Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-20
THE CALLED JADE WINCES.
IRurfin2tDr E,sIvykeVe I


one night last week two enlissaries
from the states attorneys office.
known as state detectives, and three
members of the local police depart
ment raided hotel room and discov-
cred therein four men playing cards,
allege eddy for money. At least SO
man hired TO obtain the evidence testi-
fed. When one Of the local police Of
ficers stepped up to the door where
the heineous crime was being commit
ted, or supposed to be committed.
he hesitated. The door was locked.
Shall l kick il in" he meekly asked
of the majesty of the law as represent
ed by the Des NJ ines sleuth. Yes"
impressiyely observed that individual,
the state of Iowa Is behind you. The
Gazette is not defending the actions OF
any tin-horn gambling outfit nor crit
icising in any manner the enforcement
OF the law. But the Gazette is moved
to inquire, since when, pray, has it
been necessary for a fully equipped
police department in the somewhat
circumscribed city Of Burlington to call
in outside assistance to enforce the
law Why should the money Of the
taxpayers be spent to get information
here from Cedar Rapids, keokuk, Ala
makee county, or any other old place?
Does the Burlington police department
have to go to the states attorneys
office to get it's orders or is it not ac-
quainted with its rights and powers
under the law? If it was lawful TO
kick that door in, it was not necessary
to consult the state detective about it.
The city of Burlington is back OF the
police department and when the city
Of Burlington fails to back the police
department then Des Moines county
can take hand. And when the law
enforcement resources of Des Moines
county fail, perhaps it will be time to
appeal to the state Of Iowa, literally.
If there is any reason in the world
why the police department here can
not Of it's own free will and with the
information available suppress gam
bling, lewdness, Bookkeeping and other
misdemeanors and forms of crime, it
perhaps 10 time to get police depart
ment that can do so without invoking
the aid OF the states attorneys office,
the state constable department, the
state veterinary or any other state Of
ficer. If it is neces sary to scour the
commonwealth for aid every time there
is suspicion of penny ante game OF
poker or crap game somewhere with
in the city limits. we might as well
cut the police department off the city
payroll, have the state constable guard
our peace and dignity. calling out the
militia when it Is expedient to arrest
a plain drunk. Burlington always has
been a pretty law abiding city. We
pay big sum to keep it so. Let the
state constables operate in communi-
y v-I,ar
deliver the goods.
THE GOOD ROADS COMMISSION.
lMuscatine Journal
The personnel Of the good roads
commission named by Governor
Clarke can not fail to inspire conf
dence. d. w. Norris, Of the MARSHALL
town Times Republican, is alike the
most persistent and the best informed
good roads advocate in the state. ]. NJ.
Brockway, OF Let's, the father Of Iowa
present highway legislation and the
chairman Of the house good roads COM
mittee In the general assembly is an
other member whose knowledge Of the
question is by no means confined to
theory.
The attitude Of the other members
OF the commission may be iess general
ly known but Iowa can feel assured
that no half-measures will be reported
by q commission which II headed by
Norris and which includes Brockway.
Norris and Brockway have not always
been in agreement in their ideas upon
good roads This was particularly 80
when Brockway was striving for what
he could get and Norris was agitating
for what he wanted. Now that Norris
must face not only the framing Of
program but must frame a program
that can be put thru there may be less
likelihood Of disagreement.
As stated in the dispatcehs, 1t Is the
governors intention to have the COM
mission prepare 4 report on hard sur
face materials that may be best and
most economically used in Iowa, the
cost Of hard surfacing Iowa roads, the
roads that should be paved. and some
feasible plan for financing road inn
provement. This report Is to be made
to the legislature when 1t meets in 1917.
With such q commission as he has
named charged with such duty. #
seems likely that iowa is going to get
action" on the good roads question at
last.
We have boosted" good roads,
talked good roads" and with spas-
modtc effort have occasionally worked