The Van Buren press., 1898-10-22


tive. elect from Crawford county has
drafted the following bill which he pro-
poses to introduce at the coming session
of the legislature and makes the same
public so that thorough discussion of
the measure may be had before the gen
eral assembly meets.
THE BILL.
An Act to Protect Crops and to Prevent
the Running at Large of Stock. and
for Other Purposes.
SEC. /. That upon petition of five re-
spectacle citizens of any township in
The State. presented to justice of the
peace of said township asking for an
election to be held for the purpose of
determining whether hogs or stock shall
be permitted TO run at large in said
township. said justice shall make such
order. giving at least ten days notice,
designating the time and place for such
election by posting written or printed
notices in at least three places in said
township. Such elections shall be held
as school elections are now held, and
the said justice of the peace shall ap-
point two qualified electors. residents
of the township, as judges.
SEC. 2. The order of such justice of
the peace shall be embraced in the
notices for the election, and shall state
that the application of FIVE citizens lgiv-
ing names) has been presented calling
for vote on 1.-The Stock Law, or
1.-The Hog Law, as the case may be.
SEC. 8. If the prayers of the petition
state that the object of the election is
for the purpose of prohibiting all kinds
of stock from running at large, the form
of the ticket shall be:
For Stock Law
Against Stock Law.
But If the object of the election be for
the purpose only of prohibiting hogs
from running at large, then the form of
the ticket shall be:
''For Hog Law.
Against Hog Law.
SEC. 4. After the vote of such town
ship has been counted. the judges shall
within five days after such election GER
tify such returns to the county judge of
the county wherein such election is held
and il it appears that two thirds of all
Llt YOttS CdSt Wtfc VI otOCh Law
or For Hog Law then said judge
shall, within five days after receiving
such vote. make an order declaring such
law to be in force in such township, to
rernain so for two years from date of
election and he shall send a copy of
such order to a justice of the peace or
constable of said township. who shall
post the same in some conspicuous place
in the township.
SEC. 5. When such election has been
held as stated in Sections l, 2, and 4
of this act, and, the ''Stock Law has
been declared in force, it shall be un
lawful for the owner to allow any
horses, mules, jacks, jennets. cattle,
sheep, goats or hogs to run at large !;
but if only the Hog Law has been
declared to be in force then it shall only
be unlawful for the owner to allow any
hogs to run at large in such township.
SEC. 6. Any person violating any of
the provisions of Section shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined
in any sum not less than one or more
than ten dollars.
SEC. 2. 1t shall be the duty of the
any growing crop, living in a township
where the "Stock Law or Hog
Law has been declared to be enforced
under the provisions of this act, to take
charge of and impound any stock pro-
hibited from running at large in said
township and notify the owner, if the
owner can be found. that he has such
stock in his custody.
h
shall come forward within three days
and pay all damages sustained by the
impounder, and the expenses of the care
OF such animals, then the same shall be
turned over to him or his agent as the
case may be.
SEC. 9. Should the owner or his
agent fail to appear and satisfy the
damages within three days after he
shall have been notified then the party
injured by such animals shall file his
suit for damages before any justice of
the peace having jurisdiction who shall
render Judgment for such damages,
costs of the suit, and order sale of the
animals for the satisfaction of the same,
unless the Judgment be Immediately
paid.
SEC. 10. Sales of stock under any
Judgment rendered under the provisions
of this act shall be conducted as ordi
nary sales of property under judgments
in attachments, and the overplus, if
any. shall be turned over to the owner
of the stock but if the stock fails to
bring enough to satisfy Judgment and
costs the court shall issue an execution
against the owner for the amount un
paid.
Gro - That oil acts apd ,,artc Of
acts in conflict with this act be, and the
same are hereby repealed, and this act
passage.