Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-30
ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWS
WORK OF DEPARTMENT IN 81
ENN,AL REPORT.
MUCH ACCOMPLISHED IN
ENFORCING NEW LAWS
Number Of Saloons in Iowa Reduced
and 8awdy Houses Put Out Of Bus
mess - Iowa Has Been Placed in
Front Rank Of Moral States By
Work Of Attorney General and Aids.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 3o.-A wonderful
record Of two years Of hard work and
achievement OF things making for the
good of the state, is disclosed in the
biennial repor, Of Attorney General II.
W. Byers. with which he closes the
year. Some of the things reported up
on are;
Total of 15s cases on the docket be-
fore the supreme court, eiGhiy-one
written official opinions and several
hundred unofficial or letter opinions.
Collection Of past due fees Of over
s125. 900 in four years.
Enforcement of road law and weed
killing law n starting OF movement
for better roads
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Defense of numerous important
cases for the state involving lax beds,
stock food law, telegraph tax SUIT,
river bed controversy, Inheritance
taxes, hote! inspection law. the 2-ceat
fare. coa rates and railroad rights,
constirutionalty of the mulct law.
abandonment of right OF way n the
express rates cases.
Argument to supreme court Of many
criminal cases. including tweCty-eight
for murder. two rurderous assaults.
twelve breaking and entering, sixteen
for larceny, etc.
The law enforcement laws urged by
his department and The results OF put
ting them it operation.
! Conviction OF leaders Of the Naybray
clique, ren1ova! OF Chief Richmond and
removal OF mayors of Ottumwa and
Marengo.
Reduction Of number Of saloons. put
ting out of business The bawdy houses
and gambling houses and general i'm
! ~provensenr of the morals OF tie state.
The attorney general. after e-abo-
rating fully upon these matters. makes
recommendation as to further legis-
latlon needed TO improve conditions in
the state, especially in the legal de-
parImsnt. suggesting:
Revision Of laws covering practice
to cut out all technically.
Rearrargemant Of the judicial dis
tricts.
Increase salary of attorney general
and assistants.
Give the department authority TO in
auire into violation of the law against
trusts and combines.
Work Has Been Extensive.
The report il general Will serve to
show in a striking way how extensive
has beeu The business of the Office OF
attorney general, especially the past
t % years, and it emphasizes the fact
that under Ny. Byers the office has
been one Of busiest II most import
ant in the state. The number Of import
ant cases handled in the district and
supreme court n in the federal
courts and before the interstate COM
merce commission IS surprislng when
the record is all assembled: ard the
work Of the department in bringing
about better enforcement OF the laws
is given at length.
THE reports OF the county attorneys
made 10 this Office" Mr.. Byers said in
his report. within the last month snow
that there has been a decrease in
criminal business for the past year in
thirty-fve counties, in some Of them
the decrease being reported as high as
80 per cent; tventy-nine county at
torneys report the criminal business
about the same as last year. while in
only fourteen counties has there been
any increase. and in most of these the
increase very slight.
The improvement thus shown all
along the line is not, of course, all due
to the work Of this department. Much
has been accomplished by civic societ-
les ard organizations all over the state,
nor should we be content with what
has Beer accomplished. great as it is.
because it may as we'll be understood
that only a beginning has been made
in law enforcement"
Places Iowa in From. Rank.
After referring TO the enactment OF
the various laws for betta- enforce
ment Of a " in iowa, the report says:
we ran not resist the temptation at
this paint 20 state what IS the truth and
what Will be fully shoHn by the record
as we unfold it IN this report. and that
is that the passaga and operation OF
these laws has placed Iowa in the very
front in the matter OF civic righteousness
land moral cleanliness. The good that has
flown from them in cleaning towns and
cities. in money saved to the needy, in
boys and girls turned from the naunts
Of vice into the paths Of virtue and
rectitude, in making sober n indus
trious husbands and fathers. in making
HoLi!SS 1IdpPy d4io -'S
law and order. is 50 i~mmeasuTably great
that no matter what nay come TO US
in the future we will never cease being
grateful for the opportunity we have
had to take yer a small part in this
great work. The record is a source OF
great pride to every one in this de-
lpartment. as we known 1t must be to
the members Of the general assembly
who assisted in the passage OF these
bills and as it will be to the people
generally when they realize fully what
has been accomplished for the real and
lasting good of the state.
Prior to the passage Of these laws,
!. the law regulating the sale OF intoxicat-
ing liquors was being openly violated
every day and nearly everywhere in the
state. In many places saloons were
running on Sunday and in many cities
{ cities tina boosted Of the number OF
, their churches and the size and excel
I lency OF their schools. the right to take
: at the gambling table the money that
! was needed in the home and the privi-
iege to rob young and old OF their char
acter and their virtue in the bawdy
irvuees was soid al % much a mont.
= and so-ca1led good men In many places