Civil Government for Common Schools | Page 4

privilege of selling
spirituous liquors.
XII. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
I. To preside at the annual election, receive the votes legally presented,
and deposit them in boxes prepared for that purpose.
II. To count the ballots at the close of the election, make a true
statement thereof and transmit it to the "board of canvassers."
Q. How are these officers paid?
A. I. Supervisors receive three dollars per day for county services, and
two dollars per day for town services, and are entitled to extras for

copying assessment roll and paying out school money.
II. Town clerks are paid by the day for services; also a fee for recording
and filing papers.
III. Justices, mostly paid by fees; as officers of the town meeting they
are paid by the day.
IV. Collectors receive a percentage for collecting the money.
V. Constables receive a fee, a percentage, and for some services are
paid by the day.
VI. Game constables receive a portion of the fine money collected by
reason of their prosecutions.
VII. All the remaining officers are paid for their services by the day.
Q. What must all these officers do before entering upon their duties?
A. They must qualify; that is, take the oath of office.
Q. What is the oath of office?
A. See state constitution, art. XII, sec. I.
Q. Who can administer the oath of office?
A. I. The county clerk administers the oath to the justices of the peace.
II. A justice of the peace administers the oath to all other town officers,
except inspectors of election.
III. The chairman of the inspectors of election administers the oath to
the other inspectors, and one of the others in turn administers it to the
chairman.
Q. How many supervisors in the towns of the state?
Q. How many supervisors in the cities of the state?
Q. How many justices of the peace in the state?

IV.--THE COUNTY.
Q. What is a county?
Q. By what authority organized?
Q. How many counties in the state?
Q. When was the colony of New York first divided into counties?
A. In 1683.
Q. How many counties were established in 1683 and their names?
A. Ten: viz, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, New York, Richmond,
Westchester, Dutchess, Albany, Ulster and Orange.
Q. What are these counties called?
A. Original counties.

Q. What are the names of the county offices, the number of officials in
the same office, and their term?
A. I. One sheriff, term is three years.
II. One county judge, term is six years: in a few counties there are
special judges; same length of term.
III. In counties containing more than forty thousand inhabitants a
surrogate may be elected; in counties containing less than forty
thousand inhabitants, the county judge performs the duties of judge and
surrogate; the term of surrogate is six years; in a few counties there are
special surrogates.
IV. One county clerk; term is three years.
V. One treasurer; term is three years.
VI. One district attorney; term is three years.
VII. Four coroners; term is three years.
VIII. One or three superintendents of the poor; term is three years.
IX. Two justices of sessions; term is one year.
X. One school commissioner for each commissioner district; term is
three years.
Q. What about the eligibility of these officers?
A. I. The sheriff is prohibited from holding the same office for a
succeeding term, neither can he hold any other office at the same time.
Const., Art. X, Sec. I.
II. No county judge can hold the office longer than the last day of
December succeeding his seventieth birthday. Art VI, Sec. 13.
III. No person, except a counselor at law in the supreme court, can hold
the office of district attorney, if there be such an one in the county; if
there be none, then an attorney may be elected.
IV. Supervisors and county treasurers cannot hold the office of County
superintendent of the poor.
V. No sheriff, under sheriff, deputy, sheriffs clerk or coroner can
practice as counselor at law during his term of office.
VI. Justices of the sessions must be acting justices of the peace in their
respective towns.
VII. There are no other prohibitions in regard to age or re- election of
county officers.
Q. What are some of their duties?
I. SHERIFF.

A. I. He is the executive officer of the county.
II. By himself or by his deputies, executes civil and criminal processes
throughout the county.
III. Has charge of the jail and prisoners.
IV. Attends courts, and keeps the peace.
V. Must be present by himself or under-sheriff, at the drawing of jurors,
and cause them to be legally summoned.
II. JUDGE.
I. He is the presiding officer in the county court.
II. He may with two justices of sessions,