code: def get_max_item(self):
          
          suburl = "v0/maxitem.json"
          try:
              max_item = self._make_request(suburl)
          except requests.HTTPError as e:
              hn_logger.exception('Faulted on get max item, with status {}'.format(e.errno))
              raise e
          return max_item
docs: Get the current maximum item number
          :return: The current maximum item number.