Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-30
THE RANKIN TEMPERANCE BILL
Measure Designed to Prevent Traffic
in Liquor by the Express compan-
les Considered by the Committee
Some Doubt as to the Validity of the
Proposed Law.
[By Ora Williams.l
Special to Times -RepublicaE,


ton being the house committee or
suppression Of intemperance, at the
head of which is Captain Greeley, of
Story county. This committee is
wrestling with some knotty prob
lens and intends to get at the right Of
the thing if possible. Yesterday the
committes~took up the Bailey bill, the
first bill introduced in the house, the
one relating to a tax of $1,000 year
on solicitors for liquor houses who
take orders from persons not author
lied to handle or sell liquors. The
committee had before it, by appoint
ment, A. l. Smith, of Mt. Ayr who as
long held by Colonel Hepburn. Before
the committee Mr.. Smith confessed
that he wrote the bill. He presented
a lawyers argument on the bill, pre-
facing the same with a frank admis-
sion that he did not know whether the
bill, should it become a law, would
stand the test of the courts or be de-
clared unconstitutional or in conflict
with the interstate commerce laws.
and he should never have his doubt
removed until he might see it in a
supreme court report. In other words,
the question of it's constitutionality
was such a close one thaa no man
could tell what the courts would do.
But he did present an array of cita-
lions to show that if courts general
ly follow the rulings of the past the
bill would stand the test. He cited es-
pecially a very recent decision of the
supreme court of South Dakota where
similar law was upheld as to it's con-
stitutiona!ity though the case was re-
versed on other reasons. An argument
was entered into between Mr.. Smith
and members of the committee and the
fact brought out that the wording of
the bill may not be the best, and the
committee will therefore, in all prob
ability, amend the bill if it is recon-
mended for passage. Mr.. Rankin, Of
the state marshal clubs, was present
at the hearing as was also Mr.. Stewart,
of the state retail liquor dealers assoc
citation.
Mr.. j. w. Willett, of Tama, who
fought through the courts to a finish,
OH iDSIldII VI llle GhpEGSS COIIl )dllGS,
the cases involving the C. o. D. BUSH
ness in Iowa, was in the city yester-
day but did not appear before the
committee. He declares, however,
that the bill as at present framed,
would not be upheld by the courts,
and that it is an impossibility for
state to interfere in any way with the
interstate commerce in Intoxicating
liquors.
Mr.. Smith brought out the fact that
the methods of outside liquor houses
have changed materially the past year
or two and now they employ regular
local agents, sometimes in large num-
bers, who solicit regularly for liquors
to be delivered by express.
Some of the members Of the Iowa
National Guard are not in favor of the
military bill that is in the hands of the
committee in the senate and likely to
be introduced as the committee bill
within few days. 1t develops that
the bill cuts off one or two heads and
as a result there is some opposition. 1t
is believed that the guard to a very
large extent is in favor of the bill and
will support it. A large number of the
leaders attended a conference here and
appeared before the committees of the
senate and house to explain the reasons
for the bill and what it would do for
the guard. The opposition comes from
the fact that the assistant inspector
general is done away with entirely and
the Inspector general will no longer in
spect the guard annually at salary Of
- Ao, Fpr oh fyyn pr
The inspector general. however, is re-
tanned, but his duties are to attend
the annual encampments and inspect
the guard for those days. One Of the
provisions of the bill fixes it so that if
actual warfare should ensue every
member Of the guard will go to the
field. At present the inspector general
and assistant and the entire medical
corps would be left at home The
new bill assigns them to regiments SO
that they would have to respond as
part of the regimental organization
and the adjutant general and assistant
would be the only ones left home. 1t
is proposed also to change the mark
ings of the companies at the annual
inspections SO as to conform with the
regular army ratings. A detailed Off
Ger from the regular army now annu-
ally inspects the guard and this fact is
the reason for cutting off the inspector
and assistant inspector general, as the
state by using the inspection of the
regular army saves about $1,000 a
year Under the new bill there will be
no one company standing at the head
with the highest marking. nor any at
the tail end with the lowest. The COM
panies will be graded as excellent, good,
fair or Indifferent and subject to muster
out. 1t is claimed that 1t is demoraliz-
ing to the guard to have one company
ranking as the best in the state.
A bill drawn by w. n. Bailey, of
Des Moines and introduced in the SEN
ate by Senator Garst, it is claimed will
force all corporations doing business in
the state to file their articles of incor-
poration here. The bill merely makes
an addition to section 1887 of the code.
At present there is a law requiring
corporations doing business in the
state to file certified copies of their
articles of Incorporation here but there
is no penalty if they do not and no way
to force them to do so. The bill drawn
by Bailey adds these words to the
code: 1.-THE exceptions and exemptions
provided shall not extend to any cor
poration which does not in good faith
transact it's principle business in the