Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-13
Next Move in Iowa Legislature
Will Be to Amend Laws to
Make Them Effective
PENAL CLAUSE FOR vIoLAToRs
Punishment by Fine Not Generally
Feared by Heads of Great Com
panies and Real culprits Thus Es-
cape-criminaI Prosecutions Would
Stop Violations Of Corporation Laws.
special to Times-Republican.


in legislation relating to the corpora
tions is to arrange for criminal pro-
ceedings against the officers of cor
porations and so amend the laws that
officers Of corporations cannot shirk
their responsibility and avoid prosecu-
ton by claiming that they had moth
ing to do with the violation of the law,
and that if the law was violated at al
it was done by some irresponsible
clerk in the office.
Members of the legislature and pub
lie men generally are discussing the
unlikely that law along that line may
be presented at the next session of the
legislature.
Under the present laws criminal
prosecution of an officer of corpora
ton is not impossible. 1t is quite pos
sible, but very difficult iof accom-"
plishment The corporation which is
bloodless and soulless concern can
be convicted of all sorts of criminal
practices and can be fined for SO do.
ing, but it cannot be put in Jail, and
oftentimes can go on breaking the law
and paying fines and making a profit
al it.
1t is reasoned and has been often
mentioned by public men and the press
tnat criminal prosecution of the Off
GERS. with a penitentiary sentence,
would soon stop much Of the breaking
of the criminal corporation statutes.
Some have even expressed a desire to
see John D. Rockefeller hung.
But under the present criminal stat
utes, If an ceicIal goes into court ano
shows that he has been absent from
the head offices of the corporation for
some months, during which time the
law was broken, and that he has not
taken an active part In the manage
ne1it of the corporation during the Pc
ricd in which the law was broken, he
escapes criminal prosecution. 1t is
now proposed to put on the statute
books laws that will prevent a cor
po1ation official from holding office
and lodging criminal liability. Such
an official, tho absent, is recognized
by most as being the real person
responsible as the law is often broken
on 1i> orders, and he is responsible for
the policy of the corporation. 1t is,
therefore, proposed to make the new
law such that II a man is an official
of corporation, he cannot escape
prosecution by pleading that during
the tine the law was broken he was
taking no active part in the manage
men, cl his corporation. 1t will be so
drawn that an official, if he holds Of
flee, can be held responsible.
In the discussion Of Tenth district
politics politicians. recall the fact that
at the last conveption Judge W. B.
Quarton, now talked Of as candidate
against Connor, was chairman of the
congressional convention. Quarton was
candidate for the position against
Connor at that time but it became evil
dent during the course of the campaign
that he would not be nominated. He
was made chairman Of the convention
instead
When he took the chair he told the
story Of a tramp that applied at
back door for something to eat. He
was given sandwich and as he
walked away dog grabbed the sand
wich and ate 1T. The dog got the
sandwich and the tramp still retained
his appetite. Judge Quarton after tell
ing the story intimated that the story
very much illustrated his position. He
failed to get the nomination but still
retained the appetite and it was taken
at the time as an intimation that Judge
Quarton expected to be candidate at
this time.
Judge Quarton is an excellent mixer
and very popular. In campaign 1t is
said he would make an excellent show
ing if he gets over the district and
proceeds to warm up. He was for
twelve years on the district bench.
Iowa's crops are far ahead Of the
crops in the other states Of the north
west according to Mr.. Mclaughlin, dis
trict manager of the International Har-
vester Company. whose district is the
entire northwest states. He was in
Des Moines for the past several days
and says that both as to crops and the
condition of the implement business
which is Immediately dependent upon
the crops Iowa is better than other
northwest states. He was here after
travelling over almost his entire terri
tory and said that for the most part
Iowa will have nearly average crops,
while in North Dakota particularly, the
crops ara yat,y short