Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-04-23
PRISON ORDER NULL
TWENTY-FIVE coNvlcTs AT THE
STATE PENITENTlARY WILL
NOT BE STERlLiZED.
BOARD REsCINDs ITS ORDER

bURhU kESCINUS IlS UhUEh
Action Is Taken Upon Recommends
tion of Attorney General Thereby
Avoiding Contest Upon Validity Of
the Statute Affecting Criminals.
Des Moines.-Upon the recommen-
dalton OF Attorney General Cosson.
the state board of parole rescinded its
order for the sterilization of twenty
FIVE convicts in the Fort Madison peni-
Tertiary. This action was taken, ow-
ing to the ruling Of the department Of
justice that there are no inmates In
the prison who are affected by the
sterilization law which was adopted
by the Thirty-fifth general assembly.
Basing an action upon the order Is
sued several weeks ago by the board
for the operation upon certain prison
ers at Fort Madison, test Of the con-
stitutionality of the sterilization law
In the federal court was scheduled to
be made The prisoners had banded
together and employed attorneys TO
resist the operation OF the law. Ac-
cording to the attorney general, the
boards withdrawal of the order leaves
nothing to be contested in the courts.
The attorneys for the prisoners say
they want the test OF the law to pro-
coed anyway The state contends that
there are no federal questions involv-
ed, and that there is no issue.
The sterilization law provides that
prisoners who have been convicted
twice of a felony may be rendered
sterile by the state for the good OF
society. The attorney general says
that this law does not become effec-
tive until there are prisoners in the
penitentiary who have been twice
convicted since the law was enacted.
There has been such short time
since the law was passed by the gen.
eral assembly that no criminals have
been sent up twice within the period.
The board of parole was slow in
surrendering the point. A conference
was called at which ]. G. Sanders,
warden, and DR.. Philpott, physician
at the Fort Madison prison, were call
ed into consultation with regard to
the sterilization OF prisoners. The
attorney general was asked to give his
views. He told the board that there
is no authority for the issuance OF
the order in the first place and moth
ing to back 1t up in the courts.
Use Of Gasoline Increased.
The use of gasoline in Iowa has
made a tremendous gain within the
last year, according to the reports Of
the oil inspectors to to the secretary
Of states Office. The fees for the
July, 1918, jumped to the $4,000 lev
ell, and since then have not fallen be-
low that mark during any month. The
increasing number of automobiles In
the state is said to be the cause Of
the increased consumption OF the ex
plosive. The records show the gain
in fees, at the rate Of 10 cents bar.
rel, is more than $4,000 month.
Owing to the popularity of the ma
chimes and their widespread use. the
oil inspectors have instructions to use
special cars in judging oils. Gasoline
not up to the standard is rejected. the
officials say. The complaint Of auto
mobolists that gasoline is adulterated
with water is absolutely without foun-
dalton, for the reason that water and
gasoline will not stay mixed Nearly
all of the complaints against the gaso-
line are due to the engine instead.
Attacks Soldier Preference.
The constitutionality of the soldiers
preference law was questioned by G.
A. Robbins, assistant attorney general,
in his argument before the supreme
court in the case Of Thurber VS.. Duck
worth. Thurber, janitor at the state
house and a veteran, was discharged
by Duckworth. He appealed to the
courts, resting on the soldiers pref
erence law. Officials attempted to
prevail upon the state not to question
the constitutionality OF the soldiers
preference law, without effect George
A. Newman, assistant adjutant gener-
al, and adjutant of the G.. A. r. Of
Iowa, was the OILY veteran present In
the court room when the case was
heard.
State Bar Examinations.
Dates for the holding OF the law ex-
aminations in June were fixed at a
conference held by Dean Henry W.
Dunn OF the state university at Iowa
City and Attorney General George
Cosson, who is chairman OF the law
examining board, with the supreme
court.
At the request of the majority of the
of the senior law class, the
court sanctioned the holding of exam
nations at Iowa City the period be-
ginning June 20. This is the week
after the commencement exercises
Formerly 1t had been the rule to hold
The test the week before the com.
at the time when the col
Iege examinations were %
prairie Jim" In the Field.
prairie Jim" Wilson is in the field
Tor republican nomination for railroad
Mr.. Wilson is the
fourth republican to enter the field.
Clifford Thorne, present chairman OF
The commission; Senator B. w. New
bury OF Strawberry Point, and Chris
0ttosen OF ottosen are the other can
Mr.. Wilson was candidate for the
same position in the republican pri-
mary OF 1910 and was third in the
running 1000 votes behind
Clifford Thorne.
Selling Liquor Dangerous.
Persons who engage in the liquor
Dusiness in Iowa do so at their peril
the Iowa supreme court declared in
an opinion In the case OF
.. c. Milhiser appellant, VS.. A. W.
The case originated In
Clemens, Marshall county. Gandrup Is
, druggist who sold whisky upon prop
Or application, but he failed to make
complete record Of the sales. The
supreme court reversed the district