Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-09
WOMEN CAN VOTE ON BONDS
iowa Supreme Court Upholds Conten
ton of the Suffragists.
KNOCKS OUT THE NEW CITY HALL
Rock Island shops at valley junction
open Up on Full Time and with
Larger Force Than Ever
Employed.
From a staff Correspondent.)

DIES MONIES, July s,-(Special)-Women
can vote on all questions OF Issuing bonds
or increasing the tax levy for special i'm
provements In municipal affairs in Iowa
The supreme court says so today in a de-
cision which stops permanently the erection
Of a new city hall In his city till the
women are allowed to vote on the matter.
The decision of the court is a victory for
the Political Equality club of this city and
the new city hall, which was to have been
erected this year, must be again submitted
to the people.
The decision of the court is Of quite far
reaching Importance. When 1t was decided
to submit to the people the question Of the
erection Of a new city hall the women
learned that the city officials intended not
to let them vote. They appealed to the
officials and the officials we're obdurate.
The law provides that on questions of
issuing bonds the women can vote. The
city officials sought to get around this by
wording the question on the ballot to say
tothing If BOMBS. 1t was worded: Shall
the city of Des Moines erect a city hall at
a cost not exceeding $35O.00O7" In a sep
arate question It submitted. should the tax
levy be increased by a certain amount
On this the court says: '1t is imma-
terial whether the question specifys the
precise amount Of bonds to be issued or tax
levied or authorizes the construction of an
improvement involving the raising of money
In one or both of these methods with which
to pay the cost. The consequence OF the
election is the same in either event" And
further: I'm either event the question of
the issuance of bonds or increase of taxa
ton is directly involved and on that the
voice Of the women car no longer be
sllenced in this state save by the repeal
Of this statute"
One of the chief arguments of the city
was that the constitution prohibits women
from voting and limits It to men. The
court holds that the limitations of the con-
stitution apply to elections provided for by
the constitution itself and that it therefore
applies to the election of persons to public
office and that 1t does not apply to cleo
tions provided for by the legislature and
that the legislature therefore has authority
to direct that women can vote on bond
matters. and that a vote on issuing bonds
is not an election" as the term is used
in the constitution.
The Iowa law provides that the women
shall vote on separate ballots and the
ballots shall be deposited In separate boxes.
The supreme court says on this: THAT
the arbitrary classification o. voters will
not be tolerated may be conceded and it
is doubtful whether any substantial dis
elimination between electors with full
power OF suffrage may be upheld
school Consolidation Legal.
The supreme court today affirmed the
decision of the Polk county district court
In refusing to grant an injunction against
the new officials of the consolidated school
district of Des Moines. The territory in
side the city limits of Des Moines consisted
Of several districts. The thirty. second gen.
eral assembly enacted a law providing for
consolidation on the favorable vote of the
people. The vote was favorable and the
courts We're then resorted to to prevent the
consolidation.
ShOomen All Back to Work.
All the employees of the Rock Island shops
at Valley Junction nave been put back to
work. This includes 200 men who have been
Idle since the shut down in June. All who
had not been returned previously were put
back Monday and some additional men
with them, so that the shops are now run
ming with even a larger force of men than
at the time of the shut down in June.
Woman Held for Burglary.
Miss Mary Ann Watts, aged 20, and owner
of a 13O-acre farm near Norwoodville, and
her hired man. Marion Comegys, a boy of
l6, are held for the theft of $3.50 from a
coal miner, Charles Richards. Richards
drew the money from a bank, intending TO
purchase a farm, and hid II between the