Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-08-13
Liability Law Questions.

-'AS'hey Law &dCStiOHss
Insurance companies are submit
ting number of hard questions to the
attorney general, arising out of the
workmen's compensation act. Many
accidents are difficult to classify.
There have been three cases Of sun
stroke since July /. In one case the
victim died. The question now is
whether ssunstroke is personal in
jury. The insurance companies say
that it is not an injury in itself, but
1t brings on a disease and that old
people and persons who drink alco-
holic liquors are subject to collapse.
Another puzzling situation develop
ed when workman who had been
cleaning a garment with gasoline
lighted his pipe with a match. The
gasoline on his hands took fire ana
he was severely burned. The insur-
ance company says 1t is not liable
for damages. The injured man says
II is.
A third question which reached the
attorney general had to do with an
employe who went into the country
to put, up windmill. The farmer
was liberal with his wine and the
workman was drunk by the time he
started home.
On the road he fell from the
wagon and was injured. He Is now
claiming damages. The company as
serts that the law provides that no
compensation shall be required when
an injury results through the intoxi-
cation of the victim.
Van Buren, Taxes Cut.
IL the order sent to Van Buren,
county officials by the executive
council is carried out, the assessed
value OF farm lands in that county
win be reduced s2,1S1,901. This will
cause a drop OF $4,000 in taxes to be
raid next year by the land owners of
that county. II the local officials low
er the tax levies, Van Buren, will Sc
cure even greater relief from taxa.
ton. 1t is said.
Having discovered the mistake, the
council has ordered the Van Buren, Of
ficials to correct it. That county
this year certified valuation Of &c.,
e53,768 on farm lands, but made no
mention OF 1,04S acres Of farm lands
within the corporate limits Of towns
OF the county. Last year these lands
were valued atN$l06.S0 per acre. The
order Of the council places Van Bur.
en- lands at $47.42 an acre.
The report this year shows 5000
more acres OF land assessed in Van
Buren, county than were assessed last
year. One township alone reported
1000 more acres. it is said. The state
has asked no explanation
Parole Case.
Finding a note in a bottle In the
river at New Orleans,
murder. is relied upon by
friends of Walter Whitbeck of Fayette
county to secure his release from the
Fort Madison penitentiary where he
was sent In 1908 to serve life SEN
tence.
The evidence was placed before the
state board of parole at the opening
Of the August session.
The Whitbeck case created q SEN
sation in Iowa. The young man was
charged with the murder OF his father.
by striking him with club. The old
mans body was found lying near the
barn at his home. His son was con-
Victed of the crime.
A year ago bottle was found at
New Orleans containing note which
confessed to the murder of Whitbeck.
The note stated that the writer would
be at the bottom Of the river when
the bottle was found.
confiscate "Near Beer
At the request of the attorney gen.
eJal, Sheriff Grant Kimer of Warren
county, ralded a restaurant at Indian
ola and confiscated several hundred
bottles of a so called temperance
drink. The proprietor was arrested
and is waiting trial for violation OF the
liquor laws.
This is the first OF campaign to
be made In the state against the sale
OF Temperance" drinks which contain
alcohol.
The department OF justice has had
samples examined and has ruled that
all substitutes for beer contain al
cohol. George M. Bidwell. special
agent, secured the evidence in the In
dianola case.
Ask Power Line Rights.
The Des Moines Electric company
has petitioned the state railroad com.
mission for a franchise to construct
a transmission line from Des Monies
to Ottumwa by way of Knoxville.
Farmers along the right OF way were
present at the hearing in order to
have an understanding how much
land the company, expects to acquire
for its line of poles. A strip two and
one-half feet in width has been con.
tracted for.
In Court.
The cases OF ]. <. McAnich and c.
S. McADich OF Jasper county have been
to the supreme court. In
this hearing the court will determine
whether persons can practice the art
Of healing by the chiropractic meth
cd, without obtaining a certificate
from the state board OF medical ex-
aminers. The two chiropractors were
indicted In Jasper county and each
was fined $500 and costs.
Anti-Narcotic Law.
Impelled by the recent agitation
against the selling Of dope by Iowa
druggists, A. J. Killmer. president OF
the Iowa Retail Druggists association.
has explained the pharmacists ideaI
in the matter.
Mr.. Killmer advocates the adoption
of law that will place physicians
under the same restrictions as phar.
macists.
Every anti-narcotic law on the
Iowa books was passed through the
efforts Of the pharmacists of Iowa
Every one contains the provision
that physicians are exempted" said
Mr.. Killmer.
"The state board of pharmacy Is
doing all in its power to control the
traffic in harmful drugs but are pow
erless to reach the dispensing physi-