Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-14
WHAT is LAW AND ORDER EN-
EORCEMENT?
A Few Hints Worth studyino,

wei " IiouC, UuI Will CHARITY lOI dll,
have deeply at heart the welfare OF
our community, the stability of prop
erty, decrease of taxation, the pros.
perity of the laboring and business
man, the blessings of true civilization
set out herein synopsis of por-
ton of our laws against certain
crimes.
1t is believed that the unfortunate
violator of law would desist and re.
frain if he or she could fully know
the trouble which must follow. there.
fore the statements of vital provisions
of the so-called mulct law, the law
against gamblers and gambling and
the law against keepers of houses of
i'll fame, are given in succession.
A statement, too, of the penalties
which may be incurred by peace of.
ficer who will not act in and do what
the law requires of him, are set out
Need of space permits only brief
statements of the essence of these
laws, but enough for the purpose de.
sired.
The Law and Order League will be
gratified if it may become simply nee.
essary to point out these require.
ments Of the law. They will be glad
to have the good will and confidence
of officers who will enforce the law
Today there is not one of these
laws which is not flagrantly violated
to the disgrace of our city. If a rea.
sonable time does not bring about
there enforcement by constituted au.
thority, the proper. steady and deter.
mined effort by law abiding citizens
organized for that purpose will be
carried forward.
Here follows the portions of said
laws referred to:
Synopsis of the MuIct Law.
To open and conduct saloon in
Ottumwa the saloon keeper shall:
Obtain permit from the coun Gil,
which is filed with the county auditor.
Give bond with two sureties for
$4,000, to obey the law.
Have the written consent of all res.
ident frceholders owning property
within fifty feet.
Use room with but one entrance
or exit opening on a public street.
File with the county auditor the
names Of all persons employed in the
saloon.
Pay a license OF $3.50 each quarter
to the state and 1928 to the city each
quarter.
Conduct his saloon in a quiet and
orderly manner.
The saloon keeper shall not
Open before 5 a. m. or keep open
after 10 p. m.
Open his saloon on Sunday, holt
day or election day.
Allow any minor, drunkard or in.
toxicated person in his saloon.
Sell to any person whose wife, hus.
band, child, brother, sister guardian,
ward over fourteen years of age or
employer has by written notice for.
hidden him.
Employ a female in his saloon.
Obscure the view into the saloon
by blinds, screens or the like.
Have any obscene or impure deco.
rations in or about the saloon.
Allow any gambling or gaming In
the saloon or in any adjoining build.
ing controlled by him.
Nor shall saloon be within 300
feet Of a church or school house.
Gambling.
Anyone who keeps a place for
gambling or allows it in his place
shall be fined from $50 to $500 or i'm
prisoned in the county jail not over
one year.
A gambling house is nuisance.
Prostitution.
The keeper of a house of prostitu-
ton shall be imprisoned in the state
penitentiary not less than six months
or more than five years.
Anyone who rents property for use
as a house of prostitution shall be
fined not more than $500 or imprison-
ed in the county jail not exceeding
six months
A house of prostitution is a NUS
ance
Such nuisances as the above make
the keepers of them liable upon con-
viction to fine not exceeding $1,000.
Among the penalties for violating
the mulct law are: That the person
keeping an illegal place where intoxi-
eating liquors are sold, shall be fined
not less than three hundred dollars
nor more than five hundred dollars,
and undergo commitment to jail until
said fine and costs are paid The
building and furniture shall be de-
clared a nuisance and the nuisance
shall be abated. A court Of equity may
also perpetually enjoin and abate
such nuisances, and any violation of
such terms of such Injunction will
cause the mourning of fine of from
two hundred dollars to one thousand
dollars, or by a punishment Of from
three months to six months impris-
ment, or by both fine and imprison-
ment
Under this chapter, too, pertaining
to Intoxicating liquors, peace officers
shall see that the law is faithfully ex-
ecuted, under a penalty for not doing
so of from ten dollars to fifty dollars
and a conviction shall work forfeit
ure of his Office; and said officer shall
not refuse to give evidence under
such law when called on to do so.
Law and Order League.