Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-22
SUIT BEGUN ~ IOWA AGAINST
CONCRETE MONOPOLY
EXPANDING.
NATIONWIDE INTEREST
BEING TAKEN IN OUTCOME
Representative Of States Attorney
Gathers Much Valuable information
During Visit in East-RssuIt Of Liti-
cation Affects Almost Every County
and Township in Iowa.
Special 20 Times : Republican.

Des Moines. Oct. 22.-The concrete
bridge patent case in federal court
which the state Of Iowa, by special act
Of the legislature. has undertaken to
defend. in part, is becoming a case of
almost nationwide interest. The de-
tense is for the purpose Of breaking
the hold Of patent-protected monop-
oily which is hindering the construction
Of concrete bridges for roads all over
the west. The Luton patents, owned
in Indianapolis, are the basis Of the
monopoly claim.
On his recent trip to Ohio, H. E.
Sampson. of the attorneys generals
office, accumulated some new and
valuable information in regard to the
matter, which ought to be encouraging
to Independent bridge builders. He
found that suit was brought in Iowa
by the Luton people some years ago
and was hard fought, and in the end
they virtually abandoned the suit and
gave up Mr. Sampson secured line
on the evidence which had been ac-
cumulated in that case, showing the
use of many Of the patented devices
prior to the issue of the patents.
He also found in Chicago a firm Of
attorneys engaged in preparing de-
tense of q case similar to the one In
Iowa.
Inasmuch as the outcome Of the suit
affects almost every county and town
ship of the state its preparation is to
be as complete as possible with view
to breaking the patents and freeing the
concrete bridge business from the
monopoly.
The action of the district court in
ordering that NJ. NJ. Harrah be restored
to the custodians pay roll at the state
house has been held up temporarily by
the supreme court pending appeal, but
attorneys for the deposed janitor have
asked the court to abandon Its or
der for a stay. Harrah accepted
place in the historical building and
the legislature decided that there
should be one fewer janitors. He then
demanded his place back at the state
house and the court held that under
the soldier preference act the state Is
in duty bound to keep him on the pay
roll.
The arguments will be made to the
supreme court this week In the case
of John N. Smith, former attorney. In
the case in which he was convicted OF
violation Of state law. He was con-
1victed in federal court Of using the
malls to defraud, the transaction be-
ingia land deal Of some kind in which
his then father-in-law, living in Ne
braska, lost some money. The United
States court of appeals has ordered
new trial. But he was also convicted
in the district court Of fraud in con-
nection with the same deal and this is
now before the supreme court. In the
meantime he Is living on a farm near
Des Moines.
Parole board sessions at Anamosa
commence today to hear the statements
OF all prisoners who have not previous
ly presented to the board the matter
Of fixing the termination Of sentences.
The board has learned that during Sep
TENDER and October. as a result Of all
the district courts Of the state being
in session, many additions have been
made to the families at both Anamosa
board is increasing so that practically
all the time of the members is taken
up now.
Advocates Of morality in Des Moines
will hear on Oct. 30, from Evangelist
MaoFarland, Of the work Of reform
forces in the United States in the eff
fort to change San Francisco from a
wide open" city Of vice to CLOSED
city" at the time Of the coming EXPOSE
ton. His coming was arranged by the
inter- church council. He was sent to.
San Francisco to do personal work to
secure change of policy in San Fran
cisco. The reform forces had not got
ten very far by correspondence and
an agent was sent there to see what
could be done toward having the city
cleaned Of its open dens Of vice before
the exposition opens. It Is stated that
no assurances have as yet been re-
ceived Of any change. It is possible
that big boycott may be placed on
the city unless there is a change in
this respect.