Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-12-09
State Pays for Lake Beds.


State Pays for Lake Beds.
The controversy between the state
and Pocahontas county over the sum
of $4,000 received from the sale OF
lake beds in that county, has been set
tied by an action of the state execu-
tive council ordering the sum in ques-
ton turned over to the treasurer Of
Pocahontas county. The state will re-
quire that the county give bond SO
that the state will be protected II it
develops later that the title of the
lake beds was in the national instead
of the state government.
Some months ago Pocahontas coun-
ty filed action in the district court
against the state to compel the exc
cutiye council to turn the lake bed
money over to it. The county lost in
the district court, on the ground that
the state cannot be sued without its
consent.
There has been a question of wheth-
er the state or the national govern
ment has title to the land reclaimed
by the draining of Iowa lakes. The
state executive council took the case
to the United States supreme court
hoping to get decision. But the rul-
ing did not cover the point. In the
meantime $4,000 received from the
sale of the lake bed lands has been
held in the state treasury.
Pocahontas county will get the
money and can use it providing it
gives bond to the state to refund IL
necessary.
viii Make Test Case.
Do revolving doors comply with the
state law requiring all doors OF public
buildings to open outward? A. l.. Ur.
lick, state labor commissioner, and C..
A. Robbins, assistant attorney general,
have debated this question without
reaching satisfactory conclusion.
The officials, it is believed. will take
test case into court to have the dis.
puted point definitely determined.
Commissioner Urick will make rul-
ing on which the test case viii be
based.
The state officials have been study.
ing the question with the hope that
they can hold that the revolving doors
comply with the law, owing to their
general use and utility in public build
ings, department stores and other pub.
lie places. The labor commissioner
was inclined to hold that the revoiv-
ing door is not a door but turnstile.
therefore not included under the pro-
visions Of the fire escape act. The at
torney general did not agree with that
Interpretation.
1t was pointed out that most of the
big stores which have revolving doors
also have side exits. The department
of justice says this may not change
the situation as the law says that all
doors shall open outward. 1t is point
ed out that revolving door might
become clogged in case OF panic.
institutions Heads Will Meet.
The feature of the quarterly confer
ence OF the executives of the Iowa in
situations under the state board OF
control, to be held Dec IA and Is at
the state house. will be paper by j.
c. Davis on Employment of Convict
Labor on Work of Public Improve
ment"
| Mr. Davis is member OF the better
roads commission appointed by Gov
ernor Clarke. He will urge the board
Of control to use c0nvicts in breaking
stone for road improvement work. 1t
is his belief that the railroads OF the
state will give special low rate for
the transportation OF the stone to
| points where it can be used.
| Other papers to be read at the con.
ference are: Insanity and Its Caus.
es." by the Rev. J. F. Nugent. Des
Moines; THE Honor System" by j.
C. Sanders, warden of the Fort Madi.
son penitentiary; First Aid to the
Insane" by c. e. Dakin. Mason City;
observations Concerning the Care
and Treatment Of the Insane" by w
P. Crumbacker, superintendent OF
state hospital at Independence: Fruit
Growing" by Prof. T. J. Nancy, Iowa
State college, Ames.
|
Governor commutes Sentence.
| Governor Clarke has commuted the
sentence of Louis Christopher, blind
man, who had been sent up from Du'
buque county for criminal assault
His relatives will take him to a home
In st. Paul where he will be looked
after.
The governor also paroled George
Beeson, who had been sentenced from
Linn county for killing his wife in
1913. Beeson suffers from an incurable
cancer.
To Prevent Car Shortage.
An appeal to the railroads and the
shippers to cooperate in aiding to
abate the car shortage, has reached
the state railroad commission. The
car shortage indicates a revival OF
business everywhere and the railroads
say that the activities will be serious.
ly hampered II the shippers do not
unload cars promptly.
State Employment Bureau.
The state free employment bureau
is sending out letters to state senators
| and representatives asking their co.
operation in placing the bureau in
touch with farmers who are in need
OF farm help. The bureau Is making
an especial effort to secure farm help
for farmers early and before the sea-
SON for farm work opens in the spring.
Estimate Is Injustice To Iowa.
Members of the Iowa department of
agriculture have registered a vigorous
objection to the reports circulated that