21 



located therein which is infested with the moths, requiring him to 

 destroy the eggs, pupse, and nests of the moths within a specified 

 time. 



When the mayor or selectmen decide that the cost of such destruc- 

 tion (on lands contiguous and under one ownership) will exceed one- 

 half of 1 per cent of the assessed valuation of the lands, then they may 

 designate in the notice a part only of such lands on which the destruc- 

 tion shall take place. 



Failure of private owners to destroy moths. If the owner does not, 

 as required by the terms of the aforesaid notice, destroy the eggs, 

 pupa?, and nests of the moths, then the city or town, subject to the 

 approval of the State superintendent, shall destroy them, and shall 

 assess upon such aforesaid lands the actual cost of so doing, to an 

 amount, however, not exceeding one-half of 1 per cent of the assessed 

 valuation of the land. 



This amount, so assessed, shall be collected in the form of taxes, and 

 constitutes a lien upon such lands. 



Redress by abatement and appeal. The assessors may abate the moth 

 assessment in the case of any private landowner decided by them to 

 be unable to pay it because of age, infirmity, or poverty. 



Appeal to the county superior court, with special provision for 

 prompt hearing, is provided by the statute for any person aggrieved by 

 assessment on account of this work; provided a complaint is entered 

 within 30 days of notice of such assessment. 



Appropriation by the Commonwealth. To meet the expenses incurred 

 under its moth-suppression law the Commonwealth has appropriated 

 $300,000. Of this sum $75,000 may be expended during 1905, 

 $150,000 (and any unexpended balance) during 1906, and $75,000 (and 

 any unexpended balance) during 1907, up to May 1, 1907, inclusive. 



For the purpose of experimenting with natural enemies for destroy- 

 ing the moths, $10,000 is additionally appropriated for each of the 

 years 1905, 1906, and 1907. 



Reimbursements to cities and towns. {!) Cities and towns with 

 valuation of real and personal estate of $12,500,000 or more, having 

 spent $5,000 in any one calendar } r ear, shall be reimbursed annually 

 50 per cent (one-half) of all further expenditure in combating this pest. 



(2) Cities and towns with valuation less than $12,500,000 and more 

 than $6,000,000, having spent an amount equal to one-twenty-fifth of 

 1 per cent of such valuation in one year, shall be reimbursed annually 

 80 per cent (four-fifths) of all further expenditure. 



(3) Towns with valuation less than $6,000,000, having spent an 

 amount equal to one-twenty-fifth of 1 per cent of such valuation 

 in one year, shall be reimbursed once in 60 days for all further 

 expenditure. 



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