The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-04-06
AN ACT providing for the Inspection of
Sole leather

Sole Leather.
Sec. 1. Be IL enacted, Sc, That the Governor
oil this Commonwealth, by and with the advice and
consent of the Council, shall, as soon as may be
convenient after the first day of June next, appoint
and commission one suitable person to be Inspec-
Tor General of Sole Leather for this Common
wealth, who before he shall enter on the duties of
ms otee, shall give bonds, with sufficient suretes
10 the Treasurer of this Commonwealth. in the
penal sum of three thousand dollars, for the faith
iul discharge of his duty, and said Inspector Gen.
erai shall be removable at pleasure by the Cover
nor, with the advice and consent of the Council
ana said Inspector General shall have power, after
being qualified in the manner prescribed by this
act, to appoint, and shall appoint one or more Dep
uty Inspectors, who shall be removable by him at
pleasure, in the City of Boston, upon application
OF the Mayor and Aldermen, and in any town, on
application of the Selectmen of such town. and the
saio inspector shall be answerable Tor the domgs
OF MS Deputies and shall take bonds from them to
himself and his successors in office. with sufficient
suretles, In penal sum not exceeding three hun
bred dollars. And each Inspector appointed by
virtue OF this act SHALL before he enters on the
ecution of t,. duties of his office. take oath or
I animation ito be endorsed and by HIM subscribed
on his said commission) before any Justice of the
feace within the County where such Inspector re-
sides ; and the said Justice shall likewise make a
certificate ofthe oath so taken on said commission
and the oath to be administered shall be in the
form following viz: |, A. B., do solemnly swear
Tor afhrm as the may be- that will faithful
~ and impartaly, to the best of my knowledge and
skill, execute and perform the office and duty of In
spector of Sole Leather, according to law.
Sec 2. Be 1t further enacted, That no Sole
Leather made of the hides Of neat cattle, except
such as shall have been previously inspected and
sealed by one of the Inspectors of this Common
wealth, or by some Inspector lawfully appointed
Tor that purpose in some other State or Territory
situated within the limits of the United States shall
be sold to any person. for any purpose whatsoever,
within any city, town or place for which an lnspec-
! tor has been appointed whether such Sole Leather
| be manufactured within said Commonwealth or
! imported or brought into the same from any place
whatsoever, until the same shall have been inspect
ed, weighed and sealed by of the Inspectors of
said city, town place, appointed as aforesaid !;
and if any person shall either buy or sell Sole
Leather within any place for which an Inspector
has been appointed, unless the shall have been
previously inspected as aforesaid, he shall forfeit
and pay for every such offence, one dollar for every
side of leather either bought or sold, to be
cred in an action of the case, in any Court proper
to try the same, one half to the Of the person
who shall first sue therefor and the other half to
the use of the town where the offence has been
committed
Sec. 8. Be 1t further enacted That it shall be
the duty of each of said Inspectors to 60 whenev-
er requested, within the place for which he is APP
pointed Inspector, and inspect such Sole Leather
as he shall be so requested to inspect Provided
holceIer, that when there shall be less than thirty
sides to be inspected, and the distance shall be
more than one mile from such Inspectors place o.
residence, then, in that case, such Inspector may
at his election either require such Sole Leather to
be brought to him for inspection, or he may demand
and shall be entitled to receive at the rate of tel
cents for each miles travel to be computed botf
in going from and returning home. And it shall be
his duty also to provide himself with proper scales
weights and seals for the purpose aforesaid and tt
weigh every side of Sole Leather he shall inspect
ard to impress thereon his name, and the name o
the place for which he is Inspector, at full length
and also the weight thereof. And on all Sole
Leather he shall find manufactured of good hides
in the best manner, he shall impress the wore
best" and on all Sole Leather manufactured o.
good hides, in merchantable manner, the word
:" good, !" and on all Sole Leather manufactured OIL
damaged hides, in merchantable manner, the
word damaged" and on all Sole Leather which he
shall find not to belong to one of the qualities afore
mentioned the word bad" And if any person OF
persons shall counterfeit such mark or marks, by
making any impression or mark, or alter or deface
the same on any Sole Leather so inspected, such
person offending shall forfeit and pay for every
side of Sole Leather falsely marked and impress.
ed, or detaced or altered, the sum Of twenty five
dollars to be sued for, recovered, and applied in
manner aforesaid.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That on applica.
ton of any person, it shall and may be lawful for
any Deputy Inspector appointed by virtue of this
ACT, W inspect Sole Leather IN any otner part oil
the County, or in any of the Counties adjoining to
the County in which such place is situated, for
which he is appointed Inspector provided there
be no Inspector. for such part of the County for
such adjoining Counties.
\ Sec. 3. Be ii further enacted, That the Inspec-
4 tor General and each Deputy Inspector appointed
by virtue of this act shall be paid for inspecting
\ weighing, and sealing each side of Sole Leather
the sum OF two cents, the whole of which shall al
ways be considered legal charge to be paid by
the purchaser to the vender; and that the Inspec-
tor General shall be entitled to receive from each
of his Deputies two mills from each side of Sole
Leather said Deputy may inspect, weigh, and seal
| according to the provisions of this act
i Sec. 8. Be 1t further enacted, That, if any side
or sides of Sole Leather shall vary when thoroughly
dried so as to weigh five per cent. more or less
than the weight marked thereon by any Inspector
the Inspector who inspected the same shall be sub
ject to the payment of the whole variation at fair
/ valuation, TO be recovered by the party injured
thereby in an action of the case in any Court hav-
! ing jurisdiction of like cases.
Sec. 7. BE it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty OF each Deputy appointed as aforesaid, to
make return to the Inspector General once in
every six months Of the number of and weight OF
all the sides Of Sole Leather inspected BY him
during said term Of six months, designating the
quantity of each quality, respectively, and also
the quantity of Sole Leather manufactured out OF
the State, so far as the same can be ascertaned ;
and that it shall be the duty of the Inspector Gen
| eral IN the month of May annually to make SINH
lar return to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
OF the number, weight, quality, and origin of all
the sides OF Sole Leather inspected by him and his
Deputies during the year ending on the first day of
said month of May.
/ Approved by the Governor, March II, 1881.