Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1915 — NEW CRIMES ADDED TO THE LEGAL CALENDAR [ARTICLE]

NEW CRIMES ADDED TO THE LEGAL CALENDAR

Legislature Enacts Some Important Laws For People’s Protection— Keep Them in Mind. Each session of the legislature adds new crimes to the calendar. This is due to two causes—the growing complexity of civilization and aroused moral sentiment. The growth of population makes new condition which must be regulated pnd the growth of conscience demands punishment of offenses which have been tolerated. The recent session of the general assembly made a number of important additions to the criminal law and fixed punishments for many acts which had been formerly ignored. It was made unlawful to impersonate a blind or crippled person for the purpose of securing alms. Hereafter no one may hunt along the highways with searchlights attached to automobiles nor shoot along or across any highway. It was made unlawful to interfere or tamper in any way with railroad signals or equipment—sttangely enough no penalty had been attached before to this species of vandalism and petty theft. Lazy husbands who fail or refuse to support their wives and children are subject to punishment. In order to lessen the Hardships upon the dependents, the county commissioners are directed to put said lazy husbands to work at a specified rate and turn over the wages to the family for its support. No one may hereafter block a private drain without the consent of ail parties interested. If he does he will be subject to a fine for it. Owners of property along highways must hereafter cut weeds along the highway. They receive a rebate on their taxes. If they fail or refuse to cut the weeds, the cost is assessed against them, which amounts to a fine. The business of dealing in trading stamps was prohibited without a license and any person violating the act is subject to a fine and imprisonment. Farmers shipping watermelons must hereafter give correct weight of each carload and the number of watermelons in it. Hotel keepers and lodging house keepers are required under pain of fine to provide sanitary sleeping accommodations, including sheets of sufficient length to cover the entire mattress and a top sheet of not less than 99 inches long and 81 inches wide so as to be folded over the blankets and sheets, and pillow slips must be removed after the departure of each guest. Another health measure provides that owners of premises in which persons suffering from tuberculosis have lived, must disinfect persons suffering from tuberculosis coming under their care. ’

Hereafter anyone packing or shipping rags or paper stock for use in felt making and paper mills is subject to a fine and imprisonment if he knowingly packs any dead animal, stone, wood, metal, minerals, bone, glass, leather, rubber or manufactured articles which contain such substances or which contain water or earth. The legislature also made it a crime to engage in the business of lobbying for hire before the legislatures or its committees unless the lobbyist is registered by his employer with the secretary of state. Public utilities and their officers were made subject to a fine for diverting funds for the purpose of concealing their real condition. The law relating to animal diseases fixes severe penalties for any person who violates the rules and regulations of the state veterinarian in establishing a quarantine against contagious animal disease. All employers are made subject to a fine if they do not pay the wages of discharged employes within 72 hours after discharge. Employers who require letters of recommendation showing qualifications or experience must also give a letter showing the cause of discharge when requested by the discharged employe or be subject to a fine. , The primary election law is safeguarded at every turn with provisions against corrupt practices. Severe penalties are attached to any person who violates in any particular the purity of the primary ballot. Another law requires the preservation of ballots cast in primary or general elections for a period of six months and penalizes any officer who destroys them. The law also, requires that all pencils used in marking ballots be destroyed and any inspector who has such a pencil in his possession is subject to a fine and imprisonment.