Powers of state referees, and quiries concerning corrupt practices. SEC. 5. Any state referee, any judge of the superior judges as to in court, or the judge of any court of common pleas, may, upon the written request of any state's attorney, or of the prosecuting attorney of any criminal court of common pleas, or of the district court of Waterbury, conduct an inquiry as to whether any crime has been committed concerning any matters mentioned in such request, within the jurisdiction of such state's attorney or prosecuting attorney making such request, and any such referee or judge, and any such state's or prosecuting attorney, shall have power, by subpoena issued by him, to compel the attendance of any person as a witness; and such person, having been sworn as a witness, may be examined relative to any matter under investigation as aforesaid. Such referee, judge, òr attorney shall also have power, by subpoena duces tecum issued by him, to compel the production for examination at such inquiry of any books or papers or any other thing which he may require in the conduct of such inquiry. Such referee or judge shall have power, by a capias issued by him, to cause any person who shall neglect or refuse to appear before him as a witness, having been duly summoned, to be brought before him; and any person in attendance as a witness who shall refuse to be sworn as a witness, or who, being sworn, shall refuse to answer any proper question propounded to him, and any person who, having been duly summoned, shall neglect or refuse to appear before such referee or judge, may be adjudged guilty of contempt, and may, by such referee or judge, be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. In any proceeding held under the provisions of this section, if any witness objects to testifying or to producing any book, paper, or other thing on the ground that such testimony, book, paper, or thing may tend to degrade or incriminate him or render him liable to a penalty or forfeiture, and such referee or judge directs or compels such witness to testify or to produce such book, paper, or thing, he shall not be prosecuted for any matter concerning which he has so testified, or evidenced by such book, paper, or thing so produced, except for perjury committed in so testifying. Preservation of testimony and se ses. SEC. 6. Such referee, judge, state's attorney, or prosecutcuring of witnes. ng attorney, in the conduct of any such inquiry, may, in his discretion, employ a competent stenographer to take notes of the examination of any witness or witnesses, and cause such stenographic notes to be transcribed and furnished to any proper prosecuting officer having jurisdiction of the subject-matter of such inquiry; and such referee or judge may require the attendance and assistance, at any such inquiry, 1911.] CERTAIN LOANS AND the rate of interEST THEREON. and in procuring the attendance of witnesses, of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, state policeman, constable, or police officer, who shall be allowed such compensation as such referee or judge shall deem reasonable. 1539 of superior court. SEC. 7. Such referee, judge, state's attorney, or prosecut-ury, to be reExpenses of ining attorney shall return to the clerk of the superior court turned to clerk of the county wherein such inquiry is held, an account of all expenses incurred in the discharge of the duties herein imposed or required, including witness fees, and shall indorse the same, if correct, or such items thereof as are correct, and the sums so indorsed shall be paid by the state on an order therefor by such clerk. Approved, September 12, 1911. [Substitute for House Bill No. 91.] CHAPTER 244. An Act concerning Certain Loans and the Rate of Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in cent., prohibited. SECTION 1. No person, and no firm or corporation or agent Loans at greater thereof, other than a pawnbroker as provided in chapter 235 than twelve per of the public acts of 1905, shall, directly or indirectly, loan money to any person and, directly or indirectly, charge, demand, accept, or make any agreement to receive, therefor, interest at a greater rate than twelve per centum per annum. accepted for SEC. 2. No person, and no firm or corporation or agent Notes not to be thereof, shall, with intent to evade the provisions of section greater amounts one, accept a note or notes for a greater amount than that than loaned. actually loaned. hibited. SEC. 3. No person, and no firm or corporation or agent Charges for inthereof, shall charge a borrower with any expense of inquiry quiry as to finan cial responsibility as to his financial responsibility or expense of negotiating a of borrower, proloan, or charge, at the time of making the loan, the expense of collecting the interest and principal of the loan, unless the total of such charges and of the interest agreed upon shall be, during any one year, twelve per centum of the loan, or less. Penalty. No recovery upon actions brought ited by this act, to be had. Loans to which SEC. 4. Any person who, individually, or as a member of any firm, or as an officer of any corporation, or as an agent of any firm or corporation, shall violate any of the provisions of this act shall be imprisoned for not more than six months, or fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both. SEC. 5. No action shall be brought to recover principal or on loans prohib- interest, or any part thereof, on any loan prohibited by this act or upon any cause arising from the negotiation of such loan. SEC. 6. The provisions of this act shall not affect any this act does not loan made prior to the passage of this act, nor any loan made by any national bank or any bank or trust company duly incorporated under the laws of this state, or to any bona fide mortgage of real property exceeding the sum of five hundred dollars. apply. Repeal. SEC. 7. Chapter 238 of the public acts of 1907 is hereby repealed. SEC. 8. This act shall take effect from its passage. Moving picture machines and buildings to be placed in fire proof house or enclosure. [House Bill No. 929.] CHAPTER 245. An Act amending an Act concerning the Use of Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in SECTION 1. Section one of chapter 186 of the public acts films in public of 1911 is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence of said section, so that said section as amended shall read as follows: Section one of chapter two hundred and five of the public acts of 1909 is hereby amended to read as follows: No moving picture machine involving the use of a combustible film more than ten inches in length shall be operated in any public building or place used for public assemblage or entertainments unless the moving picture machine and all of the combustible films to be used therein are placed in an enclosure or house made of fire-proof material, such enclosure or house to be constructed according to such requirements as may be prescribed by the state police; nor shall any moving picture machine be operated on the premises of a state police may used infrequently public building or place used for public assemblage or enter- SEC. 2. This act shall take effect from its passage. of moving pic [Substitute for Senate Bill No. 270.] CHAPTER 246. An Act amending an Act concerning the Militia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: stitution and SECTION 1. Section 3004 of the general statutes as amend- Connecticut naed by chapter 110 of the public acts of 1903 and section fif- tional guard conteen of chapter 69 of the public acts of 1909, is hereby amend-location of. ed to read as follows: In time of peace the Connecticut national guard shall consist of not more than thirty-five hundred enlisted men and the required number of officers, organized, uniformed, armed, equipped, and disciplined as prescribed by authority of the militia law of the United States. This force shall be located throughout the state with reference to the military wants thereof, means of concentration, and other military requirements. The governor, the adjutant-general, and the commanding officers of the coast artillery corps and infantry regiments shall organize and locate the national guard, with power to transfer, attach, consolidate, or disband, and reorganize at pleasure, any organization except the naval militia. The governor, the adjutant-general, and the commanding officer of the naval militia shall organize Terms of enlistments to be for three years. Election of line officers, how made. and locate the naval militia, with power to transfer, consolidate, or disband, and reorganize at pleasure any organization thereof. The governor shall have power in case of war, invasion, insurrection, riot, or imminent danger thereof, to increase said force and organize the same according to the laws of the United States. SEC. 2. Section 3005 of the general statutes, as amended by chapter 34 of the public acts of 1907 and section sixteen of chapter 69 of the public acts of 1909, is hereby amended to read as follows: All enlistments in the Connecticut national guard shall be for the term of three years. Enlistments shall be made by signing duplicate enlistment papers, in such form as may be prescribed by the adjutant-general, one to be forwarded therewith to him, by the enlisting officer, and one to be filed with the records of the organization in which such enlistment is made. The commanding officer of any organization authorized by this title shall be an enlisting officer, who shall administer the oath required upon enlistment. No enlistment shall be allowed of other than able-bodied male citizens of this state, between the ages of eighteen and fortyfive years, residing in the town where the armory of the organization is situated, or in an adjoining town, except that company musicians and members of bands may be enlisted between the ages of sixteen and fifty years. In time of peace no minor shall be enlisted without the written consent of his parent or guardian; and no uniform, allowance, pay, or compensation shall be given by the state to any enlisted man not certified by an officer of the medical corps, or a post surgeon, to be able-bodied, in accordance with the standard prescribed therefor in general orders. SEC. 3. Section 3010 of the general statutes as amended by chapter 227 of the public acts of 1905 and section seventeen of chapter 69 of the public acts of 1909, is hereby amended to read as follows: All meetings for the nomination of officers of the line, except field officers, shall be ordered by the governor. The orders therefor shall be addressed to the person therein designated to preside at such meeting, who shall, at least five days previous thereto, cause notice thereof to be given to each person entitled to vote thereat, by reading such notice, stating the time and place of meeting, in his hearing, or depositing it in the mail, properly addressed, with the postage paid, or leaving it at his usual place of abode. The nomination shall be made by ballot by a majority of those present at the meeting, and the result thereof shall be forthwith returned by the person presiding, to the governor, through intermediate headquarters. If there shall be a fail |