Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-11-04
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insurance laws are unconstitutional
has created considerable comment in
different localities, while the insurance
companies have not been slow to take
advantage of the decision by prepar-
ing to establish boards in a number
of the leading cities of the state. In
Des Moines representatives of the
fire insurance agencies met on We'd
nesday at the parlors at the Slavery
hotel and prepared to form an organi-
cation to be known as the Local
Board of Fire Underwriters. 1t is
claimed that 95 per cent of the fire
insurance interests represented in the
city has already signed the compact
and will adopt rules very stringent
in their character by which they agree
to be governed. 1t is claimed by the
various agents who have joined the
board that their purpose is not to
arbitrarily fix rates but to so adjust
them as to make the business of fire
insurance, if not more profitable, at
least less uncertain in the question Of
rates, etc 1t is also claimed that it
is possible this may spread throughout
the state and result in state organi-
zation with headquarters in Des
Mones and represented by members
of an executive committee, having
charge of the different districts into
which the state will be divided. 1t
is not altogether improbable that the
next session of the legislature may
take up this question of an anti-com-
pact law again and another effort will
be made to fix the law so that 1t will
hold as against the objections of the
courts.
Arrangements are being made to
dedicate the new military. post near
this city with appropriate ceremonies
on Nov. 18th to 14th. A large citi
zens committee has been appointed
to have charge of the program and it
is announced that one fare rate on
the railroads will be secured. Invita-
lions have been extended to Adjutant
General Corbin, General Chaffee, Gen.
eral Bates and General Sumner to be
present, while the committee is as
sured that Lieutenant General Young
in command of the regular army
will be here. The program will in
clude in addition to the regular cere-
monies of the inauguration Of the
post, number of interesting athletic
events such as football, games, etc.
The post is well located short dis
lance south of the city and al IL is
arranged according TO the latest planS
for such an institution it is thoroughly
up-to.date in every way.
An interesting feature connected
with the report just made by Warden
Hunter of Anamosa penitentiary is
the fact that it was put in type and
printed at the prison press in the
penitentiary. 1t consists of seventy
three pages, and in letter press and
general arrangement is certainly a
very creditable document. The report
produces a vast amount of statistics
treating upon the prison population
and different matters going to show
that there is a tendency towards i'm
provement in the conduct and general
character of the prisoners. Warden
Hunter is trying to work out an in
teresting problem in prison reform.
In a word, he is trying to find that
lingering spark of manhood, which
he believes still exists in the most de-
PRAYED, and which, when found, he
hopes to be able to fan into flame.
The success of his efforts will be
Of int
by those who make a study of the
punitive problem.
Many Cases Reversed.
Something a little unusual happen
ed in the supreme court Thursday.
That body at that time handed down
seven opinions in all but one of which
they reversed the lower courts in
one they reversed themselves, and,
in one decision, two members filed
dissenting opinions. The cases re-
versed were from Cerro Gordo, Linn,
and Lee counties Four of them were
from Linn county. One of the most
important cases was that of w. l..
Sleight, ct al VS.. Supreme Council Of
Mystic Toilers, appellants, from Linn
county In the opinion on this case
the supreme court practically holds
that claims made in circulars solicit
ing insurance cannot be considered as
having any standing when it comes
to determining the extent of liability
on policy and that the wording of the
polly itself must be the sole criterion
in reaching a verdict. Another inter
esting case which has been submitted
to the supreme court during the past
week is that of bank in a city OF
Mexico against a company in Des
Mones which writes insurance against
burglary 1t this case a. policy had
been applied for written by the COM
pany and the letter inclosng the
policy deposited in the letter box in
Des Moines about seven o'clock in the
evening, but did not reach the post
Office in this city for mailing until
the next morning. Between the hour
that the letter was deposited in the
letter box and the hour that the stamp
on it was cancelled at the post-office
in Des Moines the bank was robbed.
Now, the question at issue is whether
I he fact fbof Tho Lotion pnDt Amino q