Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-06-15
SEND LETTERS TO
PEACE OFFICERS
Attorney General Cosson Issues In
structions on Enforcement
of New Laws.

|
and chiefs of police, together with
pamphlet containing copies of laws
recently enacted, also the provisions
on law enforcement Following is
copy of the letter:
81 am enclosing you a pamphlet
concerning recent laws relating to
the sale of intoxicating liquor and
the enforcement of the law includ-
ing the Webb-Kenyon law, the red
light law and a synopsis of laws
passed by the thirty-third general
assembly, commonly known as the
Cosson laws, and l especially direct
to your attention the special agent
! bill found on page 81 of the pamph-
let. You will notice that he is given
very large powers. Section pro-
vides:
Said special agent or agents
shall have the same power in any
part of the state to make arrests and
file information and otherwise en-
force the law of the state as any
county attorney, sheriff, marshal,
constable, police officer or other
peace officer in each county, and in
the performance of this duty he may
call to his aid any county attorney,
sheriff, marshal, constable or other
police or peace officer.
Gas shown by section 4, however,
this does not relieve any local Of
ficer of any duty enjoined upon him
by law.
"While the special agent is given
great power in every part OF the
state, nevertheless it will be the pur-
pose of such special agent and the
policy of the department of justice
to cooperate with county attorneys,
sheriffs, mayors and police officers
and to that end we invite your CO.
operation and communication either
direct to G. A. Brunson, Special
Agent, State House, Des Moines or
to the attorney general.
"While the law provides that the
agents shall be appointed by the
governor, yet in the practical ad-
ministration they work under the
department of justice, the governor
: of course, reserving the right to ex-
ercise his authority in any special
case if he so desires.
conditions are such in many
parts of the state that it will not be
necessary to call for the services OF
such special agents. Wherever pos
sible, the department will be more
l than gratified to have matters look
! ed after entirely by local officials
| however, where the problem of law
| enforcement is more difficult and the
3 facilities for enforcement of the law
} are not adequate, to the extent OF
+. our ability we shall be glad to CO.
e operate with all county attorneys
l sheriffs, mayors and the police Of
= ficers. The object to be attained is
the enforcement of the law with as
little friction and difficulty as posi-
BILE but nevertheless it should be I'm.
derstood that the law must be en-
forced.
= 1T is demonstrated over and over
again in every county in the state
. that large part of the prosecutions
fail because the police officers do moi
understand the value Of evidence
. Let me therefore suggest to mayor:
and county attorneys the advisable
ity of urging upon your police Of
fcers greater care in the matter o.
securing evidence.
r The authority of the specia
+. agent is not limited to the enforce
+ ment of the liquor law but extend:
!, to the enforcement of all laws no
! especially enjoined upon the Others
n by statute. The liquor law is to b'
h placed precisely upon the same bash
6 as other laws but inasmuch as there
: are more violations of this law, nee
r essarily more consideration is giveI
to its enforcement.
f 1--WE are especially anxious to SCI
Il that all so-called dry territory be
comes dry in fact as we'll as in nam
:. at as early a day as possible. W.
will then be better able to cooper
ate with local officials in communi
e ties where a preponderance of tn
u sentiment favors the open saloon.
J. 81 suggest to the sheriffs and po
7. lice officers that in all cases wher
n serious offenses are committed ant
e the criminal is not apprehended, bu
u makes his escape, that a copy Of tn
: description of the offender be sent t.
IS the special agent"