### R-75

PRICEDANIEL ATIOHNEY GEXERAL

Hon. Il. L Elneoa, Jr. aptaJ 

### lrrditor mlk coutq Llrlng8ton, Terra bear Sirt 

## opinion MO.7-26Boa. 6. L. Hm3on, Jr. - page 2

**‘ Osn**  **the Ucmtmls8lomr8**  **Court** 

### approve peyrolls aad paymoat of purehaw **orders** and trensnot business with 

### theOoamlsslo~r of PrealaotMO. 1abmnt from the statst
'Canhe rppolnt a forenn torot OS his superrisor of rordB8lQteMfiaernd owstruatlon **for** 

### himmad the ooml88lomr oontlttmhis 

### work iaMisslsslppltm Ths Wmsry **QuemUoa** pamated **by** 

### lyouriaqulryIsmhsthsr or pot,wder 

### thsmate submitted,ths psawoa in

### gwstlon hssnested or 8bondonedhis oSf1eeOS Qaunty 

### O~ssloaar.



### InUords 

### aadMee*, Vol.S7,peps 

### 2l6-270, uo findthe 

### ~ouowing&floltlon8t 

### .~,-A--
. . . 4, I.d

..-2. wRe81dewe 18 **indeed** 

### mde up of hat 

### mad lntbtttiort~ 

### thatie,ofabodsrith latoat1oaaf lw*irrtrrg. aut3t 

### ir not 

### brokeab7gofagto seekraotherabods, but 

### ooatWse8 uatllthe faotmad lakatiea aaite :aaaother abode elssrhere.w 

### 37**Ii. &**  **P. p56.**  **YOU etnte**  io p&w letter that 

### his iraily 'stlm lima +a PolkOouat.J.B

### theseSore,18eaaaotbs statedas 8 rttor 

### OS la+that 

### thepersonla qaeetioa 

### romow thsreb7runted his offloe. **d.**

### his met&mea SromPolk Ooutif "? ~

.!Xt 18 a mwrr3. rule thnt 

### ‘f8llareto qlvXiQ for 8a 

### otfloerithlatb the 

### preserlkd **br 28~**  

### does not **of** ltwlf o reat*

l 

### msaas7.w 

### mamma ~s.amhm, 81 8.~.x237,W. 

## 8ee l l8o~Temssavlspsdease f76.
Us qttate 

### tbsfollmllrg 

### imm 54TexasJwlsprndease 375t

**%ha Oowtltutloo**  **kelmws** t&t l 

### fallareto aomply 

### rlththe nquinwnt thnt 

### all sit11 oifloerr shallnslds 

### rlthin the State, 

### radalldiltrlotor emat 

### olfloers rithin tbsLrdl8trlots 

### oraollntlas, 

### an4 Qll keept&eir offiaes

lt 

### suahpkees es ry be **nQulred by**  

### low -11 

### raostetheoftleesohold. This prorlslon Is **mif-amcuti~**Hon. E. L. Hlnson, Jr, - page 

### 3

and needs no &@3btiQS action to put It ilIt 

### force aa8effect. Under it a county officer whorebmovesfrom the **,county** sad establishes a residence elsewhere thereby vacatea his office, But absence from the State or inability or ut~llliagness to perform the duties of the off ice* or the mereabsence of a **county** officer 

### from the **county** while lnvoluutarily In the lailitarg service of the United St&em, without any shouiug QS to the prob&h duration of his **abnme,** does not create a vacancy.” 

### Seerlsot Cmvford 

### ~8.S~unQers,259.W, 102;Bamllton vs. King, 206 9. w. 953. From8 stud7 of the **above** cited authorit:es, it meems to be settled In Texas 

### thata vacanc7 Is not areated bg an offiaer’a absence 

### fromthe State 

### orhis lnablllt7 or unwllllngness to psrfon! the duties 

### Of

### hi8 OffiC8. **In order**  **to** constitute an abendoment, **there must**  **be an**  aatual 

### or Imputed luteat on tho part of ths officer to relinquish the off ice. **9tslngruber** vs. City 

### of Ssu Antonio (005. hpp.) 220 S. W. 77; Horny vs. Qrahara,39 Tex. 1; 

### 34 

### Ter.Jur.385.

Uuderthe facts prsssnted, the person in question has been and is working In HlesIssippl, but at the sametime ha returns at intervals to meet with the Commlssioners~ **Court.** Such facts do not showan lntentlon to abandon the offloo. Therefore, It asnnet be stated as 

### a matter of law.

### thathe has vacated 

### orabandoned 

### the office of **County** Comslsslonmr

**.**

It lo etated la 

### 34 Ter. Jur. 511-513 1 ?l!he ampnaatlori sttsohod to aa office belwa to the persoa legally holding the 

### offioe,for the tern ha may hold 

### it. His rl.ght 

### to It 

### attmhes as soon amhb takes the , 

### a8th of office 6ud quallfles aoaordlllg to law, and ends 1 wheuhis term ends, whether **by** expiration **of** $lme, death, **mslgrmt** Ion, or l**bollshaout of**  **the offloq**  bf law.

. . “To entitle 

### a personto redover the emoluments of an **off lae,**  **he must**  **show that**  he Is an 

### officerde jure, that the office has been 

### Isg~llyarsated aud Is In existence, and that he has been legally plaaed thereid and has a legal right thereto.

. .

‘The eslsr7 

### or emolumsats are Inaldent to the title of **the** off fae and not to 

### it**a ocauzxt**  **Ion or**  the Derformance of 

### offiairlduties. In order to recowr the-amount. the offlaer Is not **required to**  **show that**  h ha di the dutIee of the off Ice) nor 1s he **prkded** schsr@d frommy covering **by** the fact that he has been wrongfully deprivedHon. E. L. IilUBOcl,Jr. - 'page 4

of the right to perform the oervicea, UPchat e.nother persm has performed then." (Eiapbzsis aurs) Wequote the followin& from Beard vs. City or D~CXIELW, 64 Tex. 

### 7: “To the person legally holdlne the offloe belong the perquisltas and emollmaentsattached by law to the offlee, as fully 85 doe9 the office Itself.

. . 0 the mfiry or emolumentannexed to a **public** off lce'l; keideat to the title of the offIce and not lo its 0aauEWtioP or exercim3. The people t
‘bulton, 2UCal 44~ Fhe PeopZe, etc. 21; Mayor etc.’ va. iial*fit &al.

vs. Woodward, 12 Heisk, 

### 499; ‘&oll va. Seibenthabr, 

### 37 Cal. 195;Dolsa h-8. Mayor **etc.,** 

### 68pI.Y. 275;Hoveanyvs.zhe myor, 80 B. Y. 192;the **Auditors. eta.**  **vm. Benolt,**  **20** Xlch. l91'. (Rnpheals oure.) Ye

### quote **tb8** 

### follouiagfrom City **of** Xouaton vu. X&em, 79 5.1 

### 848, error refuaedr

'CThatunder 

### them facts 

### he beoamean offlat@ dejura la mustained by the vblght of authority.

. . lie was thereafter discharged vlthout ofauseby one having PO**authority** to oust him.

. . The effort to **oust** him was a nullity, and, his **salary** being **an** incident of the office his right to the emolumenttsdid not detmndon the perforamncc by him of offlcl.81 service. ” ~.Emphesls**ours)** 32nae the person in qlieeat ion is aov legally holding the offlc of Commissioner, on the baeie of the foregoing authorities Ye are 

### farad to hold that he Is entitled to the emolument8 incident to the offlmi until hia term ends; vhether by expiration of tlm, death, reslgnrtlou or rsmotal from 

### office,and yvu are authorized to approve the plymeat ( 

### UW. i I Section 24 of &tlcPle ITof our State Countitutiou provides: “County Judgea, County At%ornegs, Clerks of the Diatrlct end County Courts, Justicea of the Peace, Comtabka, +nd other county officers miy be removed by:the Ju&zes of the Dlatirict hrta for ineometency. off l.ci.al mlscondnot, habit-1 drunka- **-or other**  **&uses** hifined by **Zau, upon**  **the OIUM**  **therefor** king set Sorth la vrltlng aad the flndlnfz of its truth by a m. (Brpbsls our(I)Hon. E. L. Hlnsoa, Jr. - Page 5

Article 5940, **V.A.C.Y.,** provides:

**‘ All**  district and county attorneys, county judges, 

### COSlUliSBiOlASl’S,

clerks of the district and county courts and single clerks In **counties** where one clerk r?lscher&es the duties of dlatrlct and **oounty** clerk, county treasurer, nherlff, county aurveyoop, asseesor, collector, constable, wattle and hfde inupector, **justice** of the peeae and all county offlwre nov or hereafter existing by authority either of the Constitution or &WE, maybe removed from offlae by the judge 

### of the dLstrlct court for Lncompetencg, official **nlsooaduat or**  becorping lntoxlaeted by drlnkipg 1ntoxIcatIng **liquor,** as e beverage, whether on duty or not; provided suoh offtoer shell not be 

### removed for beoomlng Intaxioeted vhen it appears uponthe trial of such officer that auah 1ntoxiortIon was produoed by drinking lntoxlcatlag lIquora upen the dire& Ion and prescript Ion of a duly licensed practicing physiolan of this State. m Article 5971, V.A.C.S., provides;

“In every mm of removal from office for the **causes** nemed in the preoedIng rrtiole, the cause or causes thereof shall be mat forth In vrItIngk and the truth 04 ss:d cause **or oauses**  **bs fouad**  **by a**  **jury.** Article 5972, V.A.C.S., providesa “By sinaompatenoyl as wed herein ia meant gross lgnoraaaa of offiaLo1 duties, or gross ourelessm3w In the dlsoharge of them; 

### or an offlaer msy be found to be incompetent vhen, by 

### remon **of** 

### sow mrioue physical **or** merital 

### dofeot, not existing at the time 

### of hla electlon, he has beoome unfit or usable to dlsoherge promptly and 

### proper4 the duties of his office. ” t In the 09m OSReeves vs. State, 267 S. U. 666, the Supraw Court held thst “an actloo to **oust** A county officer for offlola alseon&at is for the benellt of the public atid **mutat**be oonduated In the MW of **the** 

### St&e of 4exae. and be represented by a county or district 

### albrney. mThe oaee of Mote ex rel **DOVWI** et al vs. Barney, 161,S. U. **2d** 55, (wit refused) involved 8n action 

### for the rfSIov81 from off ice of the 

### Sheriff of Yuew~ County. The **Court,** in reviewing the constitutlouel lnd otatutcp- provisions above set out, madethe follovlng observatloar _.. .~nuu. n. **4. HUNO~,**  **or. -**  **Page 6** 

*wehave washed the firm conclueion that the contentions of the aherlff met be sustained; that thie purely 10001 action to remove 

### the Bherlif oflfueoea Oounty uhould hew? been browbt. if at alf. by the aountg or dlrtrlct attorney oi tlmt county.

. . . I

. . . such aatlom as this mayba laatltuted 001~

**- ‘** **by the**  dlstrlot 

### or sounty rttorne ndthat th Beae,ml alon osy not lnitlmte 0 Attorney It3 &ha810 ourrr) IB v3.0~ **OS** the **fongoirrg,** It Ia our opl~oa that tha person 

### in **qn48tion** 

### 8anonlyb4 removed,If **at** all, bg a proper proceeding in the Dlrtrlct **Court brought**  by the aounty **or** dlatrlot 

### l ttor0ey. 

### 'phi8 D8~rtl88UtUUOt p;88 **UpOR** th. qU48tiOP Of Uh4th4r OF **not t&Z'4**  I8 oauemfor removal, for au& pwstIon am only be Qotormlnod by the dlatrlat Court l ud the truth OS SId 08uaa la 

### tobe 

### d4tOXmln8d **by a**  **1-y a8**  

### prarId8d 

### In**Art1al.a V,**  S8ctlon **24 OS**  **our** stat4 **Oon8tltutloa ana**  **art1610 5971**  

### OS our statukr.

Art1clc **2343, V.A.C.S.,**  

### th4 &8E8i48iOlWr8' COlDt, 

### POVW8 t&t 

### l rrjthne memb8rs of Inolutllng the county **juQg8; ahall**  **oonstltute** a **Quorum** Sor the tlPaaactlon 

### of any 

### bu8lfma8, excapt 

### that of lavylng acootmty tax.

**IIiI** ‘Vi4P **0s the**  **fO~4egOing 8tEtUt4,**  **it 18**  **UOt LMC4888uCy**  **that** the Commls8Iouer in question be pr48oat at a mnotlng of the 

### C0ma188101i Court **for** wid **aourt** to 

### tranrot bU4ine88. **8. w.**  **9681 Oobb** 

### and **Gregory vs.**  Dl44, 

### 8841 Racer v8. **Btate, 73**  110 Texan **68, 2l5**  **3. W.**  **439. 203**  **8. w.**  **438;** 

### and mltotl 18. Al

**Artlola 6741,**  V. A G. S., luthorlzoa the purcfuae or hire b the C~Ia8lOMr8' Court **Of** %ll noa48nry road UChiWry, **to018** or **to-81** m.
. . the **iOBd8. ”**  

### 8uoh bbor a8 my ba 

### mao8rry.

. . to build or repnlr mttor T8. 04Aoho oounty, 196 8. w. (a) **833, 835.**  **n WI**  

### b8 OOt4d tht 4U4hpOv4r F48t8 aOt

### VithIII th4 indlrMPr1 CoS8Il8OiOlrsr but with tho 

### OaaPai88iOlWl'8' 00-t. 

### YOUin 

### tb4r4fo?4~rltlkoriz4d to. approve lib pmymontof th4 utorirl 

### , 8appli4raw4xp6a444 vhI& 

### hv4 **b0er.i lo@-**  o rdend Orl**uthorlmd b**  tb 

### OoMI48lOlIOr8'Cool-t. bxtiolo **6 ’** **IU,** V.A&.&, **pi ’** **dcb~sc** 

### 'LIaeptvhen road OO~iO8iOCWIr8 are employad, the 

### oountyaomlaaiocmrs aVl1 k aupervl80ra OSpublio 

### Imad8 In their l'48p4OtiV4 **OOUIiti4S,** and eU!h 

### COl8BiaeiOll4r till **8Up4rVl~ thB**  **public road8**  **Within** hla **a~i88i~Or8** preoinot 

### on44 oath month. 80 alnll alao mmko

### a morn report to oaah 

### regulartermof tb ommIsalonera court held la hlr **oounty during**  the y-r, ahouiags.

Hoa. E. L. **liinson,** Jr. - ?8ge 7

"1, The aonditlon of all 

### road8WadpErts of made in hla preolnat. "2. The oondltfon Of all 

### oulvort.8 and 

### brldgpa.

“3. **rphe** -at **O? UOmJ**  **PO=ittiiag ill**  **th4 hOti8**  **Of owPooor8**  **oubjeot** 

### tok OX@.ndod~a th. P-d8 

### WIthIn **hi8** proainat. 94. fh4

WUb8POfl**i.b** pOOt8**and finger**  

### bard8 64- Sa44d **and torn**  **dam.**

“5. **Ybrt, ii**  **rSJ, WV**  **M&8 Of**  **my** 

### klad **4hOU~ b8**  op8nod 

### inhlo pm0inat, 

### urd vhat, 

### lfm;l brldg,o,aulvwt8, orother

iuprov4wto lr4 n444or~ to pt44 the romdo in 

### him pPB4iRBt iR#ld OOaditiOll l**rrd** thB **PPO-b 404t**  **Of 8U4h**  

### laprovosrato~

al00 th4 mm8 of *vary **ovormor** uho h8a 

### tailoe to vork ao. th. -6, or in ~~ nf **Imglroted** 

### to prfom hi8 duty.

**“ 8Af.d**  POpOPt**Itu&& b4**  **B-6 llp4R**  **thB UiRUt48**  **Of th4**  

### oourt, tobs aoaBid4nd in -ora pub110 **mad8** 

### and detemlnl~ tha OmouOt of trmrs **bvi4d** thosefor.

It; 18 

### a goprrrlrule tlmt 

### pnbllo dutimavhloh ~ulre the ou?Uiw Of? -800 OP di44WtiOR W thB mrt oi th4 **OffiCOr, OaSIRot**  **b8 drlet@od**  **bi tiio**  **affi4.P.** 

### mu4 vs. hle **?Into** 

### &x&J, 71hr. 99, **8** 8. Y. 634; 34 ‘rox. fur. 4%



### It loour apialocl that 

### dutl4o pawrorlkd **by** 

### Artlo3.8 67l.3 lw 

### dutiesuhlah nqulrr **th. 4~4Polw**  **of m**  **or** 

### aloontlcm on the port **of ttw**  **0ammI8oIomr, and**  **h4 arrrnot**  

### l **ppolat morn**  **to ast**  **aa a-40+3**  **super vimor**  

### Inhis plroo.

In thio 4onn44tlon, 44 

### vl* to point out, howvor, 

## t&t &tide 6737, **V.A.O.S., ruth4ri.040**  

## tb Qcuioaiorwro' **OouPt to**  **ml07** 

### notl x444dw mur (I)ma6 maioilbps. lut~iou 6738, v.A.c.B., 4am8mat40 **the pcnroPo.amd**  **(rtloo** 

### Ofl neh r 48d o~I88IoR4ro. ArtIol4 6743, v.A.~Q.S., aothorium t& **QamUioioruro*** Oolvt 

### to appoint a raad 8IrpPiotWbtint 

### fOf th4 

### OOlantJ **OP** a 

### U& 4alo#lOE4r 0pnela4t. ~~~~7~~~~~~~f'L:~~~td",'tho **pouora aod**  

### dut%48**of 8tNh**  **rord rUp@P%ZitOtiat.** 

**aa4 above**  **nntloaod Artiol.48**  road **a8 foll048r** 
Qrt. 6737. ;rBplomnt
**%88h OOmiOliOluP8**  **OOUFt n7**  **4~~x07 not**  4xa44ditAg**Non. 6.**  L. Hinson, Jr. - Page 8

four road commissionera, rho shall be reaideat cltieens of the diatrlct for which they are employed, snd uhen more than one is employed, the di8triCt that each reed cornmlsaioaer la to control ahell be defined and fIxed by the **court.** Such road coamLs8l.onera Bhall receive such compensation **aa may**  be agreed upon **by the**  **aourt,** not to exceed tvo dOllJD8 per dEyfor the time 8ctwlly engaged. Each road commlaeiotaer shall first **execute a**  bond, peyable **to** the county judge of the **aountg** and hI8 **8ucces8ora** In office, In **sureties,** to be approved by the county judge,' and conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties." "Art. **6738.** Povera sad duties

**“ A**  rood comml88loner **8hall have**  control **over all**  overaeer8, **hands, tOOl8,**  **ImChiMWy** and teaIXI8 t0 be used uponthe road8 In his **district;** and **may require**  **ovorwers** to order out hand8 In any numberhe meydesignate for the purpose of openlug, vorklng or repairing road8 or buildings **OF repairing**  bridges **or culvert8**  **In** his district. He ahell we thet all rOad8and bridge8 In hi8 district are kept in 8008 ropeir, and he 8hal1, under the direction and control of the commisalonercrcourt, inaugurate a system of grading and draining public roada in his district, and me that 8Uchayatem is oarried **out** by the overaeera and handa under hi8 control, and ahall obey all Order8 of the caamniaslonera court; and he ahell be naponslble for the safekeeping end liable **for** the 1088 or de8tructlon of all atachinerg, toola or teams pieced Underhla control, unless 8uch loss la uith**out** hl8 **fault,** and whenhe shall be dlaaharged he shell deliver them to the peraon designated **by** the CoUrt."

**“ Art.**  **6743.** Appolntlncat I "The aommIsaioaer8 court of any county subject to thI8 law umyappoint a cOinpete& person as road superintendent for such county, or one 8uah 8uperintendent in each cammiselonera precinct, a8 it shall deteralne by an order made at a regular term thereof. Such order shall be entered on the minute8 of 8UChCourt, and shell not be void for want of form, but a **aubatont** Ial complInnce with the provlslona of this subdivision ahali be 5UffiCIent. Every road **SUperinten** bent **ahall be**  **a** qua1Ified voter in the county or precinct for vhich he ia appointed, and 8hall hold his office for two years or until removed by the commiaaioner8 court for good **CBUbB.** No **county shsll**  **be under**  the operetion of this lam whose commlaalcuera court doea not appoint a road superintendent or superintendents.". -

Hon. E. L. Kinson, Jr. - Page 4

**“ ht.**  6746. Pouers “Subect to the orders of said oourt, eaah superlntendent shali have general supervisloa over all public roads of his county **or** preoinot, **and** shall **superintend** the laying **out** of nev roads, the making, changing, vorklng and repalrIng of roads, and the building of bridges except vhere otherwise contraoted, and over all county convicts worked **on** such roads, **but** this shall not. prevent the commissioners **court** from **employing** a person to vatoh and msnage such convicts and direct the work to bs done by them. Said road superintendent shall take aharge of and bs responsible for the safe-keeping of **a11** tools, psohlnery, implements and teams plaaed under his oontrol by the **comsissloners oourt**  and **execute** his receipt therefor, vhleh shall be filed vith the **county** clerk. Be shall be liable **for** the loss, Injury or **destructlou** of any suah tools, team8, Implements or maohinery unless such loss oooured vlthout his **fault, and**  for ths vrongful or ‘improperexpendftun of any **road** funds oomlng into his hands. Onleaving office, he shall dellver all such moneyand property to suah person as the commlssioners court maydirect. ” ,

It will be noted that the employment of rosd commissioners or road superintendents is left to the discretion **of** the Commlsslonerst **Court and**  not to the Inddivldual Commlssloner. SUNMARY (1) Underthe faots submitted, the CommIssloner of Preoinct 1 of Polk County 1s still a resident **of** Poti County and IS nov legally holding the offloe of Comsls- I sloner and 1s entitled to the emoluments Incident to the off loe until his reslgnst Ion orramoval from off ice by proper proceedings. Artlole **V, Seat** Ion 24 of the State Constltu3oa; Artloles 5940, 5971 aad 5972, V.A.C.S. (2) The power to purchase road machinery aad supplies rests not vlth the individual County CossslssIoner, but vith the Commissioners’ Oourt, and only 8 **quorum is**  **necesssry** to trananot suahbusiness. Artlolem 4343 and 6741. (3) **A County**  Conmissioner aannot appoint another to **act** as road supervlsor ln his place. Road Superintendent 8Hon. E. L. Blnson, 

### Jr. - **Pa@ 10** 



### or Bond C8oPllmsle~~rs DMQ be appointed **only** Comsiooiomrst **Court. Articles**  6713, 6737, 

### ?&8fjne6743 and 6746. Youra VOFJ truly

JRzdjr