CHAPTER XXVII.

OF COUNTIES AND COUNTY OFFICERS.

As it would be impossible for the State officers whose duties we have considered, to transact all the public business necessary for the people, the State has been subdivided into smaller portions of territory, each of which has a government, not inconsistent with that of the State. Of these subdivisions, the largest, for the purposes of government, are counties. The counties usually embrace about sixteen townships each.

Most of the county officers are elected by the people, and consist of a Probate Judge, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney, County Surveyor, two Coroners, Superintendent of Schools, and Circuit Court Commissioners. In some of the larger counties, two Circuit Court Commissioners are elected. Three Superintendents of the Poor are elected by the Board of Supervisors. There may be elected in each county, inspectors of beef and pork, butter and lard, fish, flour and meal, leather, and pot and pearl ashes.

A Board of Supervisors is established in each county, consisting of one member from each township, and where there are cities within the county, such cities are entitled to as many Supervisors as may be prescribed by the Legislature.

The Probate Judge and Inspectors hold their offices for four years; Superintendents of the Poor, for three years; and other county officers for two years. Supervisors, who are properly township officers, hold their office for one year. In the county of Wayne there is a Board of Auditors, consisting of three persons, who hold their office for three years.

Each county has a county-seat; that is, a place where the public business of the county is transacted. A court-house, a jail, and fire-proof offices are necessary at the county-seat.

Supervisors are elected at the annual township meeting in April, in each township, and at the Spring election in cities. These Supervisors, in addition to the duties they perform in their respective townships and cities, constitute a Board to transact business in which all the people of the county are interested. They accordingly meet at the court-house, at the county-seat, on the second Monday of October, in each year, and at such other times as may be necessary. They have power to purchase land for the use of the county, or to authorize the sale of lands belonging to the county; to cause to be built necessary buildings for the use of the county; to borrow money, or raise by tax money for the use of the county in making improvements authorized by law; to prescribe and fix the compensation for all services rendered for, and adjust all claims against their respective counties; to provide for the raising of money to defray the current expenses of the county; to make such laws and regulations as they may deem necessary for the destruction of wild beasts, of thistles and other noxious weeds, within their counties; to authorize townships to borrow or raise by tax any sum of money, not exceeding one thousand dollars, in any township, in any one year, to build or repair any roads or bridges in such township or townships; to divide their county into representative districts equal to the number of representatives to which such county is by law entitled; to divide or alter in its bounds any township, and to erect new townships; to equalize and correct the assessment for taxes; to apportion the state and county taxes between the several townships, and to do many other things prescribed by law.

The Board of County Auditors of Wayne County have.

all the powers of Boards of Supervisors in the other counties, except in relation to taxes.

Questions - What are the largest subdivisions of the State, for the purposes of government? How many townships are usually embraced in a county? Name the county officers. What board is established in each county? For what length of time are county officers elected? In addition to the Board of Supervisors, what board is established in the county of Wayne? What do we call the place where the public busine-s of the county is transacted? What public buildings are required at the county-seat? At what times do the Board of Supervisors meet? Mention some of their powers and duties. What powers have the Board of County Auditors of Wayne County?

It is the duty of the County Treasurer to receive all moneys belonging to the county; and to pay the same out in the manner provided by law. Some of the money received by him belongs to the State; this he pays over to the State Treasurer. Some of it is paid out to the county officers for their salary, and some of it to the officers and jurors who attend the courts. The moneys received by him for the use of the county, he pays out on the orders of the Board of Supervisors.

The Judge of Probate holds his court at the county-seat. His duties will be noticed when considering the Judicial Department.

It is the duty of the Prosecuting Attorney to prosecute

or defend all suits in the county, in which the State or county is a party. It is his duty to prosecute those who commit crimes within his county; to give opinions, where the State or county may be a party in interest, when required so to do by any of the civil officers in the discharge of their duties, relating to the interest of the State or county. The Board of Supervisors fix the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney.

The County Clerk is, by virtue of his office, clerk of the Circuit Court, and keeps the records of papers pertaining to that Court. He is also clerk of the Board of Supervisors and of the County and District Canvassers. In addition to many other duties, he is required to keep a record of all the births, deaths, and marriages in his county. Articles of association of the different corporations within his county, and certificates of the formation of religious societies, are filed in his office and recorded by him. His salary is fixed by the Board of Supervisors, but in addition to this he receives fees fixed by law, for the discharge of most of the duties performed by him.

The Sheriff has the charge and custody of the jails in his county; and of the prisoners of the same. Of the many duties he has to perform; we may mention his duty to execute and serve writs and orders directed to him by the courts; to attend the Circuit Court and preserve order therein; and to keep the public peace. The Sheriff appoints an Under-Sheriff and deputies to assist him in the discharge of his duties. His fees are fixed by law.

Questions What are the duties of the County Treasurer? Where does the Judge of Probate hold his office? What are the duties of the Prosecuting Attorney? By whom is his salary fixed? What are the duties of the County Clerk? What are the duties of Sheriff?

It is the duty of a Coroner, when informed that a person has died suddenly, or from violence, to procure six men to act as jurors, and with them he is to investigate and inquire into the cause and circumstances of the death. This investigation is called a coroner's inquest.

Coroners are required by law to discharge the duties of sheriff, when the sheriff is a party interested. Their fees are fixed by law.

The Register of Deeds provides, at the expense of the county, suitable blank books, which he keeps in his office at the county-seat, and in which he copies or records all the deeds, mortgages, and other papers which by law it is proper to record in his office, that may be presented to him.

The object of recording these documents is that they may be preserved, and to give notice to all persons interested, of their existence. The Register of Deeds is paid for recording, by the hundred words.

It is the duty of County Surveyors to make and execute any surveys within their counties that may be required by any court or by any person. These surveys are made to determine the location and boundary lines of lands, and when completed are entered in a record kept by the Surveyor for that purpose.

It is the duty of the County Superintendent of Schools to examine all persons offering themselves as teachers for the public schools. He is required to grant certificates in such