Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-09
COMM ERcE COUNSEL HENDER.
SON PUTTING RAILROAD CASES
IN UNDERSTANDABLE SHAPE.
MANY ANCIENT QUESTIONS
STRICKEN FROM RECORDS
New Laws Settle Several Points Long
in ceotrovsrsy-Stats Fire Marshal
Lew 70 Rssuit in Cleaning Out Fire
Traps in Several citiss-Fort Madi.
cen Investigation in Two Weeks.
Special to rsme,.Repu1lican.

lux up TIC 0VChCS NliAS ASSSA ho W. SAS
railroad commission SO that railroads
and shippers will have better under
standing as to their positions. Several
old cases are to be dismissed without
prejudice, if the recommendations OF
Commerce Counsel Henderson and mis-
assistant. Mr.. Lewis. are followed.
An old case pending three or four
years is an application Of the railroads
for an increase in the minimum charge
on shipments. The commission never
ruled finally on the case but did make
some rulings indicating that it was OPP
posed to the proposition.
Several old cases filed by the ship
pers involving switching charges,
0witching limits and short line rates
are 70 be dismissed. The new law Sc
cured last winter by Senator Hunter
and others makes a radical change in
the law in this regard, SO il was
thought best to begin over again on
these cases.
In the meantime the commerce
counsel Is preparing for the big hear
ing IN September on the classification
matters, Involving large number Of
articles and subjects.
One OF the incidental benefits Of the
state fire marshal law will be taken
advantage Of in a number of cities and
towns OF the state. The civic authors
ties find that by reason of some
changes in the law 1t will be easier TO
compel clearing out Of fire traps and
freeing the cities from danger spots,
and also that the moral influence OF
the state fire marshal will be of great
value to them in cleaning up their
places. Mr.. Roe has already had some
correspondence with city authorities
on this subject and they are hopeful
that the new Law will do a great deal
OF good in securing better condt tons
In some cities.
About 100 dres have been reported
thus far There was some newspaper
gossip about how the fire chief at
Webster CIV vas going 20 refuse 10
send Ia report, but he sent in very
promptly the report Of the first fire.
A. B. McCpwn, sfate accountant for
the board OF control, has just returned
from visit TO each one Of the four
teen state institutions for the purpose
which - done annually. This is a huge
task. as every item Of the entire inven-
tory must be accounted for. At Glen
wood. for instance. there wz-e on hand
stores valued at over $4,000 and only
one error was discovered, that Of one
egg beaten not accounted for.
Dr.. Banntster, OF the board Of con-
troll, discovered while on an eastern
trip that in many prisons the convicts
are not even supplied with oleomar-
garinc. to say nothing Of butter. Iowa
mas been criticised for feeding prisoners
CLEO instead Of creamery butter, but in
New York they are given neither Iowa
has also been criticised for having an
old cell house, but the one at Auburn
was built in 1915 and the one in Phila-
delphia was built In 1921 and both are
In use.
Secretary Wrehtman % the Iowa
manufacturers Association is busy
preparing the various rate cases affect
Ing business IN Iowa. It was a matter
of surprise that the railroad should at
lt1is time give notice OF a material in
crease in the lake and rail charges from
New York 70 Iowa. pending the pre-
Ientation to the interstate comm cree
commission Of the suit Of Iowa to have
shep resent rail rates from the east re-
duced. 1t is almost certain tina, steps
w'll be taken that will secure a con-
soldation OF the two cases. The appu-
cation for a reduction has never We.
been put up TO the commission but is
we'll under way
Does boy become Of automobile age
when he acquires an auto? Can a bow
under Is run his own motor without
violating the law? It's up to the legal
lights OF the state to determine. A
woman has appealed TO the office of
attorney general to interpret the law.
Her 14-year-old son was awarded an
automobile in prize contest Of some
kind. She wants to know If It will be
violation Of the law for him to oper-
ate his own machine; also could he
operate 1t II his father was along, tho
the father doesn'. own the machine.
"hen the supreme court meets again
next month there will be new light
thrown on the proceedings. The room
has been badly lighted and the ar
rangement OF lights has been changed
several times. Now new electric lights
on standards rising from the judges
desks will illuminate the judicial heads
The actual Investigation Of affairs
1t the Fort Madison prison will not
commence for about two weeks when
the three men who have undertaken
this task win be ready to proceed to
Fort Madison and begin probing. In
the meantime those who are directly
iafsRssted say they hope the news
Daper agttation viii cease and that the
easthsr discipline Of tho prison be not
Astufbed- It - stated that since the
matter 8ot into politics a great many
~ the prisoners have been losing much
q their good time by reason Of the
rsstlessness engendered Messre. Co.'S
son, Sheldon, ana Roberts held a con-
ference last evening and Informally
considered what thsy would do.
The prediction 10 freely made that
sfA6subSeQuent court proceedings anent
- street car strike settlement viii not
peooeed very hastily. While the street
z -: company appears TO be DESTROYS Of
Ootting the court order dissolved the
DeeSel prevails that It will not insist
upon great haste in having q con-
I. olUSsa reached. The fact seems to be