Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-06
WORKMEN'S LAW
IS HELD VALID
United States Supreme
Court Rules In Iowa and
Other Cases.
Question Comes Before Federal Court
For First Time and Appeals From
Three States Bring Similar Decisions
Irrigation and Water Rights Worth
More Than $4,000, 900 Disposed of by
High Court.

Washington, March 6.-The iowa
workmen's compensation law was to-
day upheld as constitutional by the SUI
preme court.
The first compulsory workmen's COM
pensation or industrial insurance law
that Of Washington state-to come be-
fore the supreme court, was upheld to-
day as constitutional.
The New York workmen's compensa-
ton act today was declared constitu-
tional by the supreme court.
Disposing4-of irrigation OF water
rights In the North Platte river valley
IN Nebraska tworth more than. 81,
600. and Nebraska court decree hSld-
ing validity apf the state water law Of
1895 and sustaining the water claims
OF the Tri-state Land and Farmers
Mutual Canals Company, was today
put into effect by the supreme court.
Compensation Gases Similar.
The questions involved in the cases
from various states were similar Con-
stitutionality of the Washington law
was questioned in O. suit by the state
against the Mountain Timber Company,
Of Kalama, Wash, a Nebraska Icorpo
ration, to collect contributions to tne
state compensation fund levied by the
enforce the law and fix compensation Of
injured employees
Extent of the laws application -
whether it or the federal employers
liability act applies-to certain en-
ployes Of common carriers was involved
in three other suits of such employees
for personal injuries.
In all four cases, the Washington
statute was upheld as constitutional
and also applied to the common car
riers' employees, displacing the federal
statute to that extent. In the Moun-
tain Timber Company case, the state
supreme court held the, law valid and
gave judgment to the state for the
contributions assessed. In the en-
ployers' suits against the common car
riers, the ninth circuit court Of appeals
affirmed their dismissal by Federal
District Judge Neterer.
The Mountain Timber Company case
was argued in Februtry, 1916, but the
supreme court reached no decision,
and it was reargued in January, 1917.
Between the two hearings Justices
Brandeis and Clarke were appointed.
Justice Lamar died and Justice Hughes
resigned.
That the Law, enacted ii 1911 and
the only compensation statute of any
state establishing compulsory compen-
sation standards exclusive Of any 9TH
er procedure, violates the "due process"
constitutional clause, deprives employ
ers and employees Of liberty Of contract
and abridges rights Of both to jury
trial Of personal injury actions were
the principal grounds Of attack upon
the statute-an attack made both by
the Mountain Timber Company as an
employer and by William Raymond,
Of Seattle, a Chicago, Milwaukee &,
st. Paul railroad employe.
The state authorities defended the
law as valid exercise Of state police
powers" to prevent waste in litigation
over Industrial injuries and as social
legislation to meet changed, modern
conditions.
British Ship Owners Win.
British claimants of the German prize
ship Appam today won their suit in the
supreme court to regain possession of
the vessel and cargo.
In sustaining the British suit against
the Appam and cargo, the court held
that the British owners are entitled to
restriction because the Appam violated
American neutrality. Treaties Of 1893
and 1928 between the United States and
Germany, the court held, do not entitls
,,~tvas ,,n ccoy,, nm !, Tod IN, <h a
captor ship, to indefinite American asy-
lum. Jurisdiction Of American courts
over the Appam was upheld.
Findings of Federal Judge Waddill.
Of Virginia, that the Appam violated
American neutrality, after being
brought in Hampton Roads>a year ago
by the German prize crew, were sus-
tanned and approved by the court.
Import Duty Discounts Annuilsd.
The clause in the tariff law graptinR