The Somerset reporter., 1897-04-01

! Legislation which to him seems expeoient or
necessary County commissioners, municipal
Officers and ali other officers having the care
and authority over public ways and bridges
throughout the state, shall on request furnish
| said secretary any information which they
possess 50 that said section, as amended,
shall read as follows:
section 5. The board shan appoint secre-
tafy, as Its chief executive officer for term Of
three years and until his successor is appoint
ed, and may prescribe his duties part of
which shall be by personal observation, invest
igation, and correspondence, to acquaint him
self with tho methods and wants OF practical
husbandry, the means OF fertilization, and the
adaptation OF various products to the soils
and climate OF Maine also with the progress
OF scientific and practical agriculture else
where. with view to the more complete do
yelopment OF the natural resources Of the state.
He shall compile statistics relating TO the
public ways In the cities and towns of the
state. and make such investigation relating
thereto as he shall deem expedient In order TO
secure better and more improved highways in
the state. and In his annual report shall make
such statements bearing upon the construc-
ton or maintenance Of ways md suggestions
and recommendations concerning the same as
he deems appropriate, including recommend
atoms for any legislation which to him seems
expedient or necessary. County commission
ors, municipal officers and all other officers
having the caro- and authority over public
ways and bridges throughout the state shall,
on request, furnish said secretary any infor-
nation which they possess. He shall, annu-
| ally. by the third wednesday in January,
present to the governor and council, report
of the doings OF the board. and the results OF
his own labors aad investigations, together
with useful communications, suggestions and
recon- mendauons. Twelve thousand copies
Of said report shall be printed, all bound In
cloth, one half Of such for the legislature, and
the remainder, after reserving suitable num-
Der for foreign exchanges, for distribution,
under the direction of the board. among the
agricultural associations and the people OF
the state
Improved Mar. 81
Chapter e87.
AN ACT to provide for an Investigation Of the
| causes of Fires, and the publication OF stats.
| tics relating TO the same.
Scot. /. When prop erty is destroyed or
damaged by fire IL shall be the duty Of mum
| cipal officers In cities and towns TO immediate
| ly notify the insurance commissioner OF the
Same, and to Investigate, or cause 70 be inyes-
tigated, the cause, circumstances and origin Of
the fre and especially to examine whether II
was the result OF carelessness or of design.
Tho investigation shal be commenced within
| three days aftsr the occurrence Of the IRE.
not including the Lords day, and the fnsur-
anoe commissioner shall have tho right TO su-
pervise and direct such Investigation whom
ever he deems 1t expedient or necessary.
Scot. .. When the municipal officers have
completed their Investigation, which shall be
within tive weeks after the Occurrences Of the
fire, they shall Immediately file with the insur-
ance commissioner a written statement OF all
| tho facts relating TO the cause. circumstances
and origin of the fire. the kind, value and
| ownership of the property destroyed or dam
aged, and such other information as may be
required by said commissioner. The fnsur-
ance commissioner shall make a record of all
dres investigated under this act, together with
all facts, statistics and circumstances connect
ed Herewith. Such record shall At all times be
open to public inspection. and such portions
of IL as the commissioner deems expsdient
shall be published is his annual report to the
governor and council.
SECT. s. n shall be the duty OF tn In surancs
commissioner, Whenever he deems It expedi-
emit or advisable, TO examine or cause to be ex-
amined the cause, circumstances and origin Of
all fires occurring In ths cities and towns with
In the state, Of which he has knowledge, By
which property 10 damaged or destroyed, and
to specially examine and decide whether the
same was the result OF carelessness or Design.
Tho insurance commissioner shall, whom In
his opinion said proceedings are necessary,
take or cause to be taken the testimony on
oath of oil persons supposed to be oognizans
Of any facts or to have means Of knowleds Q
In relation to the matters as to which an ex-
animation Is hersin required to be made, and
may cause the same to be reduced 70 writing.
II he shall be of tho opinion tina, there Is evil
dsncs sunicient to charge any person with the
crime OF arson or inoendlarism, he shall cause
suoh person TO be arrested and charged with
such ofrense, and shall furnish to the proper
county attorney all suoh evidence, together
with the names OF witnesses and all informa .
ton obtained by him, including q copy OF all
pertinent and material testimony in the case.
SECT. I Tho insurance commissioners, the
deputy Insurance commissioner and the mu-
nicipal Officers of cities and towns shall each
have the powers Of trial justice for the pur.
pose Oh buluInOuiuH anu ootnpoiiiu4 tbo hlsch-
dance Of witnesses before them or either of
them, to testify in relation TO any matter
which 10 by the provisions of this act subject
of inquiry and Investigation. Said insurance
commissioner, deputy insurance commissioner
and municipal officers may also administer
oaths and afirmations TO persons appearing
~ witnesses before thsm; 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 tho day or night, In the performance Of tho
duties imposed By this act, 10 enter upon and
examine any building or premises where fire
IL In progress or has occurred, and other build
inss or premises adjoining or near the same.
All Investigations held by or under the direc-
| ton Of tho insurance commissioner, deputy
insurance commissioner or the municipal on
oers may In their discretion be private, and per.
sons other than those required to be present
by the provisions of this act may BIO excluded
from the place whore such investigation is
held, and Witnesses may b kept separate an d
apart from ono another and not allowed to
communicate with one another until they have
been examined.
SECT. s. Il shall be the duty Of every FIRE
insurance company or association transacting
business in this stats 10 report to the insur-