Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-16
SURPRISES IOWA JURISTS
suprsms Court Goes Full Length IN Decision
Of Iowa National Bank Case
FEDERAL JURISDICTION IS SUPREME
eacbe of lows Are OrEaniEtnE Into
Unions 10 Further Effort 20 Sc
cure Better wages and
Conditions
From e stat Correspondence

torney General Mullan today received from
the clerk Of the United States supreme
court q sopy OF the decision Of that court
in the case Of James H. Easton against the
State Of Iowa. taken TO the higher court
on writ Of error from the state supreme
court Of Iowa The case was recently de-
cided by the court, Justice ShirRs deliver
ing the opinion. Easton was president Of
3 national bank at DEBORAH and a few
years ago. when the bank failed, be was
indicted. convicted and sentenced under
the state law for having illegally received
q deposit from 6 person after he knew
the bank was insolvent. The district and
state supreme courts decided thai he vas
amenRble to this general statute in regard
TO illegal banking and upheld the con-
victiOn. The attorney general went to
Washington the first Of the year and argued
in defense Of this position before the
United States supreme court. Justice shiras
holes that the state Law is not applicable.
There was an impression in Iowa and else
where, drawn from the press reports Ht
the time, that the decision was probably
on some technical ground, but the fun de-
cision az reported now goes the fun length
Of holding that the state Legislature hRA
no power to make any Law affecting ma
tionRl banks as such. Congress, having
power to Great & system Of national banks,
rs the Judge as TO the extent Of the powers
which should be conferred On such banks
and has the sole power to regulate ana
control the exercise Of their operations.
Congress has also dealt directly with the
question Of insolvency Of the banks and
has made full and adequate provision for
the protection OF the creditors OF such
banks. and cit is not competent for the
state legislatures to interfere, whether with
hostile or friendly Intention, with national
banks or their officers in the exercise Of the
powers bestowed upon them by the general
government" The decision created great
surprise in Iowa, as II had been held q
number OF years ago in 8 similar case,
which WIS not carried to the higher court,
that the criminRl laws Of the state relRt-
ing to banking were applicable to national
banks as well as 10 state banks.
Teacher VIII BE Organised
After The recent state meeting OF the
teachers OF Iowa and the decision Of the
teachers TO enter upon a general cam
paign covering a number OF years TO secure
better wages and better conditions sur
rounding their employment. there was
much talk Of inducing the teachers TO Join
with the labor leaders in the organization
of Unions through which they could work.
The movement 10 this end has actually
been started by the labor leaders OF the
state and this week the first Of the general
organizations Of teachers to be affiliated
with the State Federation Of Labor is to
be organized in wapello county. This has
been arranged by Joseph Byrne, secretary
Of the trades assembly in Ottumwa. who
has been foremost in promoting the iden.
The Tnanhnaa hann 5000 - 81. 49,
organization and TO join with the Trades
and Labor Assembly. They believe that in
this way they will be able 10 accomplish
better results than otherwise. In Clinton
county a similar movement h ripe for
accomplishment and In q short time the
teachers Of that county will be affiliated
with the labor unions. It is reported that
in q number OF counties in the eastern part
OF the state this work is going on and
the labor leaders expect TO make a form
idable showing with the Organization of
teachers.
Governor starts Eastward.
Governor and Mrs. A. B. Cummins started
for New York city this evening. They viii
be gone Two or three weeks. The trip was
advised by the governors physician on ac-
count Of his health. He has beer worn out
with hard work and in fact has worked
harder at his sob of being governor than
ever before in his practice as a lawyer.
He has also done much travelling and public
speaking and this has told on him. The
governor stated today tina he did not
know just where he would go but thought
possibly he might take a trip 10 the Florida
coast or take one OF the coRstwise vessels
and get out on the ocean for a short time.
He has laid aside several important mat
tiers relating 10 state work and viii not
take them up until his return from this
journey.
IOwA and the Scholarship.
The selection OF the committees 10 have
control OF the Rhodes scholarships for Iowa
gives general satisfaction. The committee
consists Of the heads Of FIVE OF the great
colleges OF the state. namely, MAclean Of
the State university, King Of Cornell col
lege. Bell Of Drake university. Mccormick
Of COe college, and Bradley Of Iowa col
lege- This committee is TO have fun and
complete authority in awarding the schol-
arships from Iowa 10 Oxford. Some effort
hao been made TO have them disposed OF
otherwise, hut the commission has been
named and II viii be generally satisfactory
70 all the college men who are aspirants
for the scholarships.
AaHnH w --