Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
The Moth Pest Law.

The moth pest law, as 1t Ia best known. pass
ed by this legislature. was approved by Gov
ernor Cobb Feb. Is. and 70 now the law OF the
state. II Is Of rather too much length to give In
the machinery OF administration by the agricul
tural department and the shipment OF infested
nursery, stock Is not OF SO much general In
terest as other sections, we give below, below the
applying to the action OF towns and individuals)
Sect. Z. Should any person in the
state suspect the presence of the brown
tail moth or San Jose scale preying up
on trees, shrubs or vines in his posses
sion or within his knowledge he shall
forthwith notify the Commissioner of
Agriculture to that effect; and ii shall
be the duty of said Commissioner to
cause the said trees, shrubs or vines to
be inspected. II sufficient cause be
found the Commissioner Of Agriculture
shall forthwith notify the municipal
officers of the city or town where such
pests have been found. Municipal
officers thus notified shall Immediately
cause to be destroyed such of the above
named insects in their different stages as
may be found within the limits of public
streets and parks. Should such munich
pal officers neglect or fail within a
reasonable time to perform the duties
herein imposed upon them then the
Commissioner of Agriculture, with the
advice and consent of the Governor and
Council, shall order such city or town to
proceed to destroy the above named
insects in accordance with methods to
be prescribed by him and to spend such
= h., cd oe
he shall deem necessary, not exceeding
however, during any one full year, one
twentieth Of one per cent of the tax valu
alton of said city or town for the pre-
ceding year.
Any city or town failing to comply
with the directions of said Commits
siouer in the performance of said worl
and the expenditure of such money
within the time spec fed by him, ther
the Commissioner of Agriculture shall
cause the said work to be done anC
shall charge the actual expense of thu
same to said city or town; the amount
one per cent of the total valuation o
such city or town, such amount to b'
collected as state tax.
Whenever city or town is notified by
the Commissioner of Agriculture of thu
presence of the brown-tail moth or SaI
Jose scale, the mayor of each city anC
the selectmen of each town shall notify
each owner of real estate located therein
requiring him to destroy the above nam
ed insects on his orchard and shad,
trees within a specified time. II tn,
owner fails to destroy the above nance
insects before the specified time, ther
the city or town, subject to the approval
of the Commissioner of Agriculture
shall destroy them, and shall assess up
on such aforesaid real estate the actua
cost of so doing, to an amount, however
not exceeding one-tenth of one per cen
of the assessed valuation of the abov,
named property. The amount so assess
ed shall be collected in the form o
taxes.
1t shall be the duty of the Commits
sioner of Agriculture to disseminate in
formation concerning the brown-tail anC
gypsy moths, San Jose scale and othe
Injurious insects or plant diseases.
Cities and towns may raise the sum:
necessary to carry out the provisions O
this section in the same manner in which
money is raised for other necessar.
municipal purposes.
Sect. IL. When any city or town shall
have expended in any one calendar year
within its limits, its funds to an amour
equal to one-twentieth of one per cen
of its assessed valuation of the previou.
year in destroying or suppressing the
brown-tail moth, San Jose scale anC
similar insects, but not including thu
gypsy moth in any of their stages, Al
herein provided, it shall receive REIN
bursemeuts from the state as follows:
Cities or towns having a total assessed
valuation of $3.50, 900 or less shall receive
such sums as may in the judgment o.
the Commissioner of Agriculture have
been necessarily expended by them II
excess of one-tweptieth OF one per cen
Of such assessed valuation.
Cities or towns having total assessed
valuation of more than $3.50 600 and mo-
exceeding 1850, 900 assessed valuation
shall receive IS per cent of such sum a,
may have been expended by them il
excess of one-twentieth of one per cen
of such valuation.
Cities or towns having an assessed
valuation of more than 81 800, 900 shall
receive so per cent of such sum as may
have been expended by them in exces.
of one-twentieth of one per cent Of such
valuation.
No city or town shall be entitled L
reimbursement from the state as afore
said until it shall have submitted to the
Commissioner of Agriculture its item
lied receipted accounts and voucher:
showing the amounts expended by i
for the purpose herein specified, mol
until such vouchers and accounts hav,
been approved by the Commissioner Of
Agriculture.
Sect. II. Whenever any city or town
shall appropriate or raise sum o.
money and shall pay the same over tC
the State Treasurer for the purpose Of
DISCRIMINATING the gypsy moth within its
borders the Commissioner OF Agriculture
shall cause such sum to be expended II
such city or town as herein provided, to
gether with an equivalent amount from
the appropriation hereafter made. Pro
vided, however, II it be found by the
Commissioner of Agriculture unneces
sary or impracticable to expend such
entire amount during the year following
such payment to the State Treasurer
one-half of the amount so remaining
unexpended shall be reimbursed to suct
city or town.