Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-15
RIAL
C0ND| TONS
MAYBEPR0bED
Inquiry Into Vice as Affect
ed by Wage and Social
Matters Commented on
by Legislators.
[BY ORA WILLIAMS ]

Des Moines, March IA general
Investigation into social and industrial
conditions In Iowa may be the outcome
OF the several conferences held in the
once Of the governor In regard to the
necessity for an inquiry into vice and
its causes and prevention.
7 The thought appears to be quite
common among legislators and others
in authority that while in Iowa there
lis not apparent any very great need
for drastic meausres to keep things IN
order socially, yet there may be the
beginnings Of evil systems and the
starting OF wrongs which In time would
grow into something very menacing;
therefore TINT 1t Is Just as well to make
"a start to head off all such matters
and prevent the development Of any
such system OF evil.
IT am under the impression" said
Senator Boe, who has taken deep
interest in the matter, that II there Is
found to be need of investigation 1t
should be undertaken In way to make
1t thorough. We cannot have the time
nor opportunity here while the legis-
lature is in session to do this work
right. Nothing could he accomplished
by hasty and superficial inquiry be-
yond affording material for few good
newspaper stories. But that is not
what Is needed. There has been, II
ANYTHING too much exploiting Of the
matter in the newspapers and too little
real getting down beneath the sur
face.
"The inquiry ought to be a wide
one. perhaps going into industrial and
social conditions, and including an In
curry into divorce as contributing
cause OF the social evil. The state
ment was made in Chicago the other
day that very large proportion OF
the women leading evil lives are di-
yorsed women. II that Is so there MY
be some connection between the two
which should be looked into. At any
rate II there is to be an investigation
1t must be one that will represent
something"
Senator Perkins is another who is
deeply Interested n/the matter. A
conference was held In the governors
rooms yesterday afternoon to consider
what should be done. The present
committee Of the assembly Is one not
to make an investigation but to decide
on what steps shall be taken to pro-
vide for the proper investigation.
Uniform Insurance Rates.
The bill to save the Iowa insurance
business from destruction will now
very. likely become law. Some time
ago It was recommended in each
house, Yesterday 1t came up in the
senate and after brief discussion 1t
was laid over until today. 1t seems
that very few, OF the senators under
stand what was In the bill before 1t
came to head; and then a few in.
adyertent questions raised such a
storm that 1t had to be laid over. 1t
is bill very much desired by the in
surance interests Of the entire country.
The bill is to forbid rate cutting in
insurance matters or discrimination in
the matter of rates, SO that rates in
one place shall be like those in another
II conditions are equal. It is declared
in the bill that there is nothing in 1t
to prevent any insurance company
from establishing rates different from
any other, but having established and
|posted rates they must be maintained.
The essential part Of the bill is In this
section:
Senator Perkins has introduced a
bill to forbid saloon keeper selling