Civil Government for Common Schools | Page 3

Q. How shall we find hereafter that officers are paid?
A. Some are paid a salary; some by the day; some by a fee; some by a
per cent.
Q. What is meant by a salary? a fee? a per cent?
Q. How can a school district having three trustees change to one
trustee?
Q. Can a district having a sole trustee change back and legally elect
three?
[NOTE--All questions unanswered here, should be studied by teachers
very carefully, and the correct answers obtained. they should also
introduce many others that will be suggested by the lesson.]

III.--THE TOWN.
Q. What is a town?
Q. How many towns in your county?
Q. How many towns in New York State?
Q. What are the names of the officers in a town, the number of officials
in each, and their terms of office?
A. I. One supervisor, elected for one year.
II. One town clerk, elected for one year.
III. Four justices of the peace, elected for four years.
IV. Three assessors, elected for three years.
V. One or three highway commissioners, as the electors may determine;
if one be elected, the term is one year; if three, the term is three years.
VI. One or two overseers of the poor, as the electors may determine;
term one year.
VII. One collector, elected for one year.
VIII. Constables, not to exceed five; term one year.
IX. One game constable; term one year.
X. Three town-auditors; term one year.
XI. Three excise commissioners; term three years.
XII. Three inspectors of election; term one year; and in some villages

and cities a sealer of weights and measures.
Q. What are some of their duties?
I. SUPERVISORS.
I. To receive the school money belonging to the town, and pay it out by
order of the trustees.
II. To receive other money belonging to the town, and disburse the
same according to law.
III. To meet with the other supervisors of the county as a "board of
county canvassers."
IV. To meet with the other supervisors of the county as a "board of
supervisors"; to audit all lawful accounts against the county, make out
the tax lists and cause them to be collected; and perform such other acts
of legislation as the constitution and statute laws have conferred upon
them.
II. TOWN CLERK.
I. To keep the records of the town.
II. To keep in his custody such books and papers as belong to the town.
III. To act as clerk of the town meetings,
IV. To file such papers as properly belong to his office; and to perform
the general clerical duties for the town.
III. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
I. To be the judicial officers for the town.
II. To issue warrants for the arrest of persons accused of committing
crimes, and also summonses for the purpose of bringing before them
persons for trial in civil actions.
III. To take acknowledgment of conveyances, administer oaths, act as
inspectors at the town meeting, etc.
IV. ASSESSORS.
I. To make an inventory of the real estate in the town, naming the
number of acres owned by each person, and fixing upon the same a
valuation in proportion to its worth.
II. To make an inventory of the personal property held by the several
persons in town, such as notes, mortgages, &c., which with the real
estate forms the basis for taxes.
V. HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS.
I. To have the care and general supervision of the highways and
bridges.

II. To lay out new roads, when directed by a jury legally called for that
purpose and discontinue others when directed by the same authority.
III. To divide the town into districts, and appoint overseers for the
same.
VI. OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
To look after and provide for, either at home or in the county house,
such as are in indigent circumstances.
VII. COLLECTOR.
I. To give a bond to the supervisor for double the amount to be
collected, with one or more sureties for the faithful performance of his
duties.
II. To receive the tax list and warrant, and collect the tax and pay it
over as directed.
VIII. CONSTABLES.
I. To serve summonses issued by the justices.
II. To arrest and bring prisoners before a justice, and to have the
custody of them.
III. To collect moneys upon executions, and if necessary to sell
property to satisfy the same.
IV. To see that order is preserved in the community.
V. To attend the higher courts in their official capacity when directed
by the sheriff.
IX. GAME CONSTABLE.
To look after and prosecute for the violation of the game laws.
X. TOWN AUDITORS.
To examine the accounts of the town officers and pass upon the same.
XI. EXCISE COMMISSIONERS.
To meet and act upon petitions asking for the