CHAP. 3. Inconsistent acts repealed. the marks and brands aforesaid, and in addition to the price thereof. SECT. 9. Section one to section seven, chapter forty, of the revised statutes of eighteen hundred and seventy-one, and all other acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act, are hereby repealed, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect the liability of any person or remedy therefor existing when this act takes effect. SECT. 10. This act shall take effect when approved. Approved February 10, 1875. Sec. 6, ch. 133, laws 1873, amendment of. Commissioners authorized to raise money to make alterations in county jails. Chapter 3. An act to amend, so far as the county of Cumberland is concerned, chapter one hundred and thirty-three of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, relating to the jail system of the state. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Section six of chapter one hundred and thirty-three of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, is hereby amended, by inserting in the fourth line of said section, after the word "dollars," the words and commissioners of Cumberland county, a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars,' so that said section as amended, shall read as follows: 'SECT. 6. Said boards of commissioners in the several counties may, after the passage of this act, raise by loan to their several counties, or otherwise, a sum of money not exceeding five thousand dollars, and commissioners of Cumberland county, a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, to make the alterations and improvements mentioned in the first section of this act, and to expend so much of said money as may be necessary for the purpose.' Approved February 10, 1875. Sec. 21, ch. 113, R. S., amendment of. Chapter 4. An act to amend chapter one hundred and thirteen of the revised statutes, relating to relief of poor debtors. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Section twenty-one of chapter one hundred and thirteen of the revised statutes, is hereby amended by striking out the words twenty-four," in the second line, and inserting therein the words twenty-six and the following sections,' so that said section as amended shall read as follows: SECT. 21. When so arrested, he may, without giving bond, disclose as provided in section twenty-six, and the following sections, by giving notice of the time and place appointed therefor, to the creditor or his attorney, at least twenty-four hours for every twenty miles' travel from his residence thereto. The debtor shall pay the officer for serving the notice and keeping him from the arrest to the disclosure, before he can be discharged.' Approved February 10, 1875. Chapter 5. An act for the protection of owners of stolen bonds. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: SECT. 1. All actions to recover bonds, obligations or coupons of the same, issued by any city or town in this state, and heretofore stolen or obtained by robbery from the owner thereof, and which are now overdue or payable, shall be commenced within one year from the first day of March, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy-five, and not afterwards; and if not now overdue or payable, within eighteen months from the time they become due or payable, and not afterwards; but this act shall not apply to any action commenced by the person from whom such bonds, obligations or coupons were stolen or obtained by robbery. SECT. 2. This act shall take effect when approved. Approved February 12, 1875. Chapter 6. An act to amend section twelve of chapter three of revised statutes, relating to highway surveyors. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legis lature assembled, as follows: S., amendment of. SECT. 1. Section twelve of chapter three of the revised statutes, Sec. 12, ch. 3, R. is hereby amended, by adding after the word "commissioners," in the second line thereof, the words or surveyors of highways,' so that said section as amended shall read as follows, viz: CHAP. 7. ors, appointment of. Municipal officers may appoint cer tain town officers. Appointments shall be recorded. 'SECT. 12. Unless towns at their annual meeting choose road commissioners or surveyors of highways, or appoint the municipal officers surveyors of highways, said officers shall appoint surveyors of highways, whose term of office shall commence on the first day of May, and end with the last day of April in each year; and if from any cause the town fails or neglects to choose, at the annual meeting, any of such officers as are not required to be chosen by ballot, or if after such officers are chosen there is, for any cause, a vacancy in any such office, the municipal officers may fill such offices and vacancies, by the written appointment of proper persons, who shall be summoned by the constable and required to appear and take the oath of office as is provided in section fifteen, subject to the penalties provided in section sixteen. Such appointment and oath shall be recorded as in case of a choice by the town.' SECT. 2. This act shall take effect when approved. Approved February 12, 1875. Inmates of the national home at Togus, residence of, to establish. No other residence shall be acquired. Towns furnishing relief to paupers shall be reim bursed by the state. Chapter 7. An act relating to the settlement of persons connected with the national home for disabled volunteer soldiers at Togus, in the county of Kennebec. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: SECT. 1. All persons who now are, or may hereafter become inmates of the national home for disabled volunteer soldiers at Togus, in the county of Kennebec, or subject to the rules and regulations thereof, or shall receive rations therefrom, shall be deemed citizens of the respective towns in which they had a legal residence when their connection with said national home commenced, so long as such connection shall continue therewith. SECT. 2. No settlement under the laws of this state shall be acquired by any such persons by reason of their residence in any town, other than that in which they are deemed citizens under the provisions of the preceding section. SECT. 3. If any town shall furnish relief to any such person, who shall become a pauper after his connection with said national home shall cease, having no legal settlement in this state, the state shall reimburse such town for the relief furnished, to such an amount as the governor and council shall adjudge to have been necessarily expended therefor. Approved February 12, 1875. Chapter 8. An act to amend chapter one hundred and sixty-six of the public laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-four, relating to school money. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Chapter one hundred and sixty-six, section seven, of the public laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-four, is hereby amended by striking out the word "ten," in the third line, and substituting therefor the word 'twenty,' and striking out the word "ten,” in the fourth line, and substituting therefor the word 'twenty,' so that said section shall read as follows: 'SECT. 1. The assessors and superintending school committee, or supervisors of towns, cities and plantations, may annually apportion twenty per centum of all money required to be raised by the fifth section of the revised statutes, and twenty per centum. of all money received from the state for schools, except money received under the free high school act, among the districts in the several towns, cities and plantations, in such manner as in their judgment shall give to the smaller districts, as nearly as may be, an equal opportunity of enjoying the benefits of common school education with the larger districts. Approved February 12, 1875. Chapter 9. An act additional to "an act in relation to contested elections." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Contested eleccontestant, served. tions, notice by how and when SECT. 1. Notice of intention to contest the right of any person claiming to be elected to a seat in the house of representatives, with a statement of the reasons for so doing, may be served on such person by the contestant at any time subsequent to the election, and shall be at least fifteen days prior to the organization of said house; and all testimony deemed necessary by either party shall be by depositions taken in accordance with the statute, or by parole evidence, and presented to said body within three days from the commencement of the session; and in all cases where this law is not strictly complied with, except in extreme cases where injustice would be done if a continuance was not allowed, the party neglecting shall be denied a postponement, and the Party denied a committee on elections shall proceed to determine such cases by the testimony before them. Testimony, how sented. taken and pre postponement in case of neglect. CHAP. 10. Sec. 49, ch. 4, R. Petition of contestant, when to be presented. SECT. 2. Section forty-nine of chapter four of the revised statutes, is hereby amended by striking out the word "five," in the third line, and inserting the word 'three,' so that said section as amended will read as follows: 'When any person intends to contest, before the house of representatives, the right of any person to his seat therein, he shall present his petition to said house within three days after the organization thereof, stating the grounds upon which he proposes to contest the seat of the person claiming to hold the same. Depositions, how Depositions may be taken in the manner authorized by the provisions of chapter one hundred and seven, in cases of contested senatorial elections.' Approved February 12, 1875. Sec. 148, ch. 6, R. Abatement for voluntary payment of taxes. Chapter 10. An act to amend section one hundred and forty-eight of chapter six of the revised statutes, relating to abatement of taxes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Section one hundred and forty-eight of chapter six of the revised statutes is hereby amended by adding in the third line, after the word "collector," the words or treasurer;' and by striking out, in the fifth line, after the word "taxes," the words "were committed," and inserting the words are to be paid to obtain the abatement,' and by inserting after the word "abatement," in the eighth line, the words 'but no such person shall receive an abatement of more than ten per centum of the amount of tax assessed against him;' so that the section as amended shall read as follows: 'SECT. 148. At any meeting, when they vote to raise a tax, a town may agree on the abatement to be made to those who voluntarily pay their taxes to the collector or treasurer at certain periods, and the times within which he is so entitled; and a noti-notice of, shall fication of such votes, and the time when such taxes are to be paid to obtain the abatement, shall be posted up by the treasurer in one or more public places in his town, within seven days after such commitment; and all who so pay their taxes shall be entitled Abatement not to to such abatement; but no such person shall receive an abatement be posted up. exceed ten per centum of tax. of more than ten per centum of the amount of tax assessed against him; and all taxes not so paid shall be collected by the collector or his deputy, under the other provisions of this chapter.' Approved February 12, 1875. |