Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-04-20
TALKS OF
The new LAWS
SAYS ENFORCEMENT MEASURES
WILL REDUCE SOCIAL EVIL
TO MINIMUM.
GUST DILATORY OFFICERS
Attorney General in Outlining New
Laws, Says Saloons, Gambling
Houses and Houses of IIi-Fame
VIII be Different Institutions.

Houses and Houses OF llt-Fame
VIII be Different institutions.
Des Moines, April 19. = With three
of the Cosson laws already In opera
tion and the certainty that the other
two will go into effect on July 4, Iowa
now has machinery for law enforce
ment more perfect than that of any
state in the union.
The three measures now in effect
are the law giving the attorney gen
eral supervisory power over county at
torneys, the law providing for the re
moval of county attorneys, sheriffs
mayors and police officers who fail iu
their duty, and the law providing Tor
injunction proceedings against houses
of i'll fame.
Laws defining the duties of the
county attorney and the sheriff, leav'
ing no ambiguity by which they can
justify failure or neglect, Will be
come operative July 4, and with those
already on the books they are expect
ed to bring to Iowa the credit for hav
ing come nearer to a solution of the
problem of controlling the great socia
evils than any of her sister states.
The main provisions Of the foul
new laws are contained in the follow
ing extracts from each of them:
Attorney General.
1t shall be the duty of the attor-
ney general to exercise superyis-
ory powers over county attorneys
in all matters pertaining to the
duties of their offices, and from
time to time require of them re-
ports as to the conditions of pub
lie business entrusted to their
charge.
2. When requested to do so by
the governor, executive council or
general assembly or when in its
Judgment the interests of the
state require it, he shall appear
for the state before any other
court or tribunal, prosecute or de-
fend all actions and proceedings
civil or criminal, in which the
state may be a party interested.
County Attorney.
1t shall be the duty of the coun-
ty attorney, first, to diligently
enforce or cause to be enforced in
his county all the laws of the
state, actions for violation of
which may be commenced in or
prosecuted in the name OF the
| state of Iowa, or by him as coun-
ty attorney, except such laws, the
enforcement of which is exclusive
ly enjoined upon others by the
] statute.
Sheriff.
1t shall be the duty of the sher-
iff by himself or deputy to pre-
serve the peace in his county, to
ferret out crime, to apprehend and
arrest all criminals, and in so far
as it is within his power, to secure
/ evidence Of all crimes committed
in his county, and present the
same to the county attorney and
the grand jury; to file informa-
tions against all persons whom he
knows. or has reasons to believe
! have violated the laws of the state
and to perform all other duties
pertaining to the Office of sheriff
or enjoined upon him by law. The
sheriff shall whenever directed so
to do in writing by the county at
! torney, make special investigation
Of any alleged infraction Of the
law within his county and re-
port with reference thereto within
reasonable time to such county
attorney.
Removal Law.
Any county attorney. sheriff,
mayor, police officer. marshal or
constable shall be removed from
Office by the district court or
| Judge upon charges made in writ
: ing and hearing Hereunder for
the following causes:
1. For wilful or habitual neg
lect or refusal to perform the du-
ties of his office.
2. For wilful misconduct or
, maladministration in Office.
8. For corruption.
= l.. For extortion.
5. Upon conviction Of felony.
' 6. For intoxication or upon con-
viction of being intoxicated.
Sec, 2. The complaint or petit
tion shall be entitled In the name
of the state Of Iowa, and may be
filed upon the relation of any five
. qualified electors of the county
in which the person charged is an
I officer. the county attorney Of
> such county, or the attorney gen.
eral, and shall be filed by . the
: attorney general when directed to
: do so by the governor.
Attorney General Byers has given
l, statement of the policy of his off
. in relation to the program Of law {
h forcement that is of more than ord
# ary Importance In view Of the sta
s wide awakening to the possibility
better enforcement which has culm
: ated in putting the Cosson laws
9 the books.
That the operation of these la
e will do away with the necessity
# private persons. civic societies
o leagues taking the initiative in bril-
! ing actions for violation of the Grim
: al law Is one of the most importe
results predicted by Mr.. Byers.
; this connection he said:
. State Takes Initiative.
Z "In every community where su
bodies do take action and procure
" crees against saloonkeepers that v