The Republican journal., 1897-04-15
Summary of the Maine Laws.
with this

To the average citizen the mere titles OF
acts and resolves of the legislature convey
little information; while the text of many
of the acts, with their verbiage. legal
terms and references to former laws, re-
pealed or amended, is bewildering and re
pellant Probably but small per cent.
OF the public have time or patience to
read through the great mass Of laws print
ed in the biennial supplement and inform
themselves on what they really ought to
know as citizens and voters In the belief
that a brief and clear synopsis of the
more important of these new laws would
fill a long felt want, these additional sum-
maries were prepared by the Portland
ADVERTISER:
The fortnightly payment act is amend
ed by striking out the provision that com
plants for violation Vi the act shall be
made by employees to whom wages is due,
thus leaving it open to others to make
complaint. This is in the interest of work
ingmen. AS it was before no employe
would be likely to bring a complaint and
uu llG ilSh VI lOSILS Ills IOD.
Limitations on the remarriagei of di-
vorced persons are removed. Formerly
they could not marry again until two years
after divorce, unless permission had been
granted by the court.
The punishment for forgery, previously
fixed at imprisonment for not less than
two, nor more than ten years" is chang
ed to imprisonment for not more than
iS ha ff,r Incc
than two years.
The law establishing the rights of
widows and widowers in the real estate of
deceased husbands and wives is amended
to provide that in any event one third
Shall descend to the widow or widower
free from the payment of debts.
The State treasurer and the local asses
sors may bring an action OF debt within
two years from the date of assessment to
collect unpaid taxes with interest and
charges.
The provisions for collecting taxes on
bank stock are extended to include the
stock of other corporations except manu-
featuring corporations.
Building inspectors and municipal of
ficers are authorized to enter at all rea-
sonable hours all buildings and premises
within their jurisdiction and order the
removal of combustible material or the
remedying of dangerous conditions, and
the order must be obeyed on. penalty of a
fine of five dollars.
The act Of 1895 providing that "A.-ny
city officer elected or appointtqa. by the
city council, or appointed by the mayor
and aldermen, shall discharge their re-
spective duties under me direction and
control of the mayor and aldermen" has
been stricken out. The apparent object
OF this is, TO bring the act into harmony
with the new city charters.
The Insurance commissioner is given
absolute power to revoke the license Of an
insurance agent or broker for violation of
the insurance laws, or upon the request of
the company.
In case a petition for regulating the tax
ing of game and fish is refused, the petit
tiorers are required to pay half the ex-
penses of the commissioners.
Days of public fast or thanksgiving,
January l, February %, May 80, July 4,
the first Monday Of September and Deem
Der 25 are declared bank holidays after
next June; days of grace are abolished on
commercial paper, notes, checks, drafts,
ETC., falling due on Sunday or bank hol-
iday are payable on the next secular day.
Towns are required to furnish books
and apparatus for free high schools and
pay for repairs and insurance on them,
the same as for other public schools.
Guides in fishing and hunting must reg
lister annually in the books of the fish and
game commissioners, pay fee of 81 and
furnish certain statistics about the bust
ness. Failure to register involves fine of
$50 and costs