Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-23
OLD BLUE LAWS
TObE EMF 0RCED
Amusement Men in Panic at
Prospect of Having to
Close Up on Sunday
Especial Correspondence. |

Des Moines, Jan. 10. Amusement
men here are panic stricken over the
apparently we'll founded report that
Attorney General H. M. Havner pro-
poses to enforce the Sunday closing
laws, provided they are not repealed
before the close of this session of the
legislature.
The attorney general has repeatedly
stated that he would enforce all laws
which the thirty-seventh assembly
left operative when they adjourned,
and although he has never mentioned
lie utterance advocates of Sunday clos
ing say with confidence that the so
called blue laws" will be among those
enforced.
Strength has been given this belief
by the Taylor bill, which was prepared
in the attorney generals Office, increas-
ing the penalty for violation Of the
Sunday laws to maximum of $500
for a single offense. Under the laws
as they now stand violators can be
assessed but SIS for each offense.
The Lords day alliance. organized
for the purpose of enforcing observ.
ance Of the Sabbath. has indicated that
1t will be active in the session and Sc
cure the Introduction of number of
bills calculated to make the present
laws more stringent.
Rush Note On Dry Law.
Whether Iowa enters the list OF
states which have constitutional prohi
bition Of the liquor traffic will prob
ably be decided not later than next
October by the voters at special
election. Senator Wilson of Appa-
moose county, who stood sponsor for
the prohibitory amendment which
passed the senate yesterday, has pre-
pared a bill for the submission Of the
question at that time and it is under.
stood that the measure will have
enough support in the assembly to win,
Some legislators are said to be op-
posed to the special election plan and
favor submitting the question at the
regular election in November, 1918 A
sharp legislative fight may ensue in
the time for the election, but repub-
lican leaders express confidence that
an agreement will be reached
Attorneys representing the railroads
in conference with Attorney General
Havner yesterday refused to pledge
their companies to more than moral CO.
operation in restricting the traffic.
They say they are willing to refuse
shipments into the state as soon as the
law has been repaired or the supreme
court sustains the decision of Judge
Utterback in Polk county court yes
terday, holding common carrier has
no right to transport liquor except to
permit holders.
Dry leaders appeared before the
house committee on the suppression of
at public hearing yes
terday afternoon and urged that the
Whitmore bills be recommended out
for passage without material change.
The officials Of the state temperance
appear to be united be-
hind the Whitmore measures, but
there is a disposition on the part of
many members of the assembly to
question the advisability Of making the
restrictions too stringent in the face OF
the approaching election on the con.
stitutional amendment.
MANY BILLS OFFERED.
Des Moines, Jan. 49, The Iowa
state senate today concurred in the
house resolution providing for an in
vestigation of an alleged coal trust and
three senators were appointed to
serve on a joint committee which will
conduct the investigation.
Return to the old system of election
Of judiciary whereby each party nam
ed its candidates was provided for in
a bill introduced in the Iowa state SEN |
ate today by Helmer Of Carroll.
Fight was believed to have been |
opened today by further increased ex- |
penditures on the capitol extension !
program already under way and which.
it Is believed. faction Of the senate !
will attempt to curtail A.,
Clerks of district courts throughout |
the state. now elected when the judi |
cial elections are held. would be made |
appointive. under a bill introduced to-
day by Senator Rule of Mason City |
A bill re-apportioning the state into
new senatorial and representative dis
tricts was introduced in the senate to-
day by Grout of Waterloo.
An improved employers liability law
was introduced in the senate today by |
Frailey of Lee county, providing for an
commissioner a deputy in. ,
lustrial commissioner and a board of .
arbitration 10 consider disputes regard
ng compensation. !
Under the proposed law the employ
or would be considered to have a re-
sponsibility for injury regardless of
either himself or the employee
Gould be blamed for any accident, and
he bill fixes the rate and amount of +,
for injuries listed in sew.
eral classes of employment.
Senator Rroxam today introduced
measure to one introduced
n the house whereby county educa.
ional authorities will chose text books
o be used throughout the entire coun.
y instead of having the district direc.
ors choose the school books as at the
present time.
All peace officers in the state would
De put directly under the control of the
governor and the attorney general un.
Ter bill introduced in the senate to
lay by Senator Ratcliff of Montgom
,ry The bill also provides for the
working of state agents directly under
he attorney general instead Of through +
he governors office as at the present
ime.
ELDER CARTER MARRIED.