Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-08-31

less interested in the interstate rate
on hogs than in the interstate rate.
1t is much more important, in order
to maintain packing houses in Iowa
that the freight rate within the
state for short distances be a low
one, than it is to have the inter-
state rate so low that it will result
in taking the hogs raised in this
state to Chicago and other distribut-
ing centers for packing purposes.
This theory is simple in perfect
harmony with the doctrine of pro-
tecting home industries which un-
doubtedly reflects the thought and
be'ief of large majority of the
I< &. le of Iowa. We believe in ex-
t% g this theory still further to
the 'ouragement of manufacture
ing x arprises throughout the
state { q. va.
1t is %. opinion of this Board.
that if thu idity of the Iowa Dis
tance Tarns e Id be lessened to
some extent%! it was given lexi-
bility at the dh ION of the Board
in many instanc, Industries could
be fostered in thisI. which would
tend greatly to upbuild without any
injury whatever to those which al
ready exist or to the people of
Iowa"
That considerable effort will be
made before the coming state legis-
ture to get more stringent laws
looking to the protection of coal
miners is now certain. 1t is stated
that the Coal Mine Commission,
composed of representatives from
both the operators and miners or
ganizations, created for the purpose
of bettering the physical and moral
condition of mining towns, will have
a number of bills to introduce. The
operators will also ask some. more
binding legislation on miners to pre-
vent strikes and it will be pointed
out in argument that because of the
strike last spring pending the adjust
put for Iowa fell off so that it is
less than the preceding year. 1t is
urged the industries of the state
suffer by such lapses in mining.
Union miners will demand better
legislation for protection of lives.
They claim that only through legis-
lation can they hope to get the pro-
lection necessary. There are two
courses through which they hope to
get better protection-either by
laws compelling operators to do
certain things or by law prohibit
ing the insurance now in vogue
which insures operators against
judgment for death and injury.
Practically all of the operators car
ry insurance which protects them
against judgment for death or in
jury of employees. The miners urge
that this being true the operators
are not financially Interested in
bettering mine conditions. If they
could not secure such insurance the
miners say the operators would find
it to their advantage to give better
protection to the lives of their men.
A strong argument will be made be-
fore the legislature to get enacted a
law declaring this sort of insurance
against public policy and hence il
legal.
Another step probably to be urged
by the Improvement Commission
will be some law to compel the es-
tablishment of school in towns of
200 inhabitants or more. Many of
the mining towns have no public
school teacher for the children,
though there are from 25 to so
children in the place. who have to
walk a mile to some township
school or go without. 1t is urged
that in these small towns a teacher
should be provided for the children.
Other things sought by the commits
sion, either through arrangement
with the operators or by legislation
is to provide each town with a doc
tor and an undertaken as we'll as a
hall for church purposes and other
public meetings.
The state convention of the Iowa
Woman Suffrage Association will be
held in Corydon sometime during
October or November. Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Gait. formerly an Iowa
woman, will probably attend as will
also Miss Mary G. Hay. also form
er Iowa woman, but now editor of
The Club Woman, published in New
York.
A pleasing compliment has come
from Minnesota to Iowa on its rail-
road commission law and the con-
duct Of affairs by the Iowa commits
sioners. Representative Thos. e.
eastman of that state has written
for complete information regarding
the operation saying he regards the
Iowa rates as fair to both shipper
and railroad and believes the Iowa
law should be adopted en- toto by his
state.
The Iowa Board of Railway Com
missioners has won a notable vic
tory in the state court which is the