Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-09
STATE SUPREME COURT WILL
SOON MAKE IMPORTANT DE-
c,sloN.
RIGHT TO TAX BONDS
HELD BY NATIONAL BANKS
Bankers Ready to Carry Case to Fed-
eraI Courts If Decision is Adverse to
Them-Van Houten Waiting For a
Job-state Parole Board Agent May
Be Named.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines. June 9.-One OF the
most important decisions to come from
the supreme court of Iowa in many
years, from a commercial standpoint
weeks. 1t Is decision on the right to
tax government bonds held by national
banks. The case originated in the
Polk county district court by the Des
Moines National bank resisting pay
ment of taxes on government bonds
held by it. The lower court held the
bonds We're taxable and the bank ap-
pealed. Now 1t Is up to the supreme
court to decide the question. II the
higher court uphods the lower court
in means that thruout Iowa thousands
OF thousands Of dollars worth OF gov
ernment bonds held by national banks
will be relieved from taxation. If the
supreme court of Iowa sustains the
lower court attorneys for the banks
have stated they will CARRY the ques-
ton to the supreme court of the United
States for final determination
The News Times. of Lenox. Taylor
county has passed entirely out OF the
Van Houten family. George Van Hout-
en-. sergeant at arms of the house at
the last general assembly and former
member of the house. was for years
editor of this paper. Then he sur
rendered the editorship to his son. who
conducted 1t for time but was COM
PEELED to give UP the work because of
failing health. He went west and the
paper was traded by Mr.. Van Houten
for real estate. Mr. Van Houten Is
now in Des Moines making his home
temporarily. He has been mentioned
in connection with the curatorship OF
the state historical department. He
has given a few lectures recently on
Asiatic and European travels. He has
Travelled all over the world and is well
qualified for such work, having illus
trations and machines for showing
them. But be says he does not intend
to make lecturing regular work. He
Will engage In some work in the near
future If he is not selected for work in
the historical department.
The club women of Des Mo:nas and
the state are bringing pressure to bear
on the state board of control to have
appointed as superintendent of the
girls industrial school at Mitchellville
woman, have centered upon Mrs. A.
NJ. Clay, at present superintendent of
the girls industrial school of Missouri.
located at Chillicothe. There she has
made brilliant success of handling
the girls, and the club women are
urging that 1t can not be charged she
would be incompetent to manage the
girls Of Iowa in their state institution.
Before going to Chillicothe. where she
has been for the past three years, Mrs.
Clay was matron at the state peniten-
tiary at Anamosa. She is we'll known
in this state among the club women.
and IN Missouri has become very pop
ular among the women. having ad-
dressed them at their conventions
several times.
1t is extremely likely that at the
next meeting Of the state board of
parole, which will be July 6, there will
be appointed state agent for dis
charged prisoners from the penitenti-
aries. This agent will be appointed
with the sanction of the executive
council. which by the statute is given
power to appoint necessary help. The
council will also fix the compensation
to be paid to the state agent. The
duty Of this agent will be to supervise
paroled and discharged prisoners. He
will help them to secure employment
and keep constantly in touch with
them, seeing they do their work right
and that they are justly treated by
their employers. 1t Is expected that
such an agent will keep many dis
charged prisoners from dropping bacl,
into a life of idleness or crime. He
will also look after paroled prisoners.
Practically all the surrounding states
have state agents. Iowa has never
had one. but because of the new parole
system It is believed the time has now
come when such an officer is an abso-
lutte necessity. The regular date for
the meeting af the board is July 8. but
as this date falls on Monday, and many
places Will celebrate Independence day
then, 1t is thought best to convene a
day later. The number of cases to be
considered at this session will be less
than hundred.