Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-29

tical agriculture elsewhere, with view
to the more complete development Of the
compile statistlcs relating 70 the public
and make such investigation relating
thereto as he shall deem expedlent In
order to secure better and more Inn
annual report shall make such state
ments bearing upon the construction or
maintenance Of ways and suggestions
same as he deems appropriate. including
Recommendations for any legislation
which to him seems expedient or ne.es.
sary. County commissioners, municipal
officers and all other officers having the
care and authority over public ways and
bridges throughout the! state shall: on
formation which they possess. He shall.
annually, by the third Wednesday In
January. present t9 9 the goyernor and and
board and the results Of his own labors
and Investigations. together with useful
communications. suggestions and rec0tn-
said report shall be printed. all bound in
cloth. one-half Of such for the legisla-
ture. and the remainder. after reserving
for distribution. under the direction Of
the. board. among the agricultural as
(Approved March 49,
Chapter k07.
AN ACT to provide for an Investigation
of the causes Of Fires, and the publ
cation Of statistics relating to the
Section !. When property is destroyed
or damaged by fire 1t shall be the duty OF
municipal officers In cities and towns to
missioner OF the same. and to investi-
gate. or cause to be investigated. the
cause, circumstances and origin Of the
Sas ~ or of
sign. The investigation shall be COM
menced within three days after the oc-
IorSa da " ana e
sioner shall have the right to supervise
and direct such investigation whenever
he deems i expedient or necessary rs
have completed their investigation. which
shall be within two weeks after the oc-
enr , OF the en- ire, they shall lmmsd,
er q written statement Of all the facts re;
lating to the cause, circumstances and
origin Of the iire: the kind; value and
damaged and such other Information as
may be REQUIRED by said commissioner.
the Insurance commissioner , shall , make
this act. together with all facts. statis-
ties and circumstances connected there
10 pub IecElG az ana az scS
pedient shall be published in his annual
report 10 the governor ana c0unclI.
Section 8. II shall be the duty of the
Insurance commissioner. whenever he
deems It expedient or advisable. to ex-
e amne OH and oa9in OF na
fires occurring in the cities and towns
within the state, of which &C has knowi-
destroyed. and to specially examine and
decide whether the same was the result
OF carelessness or design. The INSURANCE
commissioner shall. when in his opinion
said DrnceedinyS
cause to be taken the testimony on oath
of all persons supposed TO be cognizant
edge in relation to the matters as 10
which an examination is herein required
to be made. and may cause the same to
S the epnon 10 there IS es Sc sa
cient to charge any person with the
crime of arson or incendiarism. he shall
charged with such offense. and shall fur
nish to IT, proper county attorney all
such evidence. together with the names
of witnesses and all Information OBJ
tanned BY him. including a copy of all
pertinent and material testimony In the
case.
Section 4. The Insurance commission
err. the deputy insurance commissioner
and the municipal officers of cities and
towns shall each have the powers of
trial justice for the purpose of summon
ing and compelling the attendance OF
witnesses before them or either of them.
to testify In relation to any matter which
of inquiry and investigation. Said insur-
ance commissioner, deputy insurance
commissioner and municipal officers
may also administer oaths and aff1rma-
lions to persons appearing as witnesses
before them; and false swearing in any
matter or proceeding aforesaid shall be
deemed perjury and shall be punished as
such. Said insurance commissioner and
his subordinates shall have authority.
at all times of the day or night, in the
performance of the duties imposed by
this act. to enter upon and examine any
building or premises where a fire is in
progress or has occurred, and otner
builalngs or premises adjoining or near
the same. All Investigations held by or
under the direction of the insurance
commissioner. deputy insurance commits
sioner or the municipal officers may in
their discretion be private. and persons
other than those required to be present
by the provisions of this act may be ex-
tigation Is held. and Witnesses may be
kept separate and apart from one anoth-
er and not allowed to communicate with
one another until they have been ex-
amined.
Section 5. 1t shall be the duty of every
fire insurance company or association
transacting business in this state to re-
port to the insurance commissioner.
within ten days after the adjustment of
every loss. the amount of all policies is
destroyed or damaged. the amount paid
or payable on account of such loss, and
such other Information relating to the
udLteT as the COMMISSIONER re-
Quire.
Section 6. The insurance commissioner
may employ such clerks and assistants.
provide such blanks. and incur such ex-
penses as may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this act, not to exceed
two thousand dollars in any year, and all
bills and expenses incurred shall be au-
dited by the governor and council.
Section Z. 1t shall be the duty of the
municipal officers to record or cause to
be recorded, in a book provided by the
insurance commissioner. all returns made
under the provisions OF this act
Section s. Any city or town officer. or
any insurance company neglectfng or re-
fusing to perform any duty required by
the provisions of this act shall be pun
ished by fine of not less than ten dol
lars nor more than one hundred dollars
for each offense.
Section 9. Chapter ninety-eight OF the
public laws of eighteen hundred and
rlinety-five and all acts and parts Of acts
inconsistent herewith are hereby re-
pealed.
Section TO- This act shall take effect
on the first day of May, eighteen hum
bred and ninety-seven.
approved March 23.)
Chapter 28S.
AN ACT to amend Section two hundred
and five of Chapter six of the Revised
Statutes, as amended by Section eleven
of Chapter seventy OF the Public Laws
of eighteen hundred and ninety-five, re-
lating to Taxes.
Section two hundred and five of chap