Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-06-11
TESTS OF W0RKMEN
ACTION Is TAKEN BY SOME EN-
= FLOWERS AS RESULT OF
NEW LIABILITY LAW.
SOME WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS
Measure Will Affect Large Number Of
Employees In State Who May Not
Be Able to Pass Examination
Showing Good Physical Condition.


Des Moines.--Every employee of the
Des Moines Electric company must
undergo physical examination in
preparation for the employers liabil-
ity law, which becomes operative
July l, and each of them faces at
least the possibility of being dropped
from the company's payroll in case
serious ailment is discovered, accord
ing to w. H. Thompson, Jr., manager.
The examinations now are being
made.
Mr. Thompson believes a large pro-
portion Of the large employers of la
Dor in Des Moines will be forced by
the mutual risk institutions in which
they seek to enroll, to cause the ex-
animation of employees, and the con-
sequent rejection of some, before
July /.
Mr.. Thompson estimates the per
centage Of present employees of his
company which will be discharged as
result of the examinations will be
less than two.
Except the Iowa Telephone CON-
pany, employees of which have been
undergoing physical examinations for
the last two months, the Electric COM
pany is the first that has started &C.
tive preparation for the coming Of the
law. During the coming month, how
ever, it is believed considerable per-
centage Of the Des Moines workmen
coming under the law will be tested
by doctors.
George A, Wrightman, secretary OF
the Iowa Manufacturers association,
is of the opinion that physical exam.
nations will be far from the rule
among manufacturers Of the state. He
said there had been much talk among
manufacturers of ordering examina-
tion Of the men, but that to his knowl-
edge nothing had been done. Exam
pie OF the operation of liability laws
in other states, he declared, showed
factory hands seldom were examined.
]. G. Black, president OF the Des
Moines Ice company, said that the
law undoubtedly would affect the per-
sonnet of his force of employees,
though no examinations would be en-
forced. "As a matter of self protec-
tion employers generally will be fore
ed to make 1t harder for the incom-
petent workman to get BY" said
Mr.. Black. "We will naturally be less
disposed to let man who is a phys
ical menace to himself work for us,
when We are under such responsible |
ity as the Iowa law entails"
Emil g. Schmidt. president OF the
Des Moines City Railway company,
said that there would be no physical
examination Of his employees. and that
the street car operating force would
be continued intact. Mr.. Schmidt. 1t
is claimed, has the largest payroll in
Des Moines.
Law for Handling Berries.
Pleased with the move made by the
state OF Iowa in establishing stand.
ard berry box, the National Associa-
tion of Weights and Measure officials
in convention at Washington adopt.
ed resolutions recommending that
federal law be adopted, patterned aft
er the Iowa statute. The officials
want a national law providing that
berries shall be sold in boxes in half
pint, pint and quart sizes. Certain
growers in Iowa have attempted to
evade the law by putting out boxes
holding one and three-quarter pints,
for the purpose Of fooling the people
into believing the box to be quart.
The association also went on record
as favoring uniform barrel and box
for the sale Of apples. Iowa was hon.
ored by the election of E. w. Van
Duyn as member Of the executive
committee of the national associa-
tion.
Requisitlon for Meyer Forwarded.
Attorney General George Cosson re-
ceived notice from w. J. Bryan, sec,
rotary OF state. that the requisition
papers for Franz Meyer, held at Win
nipeg for alleged abduction Of Eliza
beth Huppertz of Oelwein, have been
forwarded to the Canadian govern
ment by the officials at Washington.
The hearing on the extradition will
be held at Winnipeg.
II Meyer fights too hard, the attor.
ney general has decided to drop the
attempt to return him to Iowa for pun
ishment, and to prosecute him in the
Canadian courts. The only crime
which Meyer can be charged with in !
Iowa is abduction, punishable by a !
sentence of not to exceed ten years |
in the penitentiary. In Canada, the
officials say he can be prosecuted for
rape, which under the Canadian law Is |
punishable by life Imprisonment and |
whipping.
Orders Oils Accepted.
The state railroad commission has
issued an order to railroads operating !
in Iowa directing them to accept daily |
iterstate shipments of oil and gaso-
line from all distributing and transfer
points on regularly scheduled or mix
ed trains. The oils must be In the |
proper iron or steel barrels or drums.
The order followed hearing had at |
the request of the Western Oil Job
bers' association. Before the meeting
ended all railroads agreed to the or
der with the exception Of the Rock
Island.
May Promote Creamery Building.
With the discovery that promoters
have entered Iowa and are cleaning
up small fortunes in building cream.
cries and selling them at exor5itant
prices to Iowa farmers, the state food
and dairy department announced that
the state of Iowa will enter the cream.
cry promotion business. This would
give the farmers a square deal.
Chief Deputy Iliff in the dairy and
food department makes the statement
that creameries that have cost about
$4,000 have been sold BY promoters
for $4,000