The Republican journal., 1897-03-25

| TONS concerning the same as he deems appro-
pirate, including recommendations for any
| legislation which to him seems eXpedient or
necessary. County commissioners, municipal
| officers and all 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, SO that said section, as amended
shall read as follows:
| Section S. The board shall appoint secre-
| tary, 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
1sation, ana correspondence, to acquaint him
self with the 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 de-
velopment 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 and suggestions
and recommendations concerning the same as
he deems appropriate, including recommend
| ations for any legislation which to him seems
expedient or necessary. County commission
ers, municipal officers and all other officers
having the care 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, a report
of the doings Of the board, and the results of
| his own labors and Investigations, together
with useful communications, suggestions and
recommendations. Twelve thousand copies
Of said report shall be printed, all bound in
cloth, onehalf of such for 1.-THE legislature, and
the remainder, after reserving suitable num-
| Der for foreign exchanges, tor distribution,
under the direction Of the board. among the
agricultural associations and the people Of
| the state
approved Mar %.
Chapter es1.
AN ACT to provide for an Investigation Of the
causes OF Fires, and the publication of statis
tics relating to the same.
| SECT. l. When prop erty is destroyed or
damaged by fire 1t shall be the duty of NUM-
cipal officers in cities and towns to Immediate
ly notify the insurance commissioner OF the
same. and to investigate, or cause to be inves-
tigated, the cause, circumstances and origin of
the fire, and especially to examine whether 1t
was the result Of carelessness or of design.
The investigation shall be commenced within
three days after the occurrence of the IRE,
not including the Lords day. and the insur-
ance commissioner shall have the right to gu
pervise and direct such investigation when
ever ne deems it expedient or necessary.
Scot. 2. When the municipal officers have
completed their investigation which shall be
| within two weeks after the occurrence Of the
fire, they shall Immediately file with the insur-
ance commissioner u written statement OF an
the 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 may be
required by said commissioner. The 4nsur.
ance commissioner shall make a record OF all
fires Investigated under this act, together with
all facts statistics and circumstances connect
ed Herewith. Such record ghal at all times be
open to public inspection. and such portions
Of 1t as the commissioner deems expedient
shall be published in hts annual report to the
governor and council.
SECT. S. n shall be the duty Of t1 9 in surnnce
commissioner, whenever he deems 1t expedi-
ent or advisable, to examine or cause to be
nmined the cause, circum stances and origin OF
ali fires occurring In the cities and towns with
In the stats, of which he has knowledge, by
which property Is damaged or destroyed, and
to specially examine and decide whether the
same was the result Of carelessness or design.
The insurance commissioner shall, whom in
his opinion said proceedings are necessary,
take cause to be taken the testimony on
oath Of all persons supposed to be cogntzant
OF anT facts or to have means of knowledge
in relation to the matters to which an en-
animation Is herein required to be made. and
may cause the same to be reduced to writing.
II he shall be Of the opinion that there is evil
dence sufficient to charge any person with the
crime OF arson or tncendiarism, he shall cause
such person to be arrested and charged with
such o7ense, and shall furnish to the proper
county attorney all such evidence. together
with the names Of witnesses and all informA
ton obtained by him, including a copy Of all
pertinent and material testimony in the case.
SECT. 4. The insurance commissioner, the
deputy insurance commissioner and the mu-
nioipal officers OF cities and towns shall each
have the powers Of a trial justice for the pur-
pose OF sufnInonlh8 hnQ competing the atten-
dance of witnesses before them or either of
them, to testify in relation to any matter
which is 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 afflrmatons to persons appearing
rs 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
subord1nates shall have authority, at all times
Of the day or night, in the performance OF tho
duties imposed by this act, to enter upon and
examine any building or premises where a fire
is in progress OF has occurred, and other build
ings premises adjoining or near the same.
All investigations held by or under the direc-
ton of the insurance commissioner, deputy
insurance commissioner or the municipal off,
GERS may In their discretion be private, and per-
sons other than those required to be present
by the provisions Of this act may be excluded
from the place where such Investigation is
held and vitnesses NAV bs kent senapats and