Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-19
IOWA BEING THOROUGHLY OR.
CANNED TO ENFORCE MA.
TIoNAL STATUTE.
MACHINERY PERFECTED
TO FORCE COMPLIANCE
Any Loyal Citizen Competent to Handle
or Sell Explosives May Procure Ii.
cense-Pcrsons or Corporations With
Explosives on Hand Must Secure
Licenses-Fee 10 Nominal.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 19.--Iowa is now
being thorous hly organized to prevent
the sale of explosives to enemy aliens
or to any irresponsible party.
J. J. Hughes, of Council Bluffs, Iowa
inspector of explosives, and a state
executive committee commissioned by
the government have practically per-
fected the machinery for the enforce
ment of the federal explosive law in
this state
Practically every county in the state
now has its licensing officer we'll mi
tiated into the work and every person
using or possessing explosives must
have license therefor. In the major
ity of cases the licensing officer is
either the county auditor, county clerk
or justice of the peace. The licensing
officers arc privileged to license any
one whom they fully determine is a
loyal citizen and who can be trusted
with such explosives.
The members Of the state executive
committee at a recent meeting held
in Dcs Moines, went over every detail
of the law and it's enforcement. In
spector Hughes and the members OF
the executive committee wer appoint
d by +. S. Peabody, assistant federal
director in charge of explosives. The
members of the committee are George
A. Smith. of Des Moines. representing
the National Safety council Frederic
Larrabee. of Fort Dodge, representing
the State Council of National Defense;
I'D. Carpenter. of Des Moines. repre-
senting the national board of fire in
surance underwriters. At the Dcs
Moines meeting the committee called
into counsel with them Senator La
fayettc Young, because of his wide
activity in patriotic work and because
of his Craftsmanship Of the state coun-
Gil of national defense.
Is War Measure.
According to this law people who
already have explosives on hand must
procure licenses for their possession.
Members of the committee report
that the coal mining companies of the
state are up to standard and there
will be little or no trouble with them.
The stone quarries and gypsum COM
panies however have not been under
the same regulations as coal mining
companies and for that reason more
work will be involved in looking after
these companies but the committee
now has the work we'll in hand
The federal explosive act is strictly
a war measure. 1t requires that eevry
person using or possessing explosives
shall have a license therefor. Licensing
officers have been instructed to require
not only those buying explosives be
licensed but also those buying the in
gradients for explosives.
Under the law no person can manu-
facture, distribute, store, use or pos
sess explosives or the ingredients
thereof unless licensed. except author
lied military authorities. Licenses VIII
not be issued to enemy aliens or to
subjects of country allied with an
enemy Of the United States, or to
corporation, firm or association where
the controlling stockholders or mem
bers are enemy aliens or subjects of
country allied with an enemy of the
United States.
A fee of twenty-five cents is charged
for license. The state attorney gen.
erals office has decided that this fee
vii, go to the officer Issuing thu
license. Inasmuch as there are >iot
many licenses issued comparatively.
the fees will not amount to much.