Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-03-09
Tie Anti.profitserlnr Bun.

In accordance with tho request OF .
subscriber and contributor, We republish
below the anti-proflteering act passed b.
the legislature at its special session In
November.
CHAPTER 258
An Act to Prevent Profteering In the
Necessities OF Life and Rents or
Charges for the Occupancy of Build
ings for Dwelling Purposes and to
Provide Penalties Therefor and Inves-
LEGATIONS Thereof.
Be 10 enacted by the People OF the
State of Maine, % follows:
SEQ. /. Any dealer, trader, manu-.
facturer or warehousemsn who with
Intent to enhance the price or restrict
the supply Of the necessities Of life
wilfully destroys or permits preventable
waste In the production, manufacture,
storage or distribution of the same, or,
with such intent, prevents, limits, les
sens or restricts the manufacture, pro-
ductiop, supply or distribution Of said
necessities or boards said necessities or
exsots or demands any unjust or unres-
sonsble profit In the sale, exchange or
handling of the said necessities or un-
reasonably discriminates against any
person In the sale OF such necessities, or
In any way aids or abets the doing Of
any act hereinbefore mentioned, shall be
punished by 1ne not exceeding one thou
sand dollars or imprisonment for not
more than three years, or by both such
fine and imprisonment.
The term necessities Of life" shall
include food for human consumption,
food for domestic animals, wearing ap-
parel, 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. 2. Whoever demands or collects
an unreasonable or unjust rent or charge,
taking into due consideration the actual
market value of the property at the time,
with fair return thereon, or imposes an
unreasonable or unjust term or condi-
ton, for 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 thousand
than one year, or by both such fine and
imprisonment.
Sec. 8. The attorney general shall
investigate all violations of this act, all
contracts, combinations or conspiracies
in restraint of trade or commerce and all
monopolies, and may require, by sum
mons, the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of books
and papers before him relating to any
such matter under Investigation. Such
summons shall be served In the same
manner as summons for 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
expense of such investigated shall be
paid from the appropriation provided by
section seventy-two of chapter eighty.
1.-TWO OF the revised statutes.
II, 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 available
information bearing upon such apparent
violation to the proper prosecuting
officer of the State of Maine or of the
United States.
Any justice of the Supreme Judicial
Court or of Superior Court may by
order, upon application of the attorney
general, compel the attendance of wit
nesses, the production Of books and
papers, including correspondence, and
The giving Of testimony, before the
attorney general in the same manner
and to the same extent as before said
courts; and any failure to obey such
order may be punished by such court
as contempt thereof.
SEQ. 4. II any clause, sentence, par
agraph or part of this act shall be
adjudgsd by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, no other
provision of this act shall be impaired
or held invalid In consequences thereof.
approved November