Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-07-02
Compensation Law Held Valid.

Compensation Law Held Valid.
The constitutionalitS of the en-
ployers' liability law or workmen' S
compensation act, passed by the last
general assembly, was upheld by Judge
Smith Mcpherson of the federal court
in an opinion just rendered in Des
Moines.
The measure relates to employers
liability for personal injury sustained
by employees in line of duty 1t fixes
compensation and a method for Sc
curing the payment.
]. c. Hawkins of Newton, manufac-
turer, attacked the validity of the law,
through his attorneys, James p. Hew-
lit and the law firm of Ryan & Ryan.
"All thoughtful persons agree that
present conditions call for legislative,
judicial and economical relief, one or
ALL" reads the courts opinion.
Enterprises such as railroads, street
car lines, interurban lines, manufactu
ing plants Of all kinds, with rapidly
moving machinery, usually hazardous,
with the dangerous invisible electric
current of high voltage, the agency of
steam geared with cog wheels, belts,
pulleys and other appliances, are kill
ing and Gripping thousands and
thousands, every year.
This is so even when the employees
are sober, attentive and watchful, and
is materially increased when such
persons or some of them are negligent
This means poverty and distress and
is followed by charities, and too often
filling the pcorhouses and sanitariums.
Appoints Insurance Commissioner.
Il am appointing as insurance com.
missioner a man who is thoroughly
competent TO perform the duties OF his
office, who is well informed on the
subject Of insurance, and whose strict
integrity and loyalty TO duty are un.
questionable" Governor Clarke declar-
ed in formally announcing the seIec-
ton of Emory H. English to be com.
missioner OF insurance under the law
passed by the last general assembly
creating a new department for the
control OF the insurance business.
Mr.. English was chosen from the
men who were available because OF
his better qualifications for the place.
Governor Clarke said. II appointed
him chairman of the house committee
on insurance in the Thirtieth general
| assembly when / was speaker and he
was serving his second term as rep
resentative from Polk county. In the
Thirty-first general assembly / reap.
pointed him to the same place. His
work was highly satisfactory 1t was
during those two sessions that some
Of the most important insurance leg
islation which has been enacted in
Iowa came up"
Sterilization Law AnnuIled.
The Iowa sterilization law, provid.
ing for the sterilization OF prisoners
twice convicted OF felony is uncon-
stitutional and void, according to an
opinion handed down by Federal Dis
trict Judge Smith Mcpherson. The
opinion was concurred in by John C.
Pollock, judge of the district of Kan
sas and United States Circuit Judge
Walter !. Smith. With the opinion is
an Injunction restraining the state
board of parole, Warden Saunders OF
the Fort Madison penitentiary. and
prison physician Austin F. Philpott
from enforcing the sterilization law.
Admitted Four Years Age.
The report that Seth Thomas, one
Of the candidates for justice of the su.
preme court nominated at the recent
primary, was admitted TO the bar June
10, 1910, less than four years before
| the primary, was questioned by some
of the politicians. An examination Of
the records in the office OF the clerk
of the supreme court discloses that
the statement Is correct and that Mr..
Thomas has been practicing law four
years.
Successor to Emory English.
Either James H. Wilson or r. L..
Chase will be appointed to succeed
Emory English as secretary to Govern
or Clarke. according to a rumor among
politicians. Wilson is one of the re-
publican candidate for railroad com
missioner and Chase is document IL
brarian under the secretary OF state.
Both are identified with the standpat
wing OF the republican party. 1t was
the comment of the politicians that
one Of the men would be chosen in or
der to allay the disappointment Of
standpatters
Iowa Gets Share Of Estate.
The state treasury received s1o,4S0
as the collateral on the estate left
by John M. Whitman, former general
manager OF the Northwestern railroad,
who died in Chicago, Oct. 20. 1912. or
the estate valued at s1,000.0n0, 1900
acres of land in Plymouth county,
valued at ;2l4.500. formed part. The
heirs must pay the state per cent
on the property they receive which is
located In this state. Whitman had