Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-07
WHY NOT A BLUE LAW TEsTs
ISIouy Csifv TnnrooJ1

Why should the whole state OF iowa
be torn up over an effort to enforce a
law which has not been enforced with
in the memory Of the oldest inhabitant
"a law which by common consent OF
public officers and public has been
regarded as obsolete and unenforce-
able?
When the efficiency Of a new law
is In serious doubt the rule is to insti-
tute test case and ascertain whether
l. can be carried thru the various legal.
processes successfully, the effort to
bring about general enforcement of the
statute being suspended in the mean
time. The Iowa Sunday law la not
new. but it's practica bility is more In
doubt than that Of any new law adopt
ed by the late legislature. Would 1t
not be good economy to have an expert
ment as to the Feasibility Of enforcing
the Sunday law? BY means OF such
an experiment the friction and ferrnent
incident to an enforcement campaign
could be localized and the expenses
mnimized. II the experiment should
prove unsuccessful in one typical com
munity the presumption would be that
no better result could be expected else
where. On the other hand, II the blue
laws can not be enforced In Dies Moines
1t must be waste OF energy to enforce
them elsewhere.
Why should not the attorney general
and the state capital get together in
q sort OF friendly suit to ascertain
whether or not toligates and ferry boats
are the only kinds OF business, apart
from work of necessity or charity. that
can be operated legally on the first day
OF the week.
ALL SEEKING EXEMPTIONS.
tSioux City Trihuns.]
An income u none the less an income
Il part OF 1t 10 derived from interest
on federal or state bonds, and the part
OF the income derived from interest IL
Just rs available for buying pork and
beans as funds derived from other
sources. For this reason there should
be little weeping and waiHns IL no
special exemptions are given to invest
ors In bonds when the government
casts about for new sources Of national
revenue.
because the United States supreme
court, in 1895. set aside the risht Of
congress to tax state bonds some In
vestors ana some lawyers think that
exemption still exists. This Il NOT the
case. The question OF constitutionaIity,
as raised In 1895, was cured by the In
como tax amen dment. States may az
empt their bonds from local taxation,
but not from the demands OF the lad
eral government.
In connection with this subject OF
war taxation the thought intrudes that
the efforts OF the United States cham :
Der OF commerce to chaperon the pro-
1ect needs to be discouraged, ana In
no uncertain terms. Some Of the mem
beers OF that organization, have the fac
u1ty Of talking patriotism, while, reg
istering" selfshness. The organizatio
shows q strong inclination to protect
large incomes and sxcess profits. Il
wants approximately three fifths OF
| the present war budget derived from
stamp taxes, excuses and custons--
which can be passed along to the con.
| sufners.
II congress- will just assume that
Zach citizen wants = taxation syStera
that puts the burden on others, then
lock itself away from promoting infiu.
ences and give heed only 70 4es solemn
duties, It will come nearer 70 dosnE the
right thing than In working on prs3u-
diced evidence.