The Republican journal., 1897-04-15

The State board of agriculture is re-
quired, in addition to its other duties, to
discuss at the farmers institutes the best
methods of making roads, and to spread
the information throughout the State and
to municipal officers. This, with the abo-
htlon of the district surveyor system and
the substitution Of town road commission
ers, will do much for the cause of better
roads,
The act providing for investigation of
the cause of fires and the publication of
statistics in relating to them is very i'm
portant. Strict and minute instructions
are given to municipal officers and the in
ply involves fine.
The State Superintendent is to furnish
to the school officers of each town blank
books for keeping accounts of all money
appropriated, received and expended.
Women appointed to administer oaths
may perform that office to executors ad-
minstrators and others in relation to pro-
bate proceedings.
Punishment for second offence of intoX :
ication is changed to imprisonment for
not exceeding ninety days, instead Of for
thirty days as now.
Strict regulations are made for the pack
ing of sardines, which will greatly i'm
prove the quality Of the product.
Records of marriage are to include birth
place of the parties along with other par
ticulars, and to be forwarded to the clerk
OF the town in which the marriage takes
place, as we'll as to the clerk of the town
where the intention was recorded.
Fine words butter no parsnips, but farm
ers and market gardeners will take notice
that the standard weight Of bushel of
parsnips is fixed at forty-tve pounds
The laws relating to sea and shore fish
cries, packing and inspection of salt,
smoked and picked fish, use of seines and
weirs, taking of shelltish and migratory
fish, propagation of fish, close time, etc,
are carefully revised and consolidated.
Personal property exceeding $4,000 in
value belonging to religious society, is
made taxable
Bounties for the use Of agricultural so
cieties are to be divided according to
premiums and gratuities to exhibitors &C
tually paid in full, instead of awarded.
Town superintendent are directed to
furnish to the State superintendent all in
formation required of them in regard to
the public schools
Public schools falling to maintain an
average attendance of eight pupils are to
be discontinued, unless the town decides
otherwise. The town superintendent is
to provide conveyance for pupils living at
considerable distance.
Several adjoining towns having not less
than % nor more than 80 schools may
unite for the employment of superin-
tendent.
The dog license law is amended in i'm
FONT nrtio
turn to the State treasurer lists Of all dogs
owned and dogs killed; and any deficiency
in the amount returned by September /
for license on all dogs living on the pre-
ceding lst of July, is to be added to the
State tax of the delinquent city or town
Kennel fees are increased fifteen cents
each.
Provision is made for the examination
of candidates for admission to free high
schools, with a view to raising the quality
of such schools.
Acts OF incorporation granted since
January l, 1898, or hereafter, become null
and void in two years unless the corpora
tons have organized and commenced do
ing actual business under their charters
meanwhile.
Property remaining in public ware
house for one year after the expiration of
the time for which charges have been
paid, may be sold at public auction after
due notice has been given
Fines and penalties for violation of the
game laws with respect to moose, caribou,
deer and fish are increased.
A fine not exceeding $500 is the penalty
for publicly exhibiting any Photographic
or other reproductions of a prize fight.
This seems to bar newspaper cuts.
1t should be stated that the caucus act
providing tor the use of check lists by city
committees to determine the right of per
sons to vote in caucuses, applies to cities
of 25, 600 inhabitants or less, and not of
25, 600 or more, as mistakenly stated the
other day.
Cattle commissioners are hidden, under
Eeavy penalties, to inject kerosene oil into
the carcaSses of diseased animals which
they kill, and bury them, or have them
manufactured into fertilizers within IS
hours.
Agricultural seeds and plants, with a
few exceptions, sold or exposed for sale
in this State, must be accompanied by a
guarantee of purity based ON tests made
under conditions prescribed by the direc-
tor of the State agricultural experiment
station.
Professors in the medical schools are
constituted a board for the collection and
distribution of dead human bodies for pur-
poses Of anatomy, and unclaimed bodies
OF pauperS, convictS, suicides, hospital
patients or members of other public in
situations may be used for such purposes.