The Republican journal., 1901-01-31
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

| Spofford of Deer Isle has presented the
petition of Otis W. Albee and thirty-three
| others in favor of an act prohibiting the use
of seines and torches within one mile of
| fish weirs..
! Hill of Belfast has presented resolve
granting VIM, j. Mathews of SearspOrt
| $1O3 for services rendered and materials
purchased in caring for fish eggs at Swan
Lake hatchery in 1878.
Seaman of Franklin has introduced an
act amending the laws relating to the mark
ing of lobster traps The amendment is as
| follows: "And all traps or devices for catch
| ing Holsters shall have the owners name
branded with letters not less than three
| fourths of an inch long and not less than
| one eighth of an inch deep on each sill of
said lobster trap, and anyone having in his
! possession any lobster trap with name hewn
off and his own substituted shall be liable
| to a penalty for each trap so found in his
| possession"
Hill Of Belfast has presented a bill con-
cerning veterinary surgeons. The bill pro-
vides:
Sec. l. No person unless he is a graduate
of veterinary college, or school, shall ad
vertise or hold himself out as such a gradu-
| ate, by the use Of any sign, character, initial
letter or otherwise.
Sec. 2. Any person violating the provis-
ions of the foregoing section shall be pun
ished bv fine of not less than five nor
more than fifty dollars, or by Imprisonment
| not more than three months, or by both.
The Committee on Inland Fish and Game
Jan. "a, discussed an order as to the desir-
ability of legislation to restrict the introduce
tion Of Belgian hares. DR.. Price of Rich
mond addressed the committee at length on
behalf of the hare, showing its great value
in the market.and the money to be made in
the business. He denied with vigor that
there was any danger in the introduction of
the hare holding that it will not live if turn
ed loose in this climate. No action was
taken by the committee, but it is probable
that bill will be drawn up requiring the
consent of the Commissioners before any
foreign animal, bird or reptile is introduced
into the State.
A bill of great interest to the publishers
of the State is that relative to actions for Ii
bel presented by Carleton of Winthrop It
is a measure in the interest Of justice to
newspapers and is designed to replace
Names antiquated libel laws with fairer
laws on par with those of other States.
The text of the bill is as follows:
Section l. In any action for libel, the de-
fendant, after notice in writing given to the
plaintiff or to his attorney at any time be-
fore the pleadings are required to be filed
therein of his intentions to publisha retrac-
tion of such libel accompanied by a copy of
the retraction which he is prepared to pub
lish, may give in evidence in mitigation of
damages that he so published such retrac-
ton; or, if, upon such notice the plaintiff
does not accept the offer so to publish such
retraction, the defendant may give in evil
dence in mitigation of damages that he offer
ed to publish such retraction and that said
offer was not accepted and that the alleged
libel was published in good faith and with
out actual malice, and unless the plaintiff
proves actual malice OF want of good faith
or failure either to retract or offer to re-
tract as aforesaid, he shall recover only
compensation for the actual injury sustain
ed.
Section .. In any civil action for libel
the defendant may allege and prove in miti-
CATION of damages that the plaintiff has al
ready recovered damages for, OF has receiv-
ed, or has agreed to receive, compensation
in respect Of substantially the same libel
as that for which such action was brought.
Section 3. In actions for libel an unprov-
ed allegation in the pleadings of the truth
of the matter charged shall not be deemed
proof of malice unless tie jury ON the whole
case find that such g, ase was made with
malicious intent.
Section T. In any action for libel if the
defendant at the first term files an affidavit
that he has a good defence upon the merits
and that the statements complained of were
published in good faith, the court after
hearing may order the plaintiff to give secu-
rity for costs
Section 5. Whoever willfully states, de-
livers or transmits by any means whatever
to the manager, editor, publisher or reporter
OF any newspaper, magazine or publication,
periodical or serial, for publication therein,
any false or libelous statement concerning
any person or corporation, and thereby Sc
cures the actual publication of the same,
shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished
by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars,
or Imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
by both fine and Imprisonment.