Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-29
GIVES EDITOR 4 SR0N
PROPOSED LIBEL LAW BEFORE
LEGISLATURE RELIEVES
PUBLISHERS.
ONLY ACTUAL DAMAGES
IF RErRAcTloN is MADE
II Editor Elects TO Stand Behind State
ments, rhen Present Law Is to Be
Appiied-Low Fare Rate For National
Guardsmen-Bill Pertaining to Oi-
vorees Smothered in Committee.

Special 10 Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 2s-The bill TO give
Iowa a new law on libel is as follows
In any action for damages for the
publication of a libel in a newspaper.
the plaintiff shall recover no more
than actual damages. unless retrac-
ton be demanded and refused as here
matter provided Plaintiff SHALL serve
upon the publisher at the principal
place of publication notice specify
ing the statements claimed 10 De libel
Gus. ard requesting that the same be
withdrawn. And If retraction or cor
reciion thereof be not published in as
conspicuous q pla2a and type in said
newspaper as were the statements
complained OF. in a regular issue
thereof published Within two weeks
after such service, plain.in may allese
such notice. demand and failure to re
tract in his com paint aai may cover
both special and exemplary damage u
his cause Of action be nlain-ai ned And
if such retraction be so published. he
=
ages. unless the defendant shall show
that the nbe!ous publication was made
in good faith. without malice and un-
der mistake as TO the facts. II the
plaintiff vas candidate for office At
The time of the nbelous publication,
no retraction shall be available unless
published in conspicuous place on
the editorial page. nor if the libel was
published within one week next before
election. provided that this act shall
not apply to any libel impu;ing un
chastity TO a woman"
a bill to fix the rate OF fare for
Transporting members OF the Iowa Ma
t.onal Guard while on duty at cent
mile will be introduced soon. The pres
en-; law makes an exception as 70 the
cent rate in favor Of the guar ismen,
so that the railroad companies could,
If disposed, grant lower rate than TO
other persons. This was because move
-!2ent Of guard company is under
quite different conditions than as 10
other persons. IN Minnesota and some
other states the law requires the rail
roads 10 transport companies al
cent Z mile
\ hill by Ball TO make a slight
change in the law as 10 tax exemp-
the house committee on ways and
means. II provided that there should
De exemptions but the tax should not
be collected. remaining as lien
asains- the property and TO be collect
ed when g sale IS made.
4 committee net here yesterday and
worked on bill to change the Law a.
TO the taxation Of counties for the
purpose Of aiding in the employment Of
farm experts. II was found that under
the presen; law requiring tax aid on
majority vote. when submitted only
one county has ever gone 70 the plan
II IS proposed 20 abolish the vote and
compel the levy OF the tax on Corrna-
ton Of an association with goo farmers
rs members and pledging certain
amount
Members of the legislature have re-
csived a circular purporting 70 be a
statement by committee o, miners at
Abba IN relation TO a bill affecting the
terms Of office Of the state mine in
spectors. The committee seems TO IA
yor shorter term of Office for mine
| inspectors. a twoyear term. and ulti-
nlately for elective inspectors.
| An interesting batch Of bills was
presented in the senate BY request of
! Charles Wilcox. code editor. They
were all to correct minor errors in the
| laws that have been discovered in the
making up Of the code supplement
! Without thorough revision OF the
laws or codifcation such as has been
undertaken this probably would never
! nave become known. II Is said a
/ great many small matters have been
! dug UP in the work on the code and
! bills to remedy them will be pre-
scented.
/ One suggestion az 70 the highway
commission may be taken up seriously
/ II liz that instead of three commission
ers making the work an incident Of
| life one commissioner be employed wht
| viii be on salary and devote his entire
| time 70 Il.
The bill to authorize the county at.
torney 70 appear in divorce cases
where the defendant has not provided
for defense was killed a; once BY the
house judiciary committee. "Ths
thought back Of the bill was all right
said Chairman Ring. but the manner
Of getting at it was not good. 1t was
intended TO head off divorces by de.
fault"
The recommendation Of the bures,
Of inspection and supervision Of count,
Offices with regard 10 salaries of coun
~ officers is receiving come attention
This plan is TO place all county off
Gals on salaries that are neither de
pendent on fees or contingencies o.
that can De disturbed by political &C
cidents. The situation as to count,
treasurers is cited. Their salaries ar
subject to the vagaries of count
boards and these are not always RICH,
, Salaries graded according to the siz
Of the counties Is regarded az more &
keeping with the system that is 4
vogue everywhere else.