The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-03-06
CHANGE IN LAW
IN CRIMINAL CASES
RECIPROCITY MEASURE FOR Elk.
CHANGE OF WITNESSES.
TO PREVENT FLAREUP DIVORCES
Senator Farr Has Bill TO Keep the
Filing Of Proceedings Secret, For
Ten Months, and Not to be
Tried Till on File Year.

IFleu ! w on rue ear
Dies Moines, March 5.-Representa.
tive Hun will introduce tomorrow an
interesting bill with reference to Sc
curing testimony in criminal cases.
IL is aimed to overcome the difficulty
often encountered OF the state discoy-
cring an important witness In anotn.
er state. who cannot be compelled to
return to testify. OF course the Iowa
legislature cannot make laws to gov
ern other states, but Huff proposes a
IS reciprocity measure which promises
to bring other states into line. His
bill is so drafted that this state will
be under obligation to observe 1t only
with reference to such other states as
have adopted a similar measure.
The Huff bill provides that when
the prosecution of criminal case in
another state discovers an important
witness In Iowa, that state may, pro-
viding 1t has law similar to Iowa's
serve notice to the district court of
the county wherein the Iowa witness
lives that he is a necessary witness
and demand hearing to make a
showing of the facts. The court then
must set hearing and summon the
witness. Ii after the showing Is made
1t becomes apparent to the court that
the Iowa man Is an important witness
he may issue an order rendering the
witness S. day for his time and ten
cents per mile for each mile travelled,
to answer the summons of the other
court. OF course the Iowa court can
not compel man to go beyond the
borders of the state, but the judge
can hold him in contempt of court IL
he refuses to obey its orders to &C.
cept the fees rendered for his testi-
mony. ..
Representative Huff believes that IL
this bill were passed here many other
states would pass 1t and the time
would not be distant until prosecu-
tors could secure the testimony often
required to convict offenders of the
law, where now the state boundary
line forbids and prevents them doing
SO.
One OF the most Interesting social
reform bills yet introduced in the
Iowa legislature Is that just offered
by Senator Farr, of Sioux City. 1t Is
designed to prevent "fareup" separa-
tons and provide Tor divorces only
on calm and deliberate consideration.
The chief feature of his measure is
that when petition is filed with the
clerk it shall be secret for ten months,
and the plaintiff given the right to
withdraw that petition anytime with
In that period without publicity of any
nature. Il Is the theory of Senator
Farr that many people in a fit Of pas
sion start divorce action and then,
when they are sorry, are deferred
from Withdrawing 1t and patching up
differences because Of pride. If ten
months reflection could be given he
believes many cases would be with
drawn. Then after that he provides
no case may be tried until it has been
on file a whole year. This provision
would give society two months pub
lie notice of the proposed dissolution
of the marriage contract before the is!
sues were tried.
A public hearing will be held tonight
by the house committee on the sup
preston of lntemperance Oh the
Shankand secret ballot bill.
The house was not in session today
out of respect to the late Representa-
tive Thayer. Many of the members at
tended the funeral and others here
held o committee meeting.
BY vote of 80 to the senate this
morning passed the Oregon law rela.
tive to the election OF United States
senators and the measure Is now up
to the governor for signature. The
same measure was passed by the gen.
eral assembly and vetoed by Cover
nor Carroll.
The senate also passed the bill re-
duiritig railroads to equip their en-
gines with headlights that throw a
light one thousand feet.
The following bills were introduced
In the senate this morning:
BY Wilson, Of Appanoose, provid-
ing that all counties having a popula-
ton of $4,000 or more that the Judge
of the court appoint a jury drawing
commission.
BY Legel, bill appropriating $1,000
to Charles G. Patten, of Charles City,
assist him in horticultural research
Z .~Jrk.
By Balkema, requiring four weeks
publication announcing school cleo
ton for the voting of bonds.
upon motion of Senator Spaulding in.
vited to deliver an address to the
senate. She Is at the head of the edu-
cational department of the Women's
Clubs of Iowa. She was recently sent
abroad by the club to study child
training methods.
- - -
No steps will be taken toward draft
ing subcommittee bill on Working.
mems Compensation, or Employers
Liability, until after March 10, 1t was
stated today by members of the Judi
ciary subcommittee that has been
named to take up consideration of all
bills introduced on the subject and
report upon one of them or draft q
substitute. The reason is that In,
PRODUCTION OF all bills Is by concur
rent resolution to be stopped March
10. The committee wishes to know
1t has before It all that is to be Of