Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-26
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT
TO PASS UPON lowA's sTER-
iLIzArloN LAW.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDS
JUDGES EXCEEDED RIGHTS
State Holds Law Should Be Applied
Only to Insane and othsr Detectives
State Did Not Ask Federal Court
For Decision on Admitted Points,
Leo County Must Come Into State.
Special to Times-Republican.

get chance to study over the Iowa
sterilization law. 1t will be appealed
by the attorney general from the de-
cisions of Judges Mcpherson, Pollock
and Smith.
The attorney general has appealed
the case on the theory that the district
court had no right to determine the
issues In the case as it finally came to
the court. Originally the suit was
brought by certain convicts who had
been ordered subjected to the operation
because Of having been twice con-
victed. The parole board submitted
the matter to the atternoy general for
an opinion, and he held that insofar as
the law undertook to require vasect-
omy because of double convictions it
was void. That would leave it to be
applied to insane and others. The pa
role board order was therefore re-
scinded as to all persons in prison at
Fort Madison.
But the federal court decided vir-
tually that the opinion of the attorney
general is not binding, hence that 1t
>'SohA w AoAOAOuS oiiN thCA CuPOl Lie
merits Of the case were taken up and
determined.
But the attorney general was not
asking fer decision and the original.
compliments were satisfied to have it
dropped AS it finally came to the
court it was moot question. The at
torney general will appeal and insist
the district court should not have de-
cided the law unconstitutional on
points that were already clear out Of
the law.
The governor has received large
number of letters from Linn county
urging him to release from prison w.
e. Steele, the lawyer who is serving a
years sentence for fraud. Five doc
tors say his health is in danger and he
will likely die if left in Jail. He was
fined $500 also and this and the costs
probably will be paid if he is released
at once.
The governor has not yet gone into
the case in detail.
Iowa coal operators are to meet here
next Wednesday to consider what they
are going to do about coming in under
the employers liability act, which be-
comes in full force and effect on that
date.
The operators have been having q
hard time deciding what to do. They
at first contemplated formation Of d
mutual company but found this can
not be done because there are not a
sufficient number Of them to form q
lo
They have figured with various insur-
ance companies and are still in doubt
as to what they shall do.
There is a good deal Of interest
taken in the attitude of the various in
surance companies seeking this new
business in Iowa. Senator John T.
Clarkson 1.caliss attention to the fact
that the rates charged in Iowa are very
high as compared with the rates in
some other states. For instance, In
Ohio. where they have the compulsory
mutual insurance system, which elimi-
mated much Of the cost, they figure the
cost of andltrg the business at 9 cents
on the dolfarswhile in Iowa they are
reckoning thescost at 50 cents, Of which
sc cents goessfor getting the business.
In Ohio they had the voluntary system
for time, and even then, in coal in
dustries, with IS per cent of the wage
as a Comp ton instead Of so per
cent as In Iowa and longer period for
benefits and greater medical aid, they
get their casualty insurance for halt
what it is being offered in Iowa.
The elimination Of the state COM
mutual feature Of the Clark
son bill was largely due to the eff
forts of the coal operators and manu-,
facturers.
The secretary Of state has turned
over to the legal department of the
state the record as to about 80 corpo-
rations that have refused or neglected
to make reports as required by law. In
each one Of these cases the fees and
penalties now amount to about $50.
The attorney general will give formal
notice that these penalties must be
paid at once or suit will be brought to
collect for the state. In large pro-
portion Of the insurance, however it
will be found the corporations are in
fact defunct.
Lee county is about to be annexed to
Iowa. County officials were notified
by State Auditor Bleakly yesterday to
come in at once or suffer the conse-
quences. The attorney general will be
asked to make use of the famous Cos
son removal law unless the county Of
ficials forthwith make report of what
they have been doing. They have not
yet reported on the assessment of the
year, and there are in all five reports
due and delinquent. Letters have been
sent and all sorts Of requests and de-
but Of no avail.
Inasmuch as at Fort Madison they
are in state of rebellion against the
authorities OF the state in
the matter of facilities for prison dis
cipline and management, it was
thought worth while to command that
the while county come In under the
laws of Iowa or become definitely at
tached to Missouri.
&92 sss
State warlst for $S7,711.se went to
Ames yester6Ss to Herman Knapp,
treasurer Of IoXa State College, being
per cent Of the receipts from motor
licenses sincezFeb. 1, which goes Tor
highway work in the state!
Secretary of State Allen will buy
$4,000 auto number plates for next
year and he spent all day yesterday
picking out the right ones from sam
pies submitted by manufacturers. They