Civil Government for Common Schools | Page 5

hold Courts of Sessions, with
such criminal jurisdiction as the Legislature may prescribe,
III. The county judge of any county may preside at Courts of Sessions,
or hold County Courts, in any other county except New York and
Kings, when requested by the judge of such other county. Art. VI, Sec.
15.
III. SURROGATE.
I. Takes proof of wills of real or personal property.
II. Grants letters testamentary of administrative.
III. Attends generally to the settlement of the estates of deceased
persons.
IV. COUNTY CLERK
I. He is the clerk of the courts held in and for the county, namely:
Circuit, Oyer and Terminer, County Court and Court of Sessions, and
the Special Term.
II. Administers the oath to jurors and witnesses.
III. Records the judgments of the courts.
IV. Draws the grand and petit juries and makes a return of the same.
V. Records mortgages, deeds, satisfaction papers, &c.
V. TREASURER.
I. Receives the moneys collected by the several town collectors for
county and state taxes.
II. Pays over to the comptroller the amount going to the state.
III. Pays out the amount due the county, as directed by law.
IV. Receives from the comptroller the school money due the county,
and pays the same over to the several supervisors, as directed by the
school commissioner's certificate.
V. Makes a general statement of the financial affairs of his office to the

board of supervisors, annually.
VI. DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
I. He is the attorney for the county.
II. Presents complaints made to him accusing parties of crime, to the
grand jury.
III. Draws "bills of indictment" when found by the grand jury.
IV. Tries indicted parties in the Oyer and Terminer, and Court of
Sessions.
VII. CORONERS.
I. Look after and inquire into all matters concerning persons slain, or
who have died mysteriously.
II. Summon a jury, subpoena witnesses, and ascertain as far as possible
all the facts in regard to the death.
III. In case of a vacancy in the office of sheriff, and there being no
under sheriff, one of the coroners designated by the county judge,
performs the duties of sheriff until said vacancy be filled by election or
appointment.
IV. Have power to arrest the sheriff upon criminal processes.
VIII. SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POOR.
Have the general care of the county poor house; appoint persons to take
charge of the same; and render an account annually to the "board of
supervisors" of their doings.
IX. JUSTICES OF SESSIONS.
I. Sit upon the bench with the county judge in the Court of Sessions and
with the Supreme Court judge in the Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of
such criminals as have been indicted by a grand jury.
II. The law gives them just as much power in the decision of questions
as the judge.
X. SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
I. Apportion the school moneys among the several districts in the
county.
II. Make an annual report to the superintendent of public instruction,
containing all the statistics embraced in the several reports from the
trustees of his district.
III. Visit and examine all the schools and school districts within their
districts as often in each year as shall be practicable; inquire into all
matters relating to the management, the course of study and mode of

instruction, the text books used and the discipline of such schools.
IV. Examine in regard to the "moral character," "learning" "and ability
to teach," persons proposing to teach public schools in their districts;
and if they find them, qualified, grant them certificates in the form
prescribed by the superintendent.
V. Form new districts, or change the boundary lines of old ones.
VI. Organize at least once each year, or in concert with one or more
commissioners in the same county, a "teachers' institute," and induce if
possible all the teachers in their districts to be present and take part in
its exercises.
Q. What are the salaries of each of these officers, or how paid?
I. SHERIFF.
A. I. Receives a fee on all papers served
II. Receives a per cent on money collected on executions.
II. JUDGE.
Receives a salary established by the legislature, varying in different
counties according to population and business.
III. SURROGATE.
I. Receives a salary, varying in different counties, according to
business.
II. When the judge performs the duties of surrogate the one salary
suffices for all the duties performed.
III. The surrogate is entitled to a clerk.
IV. COUNTY CLERK.
I. Receives a fee for all papers recorded.
II. Receives a fee for administering oaths in court.
III. Is paid extra for copying or re-indexing old records.
V. TREASURER.
I. The county treasurer shall receive an annual salary fixed by the
"board of supervisors."
II. The salary shall be established by the "board," at least six months
before his election.