Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-11-19
CHAPTER ase

An Act to Prevent Proflteerins in the
necessities of Life and Rents or
Cnarges for the Occupancy of Build
hgs for Dwelling Purposes and to
frovide Penalties Therefor and In
Hestigations Thereof.
be II enacted by the People of the
state OF Maine, as follows:
sec. /. Any dealer. trader, manu-
iacturer or warehouselhan who with
intent to enhance the price or restrict
the supply of the necessities of life
wliiIuily destroys or permits prevent
an waste in the production, manu-
iacture. storage or distribution of the
same, or, with such intent. prevents,
IlInits, lessons or restricts the manu-
facture, production, supply or distri-
button of said necessities or boards
said necessities or exacts or demands
any UNJUST or unreasonable profit in the
necessities or unreasonably discrimi-
mates against any person in the sale
OF such necessities, or in any way
aids or abets the doing of any act
heTelnbefore mentioned, shall be pun
lsheq by fine not exceeding oRe thou
sand dollars or Imprisonment for not
more than three years, or by both
s@ch line and Imprisonment.
The term necessities of life" Shall
include food for human consumption,
1ood for domestic I.limals, wearing
apparel, shoes, building materials, gas
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. 2. Whoever demands or col
lects an unreasonable or unjust rent
or charge, taking into due considera-
ton the actual market value of the
property at the time, with fair return
n n n 10
or unjust term or condition, for the
occupancy of any building or any part
thereof. rented or hired for dwelling
purposes, shall be punished by a fine
OF not more than one ouSand dollars
or by Imprisonment for not more than
ore year, or by both such fine and
Imprisonment.
Sec. 8. The attorney general shall
investigate all violations of this lct,
all contracts, combinations or conspira-
e1e5 In restraint of ira lie or commerce
and all monopolies, and may require,
by summons, the attic ldance and tes-
tlmony of witnesses and the produce
ton of books and papers before him
relating to any such matter under in
vestigation. Such summons shall be
| served in the same manner as sum-
mons Tor witnesses in criminal cases
before said courts and all provisions
of law relating thereto shall apply to
summonses issued under this act so
far as they are applicable. The ex-
pense of such investigation shall be
paid from the appropriation provided
by section seventy-two of chapter
eighty-two of the revised statutes.
If, upon investigation, it appears to
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 to the proper pros
ecuting officer of the State of Maine
| or of the United States.
Any justice of the preme judicial
court or of superior court may by
order, upon application of the attor.
| neS general. compel the attendance OF
| witnesses. the production of books ant
papers, including correspondence, and
the giving of testimony, before tn,
attorney general in the same name
an to the same extent before sal,
courts: and any failure to obey sucl
orGer may be punished by such cour
as contempt thereof.
Sec, A.. If any clause, sentence par
agraph or. part of this act shall
adjudged by any court of competer
jurisdiction to be invalid. no othe
4 provision of this act shall be impaire
y or held invalid in consequence thereof
| (Approved November ~