taxes, elects officers, enforces authority, and performs other duties of a government.

Town Officers.-The chief town officers are the moderator, clerk, treasurer, auditors, selectmen, constable, tax collector, listers, road commissioners, school directors, superintendent of schools, and overseer of poor. The Moderator. The moderator presides over town meetings.

Town Clerk.-The town clerk makes a record of all business done in town meeting; records deeds, mortgages, and other instruments respecting real estate; and records also the deaths, births, and marriages occurring in the town. Women are eligible to this office.

Treasurer. The treasurer is under obligation to receive and keep safely all the moneys of the town. On the order of the selectmen, or other authorized officers, he pays

claims against the town.

He keeps account of all moneys received and paid out by him and makes an annual report to the town.

Auditors. It is the duty of the town auditors (three in number) to examine and adjust the accounts of the town officers.

The Selectmen.--The selectmen (from three to five in number) have the general supervision of the affairs of the town-they are the town fathers. They call town meetings, and decide what articles shall be put in the warning. They assess certain taxes required by law-as the State school tax, road tax, county and State taxes, whenever the money for these purposes is not raised by the vote of the town. They have the care of the school lands of the town, and divide the school money. They audit and allow claims against the town and draw orders upon the treasurer for payment. They keep a record of all accounts allowed by them and all orders drawn. If a vacancy occurs in any town office, they may fill such vacancy until an election can be held.

Constable. It is the duty of the constable to preserve the peace; to serve warrants and writs; to collect taxes, when no other provision for their collection is made; and to warn freemen's meetings and preside over them.

School Directors.--The school directors of a town are usually three in number. They hire and dismiss teachers, elect the town superintendent of schools and with him. select school text-books for the town, furnish supplies for the schools, and have the entire care of the school property.

Town Superintendent of Schools. The town superintendent of schools has the direct supervision of all the schools of his town. He may make recommendations to the school directors concerning the needs of the schools

under his care, dismiss incompetent teachers, and must report annually to the town the result of his labors and the condition and needs of the school under his charge. Women are eligible to this office.

Town Meeting.-All the voters in a town can come together without much difficulty to decide matters; and so,

on the first Tuesday in March of each year, they assemble in town meeting. At least twelve days before the time for said meeting, the selectmen must post a warning in three public places in town announcing the business to be done. No government can be more democratic than that of the town; it is preeminently "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people." In March meeting the

voters in a body determine all town questions by a majority vote. Here they elect town officers, vote taxes, and decide how much money shall be used for town purposes, take action in regard to the building or repairing of bridges or schoolhouses, and provide for other town necessities as the

WARNING for ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.

The legal voters of the town of Ferrisburgh are hereby warned to meet at the Town House in said town on Tuesday, the 1st day of March next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the following purposes, to wit:

1. To elect a Moderator to preside over said meeting.

2. To elect a Town Clerk for the ensuing year.

3. To receive and act on reports submitted.

4. To elect Town Officers, County Grand Jurors and Petit Jurors, as by law required.
5. To vote a tax to defray the expenses of the town.

6. To see if the town will vote to pay the taxes to the Town Treasurer, as heretofore.
7. To see if the town will vote a sum of money for Decoration Day.

8. To vote upon the question "Shall Licenses be Granted for the Sale of Intoxicating
Liquors in this Town?"

9. To see if the town will vote to pay to Coburn O. Martin the sum of $3.60 on an error in the grand list.

10. To transact any other business that may properly come before said meeting.

needs present themselves, and do other business for the welfare and convenience of the people.

On the application of six voters special meetings shall be called. In addition to the March meetings, the town

has also freemen's meetings, which have already been considered under the subject of "State Government."

Warnings to Freemen's Meetings.-Not less than twelve. nor more than twenty days before the time for the September freemen's meeting, there must be posted, in at least three public places, a notice warning the freemen of this meeting. Not less than six nor more than fifteen days before the time of the November meeting, a similar warning must be posted. It is the duty of the constable or, in his absence, the town clerk or, in the absence of both, a selectman to post these warnings.

Voters in Town Meeting; Freemen.-The Constitution declares that all persons born in the United States and those who have been naturalized, as provided by Congress, are citizens of the State, while residing within the State. All male citizens twenty-one years of age, whose lists were taken in any town at the annual assessment next preceding a town meeting, have a right to vote in town meeting, as have also those who are exempt from taxes for any cause. Women having a required amount of property may vote on matters pertaining to schools and for school officers. They are eligible also to offices relating to school affairs unless otherwise provided.

In order to vote in freemen's meeting a man must be twenty-one years or more of age, of peaceable behavior, must have resided in the State one year next preceding a freemen's meeting, and have taken the freemen's oath. That is, he may vote for all officers elected in freemen's meetings except representatives to the General Assembly and justices of peace. In order to vote for these he must have resided in the town in which he has his residence three months next preceding election day.