is fine specimen of saluting
mortar, which looks for all the world
like brass jackscrew with the screw
lost out. It sets on end and fires
straight up in the air. 1t was used
merely to make noise. In the collec-
ton is also Filipino gun. 1t is piece
of gaspipe about an inch in diameter
and five feet long, set in stock of
rough wood and bound down with iron
bands. The thing looks like 1t would
be very dangerous, especially at the
breech end, when fired off. These are
all added to the splendid Iowa museum
collection, which will repay investiga-
ton by any citizen of Iowa.
Only two detectives have been re-
tanned at work on the Peterson murder
case They are working quietly and
without hope. The only thing on which
to base an identification should an ar
rest be made is a few hairs on the
clothing of the girl, apparently hairs
from the beard of a man, and these
have been subjected to a most critical
microscopical examination. The weap-
on with which the horrible murders
were committed has never been found.
Not drop of blood has ever been seen
anywhere except on the clothing or
bodies of the two children. 1t is a deep
mystery how all this could have hap
pened without leaving some trace, but
the stern fact can not be ignored. In
terest in the case has apparently died
out the past few days, but at the
slightest move 1t would be quickly re-
vived.
The republican state committee will
be called to meet some time next week
and to fix place and date for the state
convention this year. It Is probable
that the convention will be held at the