Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-03-09
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. March 9. 1aos.

ISSUED an order granting stay in the
canvass of the mulct petitions pending
the hearing in the higher courts. This
order will permit the liquor men to
operate at least until the supreme
court hands down its decision, which
probably will not be for one year.
The case which was submitted to the
court on the 9th is entitled John K.
Wilson VS.. g. H. +. Bohstedt and was
appealed from the lower court on an
intermediate order. The contest he.
tween the liquor dealers and the Iowa
Ahti-Salo0n league In Iowa county has
been particularly warm. The muict
petition was circulated last November
and the board Of supervisors when
they canvassed 1t declared It had the
requisite number OF signers. The Anti
Balloon league secured copy of the
petition from the county auditor to
investigate some of the signers. They
had 1t in their possession about ten
days. during which time, the saloon
men charge, the list was tempered
with.
According to state authorities a
violent conclusion was arrived at in
respect to the effect of the decision
OF Judge James w. Bollinger OF
Davenport in dismissing the charge
OF embezzlement against M. Beu.
THEN, the New Liberty banker. It
Is not true that there is no law for
the punishment of banker who EN-
DeZZles the funds of the institution
which he manages by lending him
self the money. There is abundant
law. Indeed, it is assumed in Des
Moines that the Beuthien who was
discharged by Judge Bollinger will be
reindicted in Scott county either on
the charge Of larceny by embezzle.
ment or for fraudulent banking. There
Is section of the code which de.
nnes the offense which is charged
against the Beuthiens, as embezzle-
ment. but there is nothing in the sec.
ton providing for penalty. 1t seems
that the Beuthiens were indicted
under this section, and the elder was
discharged because of the fact that
the law did not include a penalty.
But there Is another section of the
code which provides for severe pen
| atty for larceny by embezzement
Had the Beuthiens been indicted
under this section, of course the court
would not have discharged them, but
they would have been compelled to
stand trial. Indeed, it is not known
here, but 1t is possible that the younger
Beuthien is indicted originally under
this section. There also is another
section of the code which provides
sufticient penalty for a banker who
does business with his institution
after he knows 1t Is insovent; under
this law the Beuthiens may be subject
to indictment.
Labor Commissioner Brigham in.
formed the members of the United
Mine Workers of America of District
No Is, in convention here, that he
would ask the next legislature to
pass law which will place the labor.
ers OF Iowa on exactly the same foot.
ing with the employers of the state
in the matter of reports to the labor
bureau. He complained bitterly of
the neglect which the miners and
other organized crafts had been re-
sponsible for, with reference to max
ing reports to him as labor commits
sioner. The law requires the en-
ployers to report but it does not re-
quire the employees to make reports;
it is the intention of the labor COM
missioner to ask the legislature to an.
ply the law equally to employers and
employers.
Letson Ballet, the self-styled ma
poleon Of finance" is now in Des
Moines, having returned from Red
Oak, where he served three months
| sentence for using the United States
mails with intent to defraud. He Is
looking fairly well and says he re-
ceived better treatment at Red Oak
than he expected. He declares that
he will not go through bankruptcy to
escape the payment of the $4,000
fine and costs imposed by the court.
He says that he will pay it, probably
within year. Judge Mcpherson did
not fix any particular time for the
payment of the sum when he SEN
fenced him. Ballet says he expects
TO regain his commercial standing
soon and the payment of the debt will
give him better financial standing
than would the escaping of it through
the bankruptcy courts.
|. Does the biennial elections amend
ment require school and municipal
| Ulcers to be elected at the general
| election in November instead of in
| March and April, as at present? That
! 1uery Is puzzling the lawyers Of the
state and Is being given grave con-
sideration by the attorneys who are
7ssailing the validity of the amend
ment before the supreme court, with
view to urging it upon that body
in support Of the contention that the
| act is defective. W. o. Payne Of Ne
vada brought the idea to Des Moines.
| lie is convinced that the amendment
will require the legislature to pass
Jaws fixing the school and municipal
| Elections for the same date as the
| general election This, of course,
would be an additional ground for
| declaring the amendment invalid, for
It is matter of legislation to change
| the dates of the school and munininal
| elections and the time fixed for them
| could not possibly affect the question
Of establishing biennial general elec-
| tons.
Where girls are concerned LIQUID
| glances will make fellow solid.
Every solicitor is working for his
| own pocket.
A Viennese naturalist declares that
| nearly all reptiles that die from nat
ural cause close the lives between
nightfall and midnight, only a few
hnt I-s.