Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-25
STATE LAW PREVENTS EMPLov
MGNTsoF PRISON LAsoR. IN, ].
PvsLlc sERvicE.
FARMER LEoisLATuRE
PUT CLAUSE IN LAW
Until Lew 10 Changed Convict Labor
Must d cenHnsd to state Farms
and in Contract sheps-Drussists Of
Stats vleti~,issd - Presrsssivss to
Confer.
Special to Times-Republican.

.
road work could be done by the state
with Its iconvicts in prison one radical
change In the law would have to be
Effected 1t has been found recently
that the law forbids absolutely the
working of q cAnvict or employment
OF convict elsewhere than upon the
land or grounds Of the state or upon
land leased for the purpose by the state.
1t is stated that when the sta tus OF the
convicts was liked In this respect there
was much talk OF using them extensive
~ in farm operations, as had been done
elsewhere, and the farmers Of the Iowa
legislature nxed 1t SO that there would
be no competition there. Recently the
state has entered upon somewhat ex-
tensive farm operations at Fort Madi-
son and lesser ones. at Anamosa. But
question came up as to the right of
one OF the: officials at Anamosa to en-
ploy prisoner for service At his house
outside the prison. and the attorney
general decided that this was contrary
to the. law and not to be permitted.
even tho OF adVan nage to the prisoner
Wet labor will have to be confined to
the contract shops and the farms owned
or leased blythe te,snntil the law is
changed.
r. H. Brown and A. Van Wagenen, Of
Sioux City. argued to the supreme court
the other day q rather unusual case IN
which was disclosed how prominent
druggists, OF the state were victimized
by a smooth agent for an alleged won
derful hair rostorer. It Seems that the
agent had a contract fixed up by which
the druggist could return any unsold
stuff at the end Of certain local adj
vertising contract running one year IN
each city, but there was blank IN the
contract which was afterwards filled
with the innocent word Iowa, and this
made 1t mean that the unsold stun
could not be returned until the close OF
the contracts for all advertising IN
Iowa. AS the company could make con-
tracts covering many years the drug
Rist could not return the goods. 1t was
soon found the stuff was useless and
unstable and then the Lawsuits fol-
lowed. A test was made on the doc
tored contracts in a Sioux City case.
Two Des Moines firms were bit In
similar manner by the hair restorer
on a similar contract.
Senator Cummins has received a very
urgent invita- ton to attend the big con-
ference OF republican prosressives to
be held in Chicago on the 18th OF next
month. The plan is. 80 far as outlined.
to get together there the leading men
In the progressive movement In all the
states. to confer freely and to discuss
plans for tn future and to agree upon
concerted action along political lines.
The conference is to be held in Chicago
because OF the fact that 1t 10 recognized
the movement is distinctly of midland
origin. having gained its first start In
Iowa. Wisconsin,, Nebraska and other
states Of the midwestern region. There
will be Others besides members Of con-
Rress. governors and persons In official
life, present.
Senator Cummins will probably at
tend the conference, which will be his
first trip away from home since he
close Of congress unless he can attend
the western land congress at Denver
which commences next Thursday. He
has been besieged with invitations to
address big meetings at various places
and has declined all invitations.
The electric interurban railways are
first to make their annual reports to
the state railroad commission. The
following reports have thus far been
received on the business Of last year:
Cedar Rapids and Marion Company.
Tama and Toledo. Colfax Springs rail-
way. Oskaloosa Traction and Light,
Centerville Light and Traction. Boone
Suburban. Iowa and Illinois railway,
Abba Interurban, Osa<aloosa and Bux-
ton, also for these steam roads and
bridge companies, the Dies Moines Ter
minal, Chicago, Anamosa and North
ern, Muscatine North and South. Keo-
kuk and Hamilton Bridge. Sioux City
terminal. and Colfax Northern railway.