Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-17
BANK DEPOSITS ARE HEAVY
Money fl State Institutions Exceeded
Only Once in History of
state.
(From a staff Correspondent

DIES MONIES, Dec. 16.-(Special.)-Audi-
tor of State B. F. Carroll today announced
the result of the general bank call for
the close of business November %. This
report covers 597 savings banks, POI state
banks and fourteen trust companies. The
report shows the largest deposits in the
history with one exception. That was the
call preceding the panic a year and. a
half ago. The total deposits, according to
this report, are $2O5, 221, 9l9.79. This is dis
tribted as follows: Savings banks, $685.
$50, 972.9S; state banks, 0,144,7 ia 16, and
trust companies. $6,49o, 205. 60.
Mulct LAW Legal.
Prohibition interests received a setback
at the hands of the supreme court in Its
decision that the state has a right to
amend and modify the prohibition statute
by fixing a license. The charge that the
"mulct law" is unconstitutional and
| illegal because in conflict with the pro-
| hibition statute was made in the case
of j. II. Campbell against Jackinan
brothers in Blackhawk county, wherein
an effort was made TO enjoin the de-
PENDANTS from operating a saloon. The
petitioners claimed the state had no
light, in face of the prohibition statute,
to provide for a license. The supreme
court held directly opposite to them, say
ing that If the state has the discretion
to enact a prohibitory law, it surely has
q right to modify it by providing for a
license. The mulct tax, 1t held, is neither
unconstitutional nor void.
This decision will probably be taken as
basis for argument before the coming
legislature by those who favor providing
for local option laws.
Suicide Was ParOIed Convict.
u ao,,1onad fOdau that Charles Thomas
who committed suicide here yesterday by
shooting himself in the breast. was a
| paroled convict. He was convicted in
Muscatine of assault with intent to do
great bodily injury and sentenced to five
years. This was in 1906. He was paroled
December 10, 1907, and has been making
regular reports to the State Board Of Con-
troll since.
Dairy Commissioners Resigns.
It was reported this afternoon that State
Dairy and Food Commissioners H. K,
Wright will tender his resignation. This
will probably not become effective before
the first of the year and the new governor,
B. F.. Carroll. will appoint his successor
No state Flag for Iowa.
The fact hat Iowa has no state flag Will
be called to the attention of the legis-
lature. Governor Garst has received a re-
quest from Charles DENLY, United States
consul at Shanghai, China, for a state rag
and also a copy of the coat of arms on
canvas. 10 be presented to the American
company of the Shanghai Volunteer corps
10 be used on ceremonial occasions. The
company is composed OF sixty Americans
and they are supplied with rifles and am
munition from Washington. But Iowa has
no state flag and there is no way the state
officers can have prepared the facsimile
Of the state coat of arms. II is proposed
that the legislature lock into the matter
and have a commission select a state flag
and also a new design for a state seal
The state seal now used is declared to
be inartistic and out of date.
On Jury Service.
OF more than ordinary interest was the
decision of the supreme court, handed
down yesterday, respecting the propriety
Of an election judge sitting as a grand
Juror in district court.
AS is generally known, the law pro-
hibits the serving on the grand Jury by
any man who requested to be made a
member of that body or have his name
reported as a judge. In Allamakee
county w. c. Anderson. who was in
dicted. asked that the Indictment be
ouashed because one of the grand jurors
had been an election Judge and bad evil
IDENTIFY sent in his own name for jury
service. The lower court refused TO
auAsh the indictment and he appealed.
Now the supreme court sustains the
lower court. saying that as there are
several election judges in each precinct
the fact that one name is sent In does
not signify that the judge himself asked
that IL be sent. 1t might be included
by the other two Judges against his pro-
test The court holds that We're the
names Of all three judges returned then
It would appear they had sought the
place, but one name is not evidence per -