Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-16
LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE
NOT WORRIED OVER ATTACK
IN SUPREME COURT.
CONFIDENT HIGH TRIBUNAL
WILL GIVE ITS APPROVAL
Case Of "BilI" Richards Soon to Be
Passed Upon, BY Parole Board -
Rankin's State Marshal Plan Aban.
doned for the Present-Job of State
Bee Inspector Now Open.
pecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, April 16-The legal de-
partment of the state is not greatly
worried over the effort which is being
made to have the supreme court de-
clare null and void the law in relation
to paroles and the indetermnate SEN
tence. A suit coming from Winneshiek
county has been argued to the supreme
court and will be submitted at the next
term, but the matter of the alleged IL
legality of the law was so badly ar
gued that it is doubtful if the court
will give it much attention. The claim
is broadly that the indeterminate sem
tence feature of the law gives board
of petty officers" as stated in the ar
gument some judicial power in the
matter of fixing sentences 1t is also at
tempted TO be shown that the new law
violates the state constitution by taxi
ing from the governor the pardoning
power, but in fact the governor still
exercises this power the same as ever
in the past While some of the judges
Of the state find that the law is very
bad, most of the judges accept 1t as
the right thing.
Among the cases which the state pa
role board will soon decide is that of
Bill" Richards, formerly deputy
United States marshal. who is serv
ing a long term at Fort Madison for
completely in the robbery of family
at Hamilton in Marion county. Frank
Beard, who was shot at the time and
who afterwards confessed the whole
thing. has been out on parole more
than year and will soon be given full
pardon, but the Richards case has not
been acted on. Richards has some very
warm friends among people high in
public life and there is little doubt that
he will get his release in a few days
A. C. Rankin being now at the head
of the movement to secure amendment
to the state constitution. for the time
being the movement for formation of a
corps of state marshals will be
dropped. 1t is stated, however, that the
doned, but as soon as the prohibition
law is placed in the constitution as an
amendment it will become necessary to
form state marshals to secure enforce
ment of the law in parts of the state
where local officers can not be eX-
pected to enforce it. The detection OF
Barber, who represents the anti saloon
league. will cause no change in the
plans of those who are planning to
make the amendment a political issue
Another of the numerous new per
diem jobs which Governor Carroll has
at his disposal and which he will soon
bestow upon some worthy adherent of
| the true faith is that of bee inspector.
Anybody competent to measure bees
and report on the number of their
stripes will confer favor by report
| ing. The bill for this new appontive
per diem position slipped thru in the
closing days without being subject of
attack. The inspector will be able to
exercise extraordinary powers. for he
| will have the right to order destroyed
sWarms of bees that are not in good
| health and the quarantine of whole
colonies, and in certain cases the bees
as we'll as hives and honey, may all
be burned up alive Three dollars a
day and expenses goes with the job
The governor signed the bill and IL
is law, or will be soon.
The commission Of Harry Eaton. OF
Shenandoah, as member of the state
pharmacy board. expires in a few days
4 iy,ct hi
and there has been no controversy as
to the exact accuracy of his per diem
and expense accounts. He has followed
along the we'll beaten paths of Other
and many commissioners and his rec.
ord Is good. 1t is supposed he will bt
reappointed without question.
Now it Is found that Attorney Bird
sail did not have a copy of the cor.
rected journal Of the house when h,
prepared his brief showing that tn,
Moon bill had not been properl,
passed. The corrected journal leave.
1t so that there is no discrepancy. Th,
governor therefore signed the bill.
There is some feeling because of tht
fact that recording system is to b'
put in the state house by which tn,
watchmen will have to make th'
rounds Of the building and thus it will
be certain that the capitol Is actual,
watched. There has been good dea
of doubt about this in the past ant
Governor Cummins tried to remed.
matters but was not permitted to d.
so. Now time recording system is t,
be installed that will make it impossi
BILE for shirkers to keep their places.
Dr. Louis A. Thomas will retain hi
position as secretary of the stat
board of health.
Before leaving for their homes yes
!, terday members of the state boar
settled all doubt as to the recollection
, Of DIR. Thomas when his term expire
July / by declaring that his re-elec
ton is practical certainty.
Attacks ON DR.. Thomas by member
Of the legislature are explained by tn
board as having been called forth b
DR.. Thomas bluntness and lack Q