Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-30
SHORT CUT 70 COURT.
Vln TO CHANGE pRocEEouRE
IN CRIMINAL CASES PASSES
BOTH HOUSES.
lNFoRMArioNs ~ PROSECUTOR
As WELL AS INDICTMENT
County Attorney Empowered to File
Information Direct With Court, OBJ
waiting Grand Jury Aetien-Mueh
Tedious Delay to Be Avoidsd-Houss
Almost Unanimous on Tax Bill.
Special 10 Times-Republiean.

Special 20 Times Republican.
Des Moines, March s0.-The senate
passed by vote OF II TO the Whitney
bill Tor revision Of the law in regard
to criminal prosecutions so that i. vii!
be possible to have men tried upon in
formation filed by the county attorney
instead OF necessarily and all the time
upon indictment by grand jury The
Dill was amended slightly, but in no
wise injured. and the house will readily
accede to the amendment; so that 1t is
certain that this new system will go
into effect next year. 1t Is revolution
in the system of criminal law. some
thing that the courts and the bar have
long desired and advocated, and a dis
tinct reform In the direction Of expedit-
Ing business and saving expense. I;
will cut out much Of the tedious delay
OF waiting for grand jury action and
greatly reduce the work Of the grand
5urtes. Mr.. Whitney is entitled to great
credit for having forced this distinct
reform. measure thru the legisla ture
for at the ouise, he was thought rather
O&oSt1 ~ QfopOSc SQCA Edu1Cdl
in the law and as new member %
urge ii on the assembly. Senator Hun
ter also deserves great credit for skill
fully managing the bill in the senate so
that 1t went thru with a unanimous
vote. the only big bill Of the session TO
be thus complimen,ed.
The commerce counsel bill, which
passed the house and has been for
some time on the senate calendar, was
yesterday made special order for this
morning in the senate. The bill would
authorize the railroad commission to
appoint lawyer at $4,000 a year to
represent the people OF the state IN all
matters involving transportation and
common carriers and especially in the
federal courts and the Interstate COM
merce commission. The fact that the
railroad commission now has pending
and has had for some months suits in
yoiving practically all rates of inter-
state character, and suits IL court in
volvins all state rates, shows the great
need OF . counsel attached TO that Of
flee. and this wiz be an important fac
tor in deciding the fate Of the bill. The
suits growing out Of various decisions
OF the commission last year and
p1p0S III ~ l11S SO11A.AtOS1OlA OA cS&4oIA
OF many Iowa interests virtually af-
feet the entire schedule % rates, both
state and interstate, and it Is admitted
that the commission Is up against the
most serious problem In all its history
in regard to these matterA A bill just
reported to the house favorably gives
to the executive council the right to
audit and pay the bills incurred IN
suits OF this kind, but without some
thing more definite the commission
will not be able to carry on these suits.
The house was almost unanimous il
eupoprt Of the bill reducing the tax on
moneys and credits SO that this class
Of property will pay but 5 mills tax on
the dollar. Almost the only matter
debated was In relation to the cues
tionAble reference to the taxation OF
"moneysd capital in competition with
banking capital" It was commended by
some OF the members that this will tax
mortgages on the same basis as bank
stock and not on the basis OF moneys
and credits." An amendment 20 cure
this was defeated solely on the ground
that to put such an amendment IN the
bill would probably defeat the whole
measure. But It is admitted that the
oill has some weak spots and Is Ia
danger Of being held Unconstitutional
It Is also certain that IN the appiica-
ton Of the law a great many obstacles
are Eotng to be met and 1T VIII cause
q good deal Of controversy.
The house took squirt late Jester-
day afternoon ard passed ouncn o.
hfIls some Of them OF importance. in
GLIDING:
The Carkson bill from the senate 10
nroy,de for recovery of damages on
the loss Of a wife for the value OF
her services as a wife or mother or
both. IL addition to the common law
recovery but in no case 20 exceed
5000.
The Halgrims bill for suppression Of
the ''black plague" by requiring the
report and quarantine OF venereai dis
eases.
The Gillilland bill 20 authorize the
curator Of the state historical depart
ment TO certify as to copies OF doc
uments.
The Bybee bill to permit employing
a clerk 80 the grand jury in Polk
county AZ 1928 a month.
TIE Mates bill to make estates OF
nonresident insane liable Tor the oos:
Of keeping an insane person.
The Goodykoontz bill to permit the
moving Of court house within the
limits Of a county seat
The Bennett bill legaliz'n1 as to con-
veyances under certain circumstances.
Defeated the Ripley bill 20 authorize
counties to appropriate $500 year
for tuberculosis education.
90
The horse took up late yesterday
afternoon the third OF the bills intro