Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-17
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An Act to Prevent PROTECTING in the
Necessities OF Life and Rents or
Charges for the Occupancy OF Build
ings for Dwelling Purposes ana 70
Provide Penalties Therefor ana IN
vestigations Thereof.
Be Il enacted b. the People OF the
State of Maine. as follows.
Sec. I. ANY dealer. trader. manu-
facturer or warehouseman who with
intent to enhance the price or Testrict
the supply Of the necessities OF lie
wilfully destroys or permits prevent
facture. storage or distribution Of the
same, or. with such intent, prevents,
limits. lessons or restricts the manu-
facture, production. supply or oistti.
said necessities or exacts or demands
any unjust or unreasonable profis n the
sale. exchange or handling OF the said
necessities or unreaSonapiy oiscrimi-
mates against any person IN the SAFE
of such necessities. or in any way
aids or abets the doing Of any act
hereinbeforc mentioned. shall be pun
ished b. fine not exceeding one thou.
sand dollars or Imprisonment Tor not
more than three years. or by bo.n
such fine and Imprisonment
The term necessities of life" shall
include food for human consumption.
food for domestic animals. wearing
apparel shoes. building materials, gas
and electricity for light, heat and
power. fuel OF all kinds. fertilizer and
fertilizer ingredients. together with
tools. utensils. implements. machinery
and equipment required for the actual
production or manufacture OF the
same.
Sec. .. Whoever demands or col
lects an unreasonable or unjust rent
or charge. taking into due considera-
tion the actual market value OF the
a the time with fair return
thereon. or imposes an unreasonable
or unjust term or condition. Tor the
occupancy of any building or any part
thereof. rented or hired for dwelling
purposes. shall be punished by fine
of not more than one tsousand dollars
or by Imprisonment for not more than
enc year. or By both such tine and
Imprisonment.
Sec. :. The attorney genera, shall
Investigate all violations Of this act,
all contracts, combinations or consp!ra-
cles in restraint Of trade or commerce
and all monopolies. and may require.
by summons. the attendance and tes-
timony of witnesses and the prcduc-
ton OF books and papers before him
relating TO any such matter under IL
NeStlgatjou. Such summons shall BE-
served in the same manner as sum-
mons for witnesses in criminal cases
before said courts and all provisions
OF law relating thereto shall apply 10
.SSNSu tHlS dtA 81
far as they are applicable. The eX-
pense OF such investigation shall be
paid from the appropriation provided
by section Seventy-two of chapter
eiShty-two of the revised statutes
If, upon investigation. il appears 20
the attorney general that the laws OF
this state. including the provisions Of
this act. have been violated in any
respect. he shall forthwith prosecute
the guilty parties, or present all avail
able information bearing upon such
apparent violation 10 the proper pros
ecuting officer OF the State Of Maine
or Of the United States.
Any Justice Of the s~Preme judicial
court or of a superior court may by
order, upon application OF the attor-
ney general. compel the attendance. of
witnesses. the production Of books and
papers, including correspondence, and
the giving Of testimony. before the
attorney general il the same manner
and TO the same extent a before said
courts: and any failure 10 obey such
order may be punished by such court
as contempt thereof.
Sec. /. If any clause. sentence. par
agraph or Fart of this act shall be
adjudged by any court Of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid. no other
provision of this act shall be impaired
or held invalid in consequence thereof.
(Approved November -