The Empire County argus., 1855-03-31
EMPIRE COUNTY ARGUS
WOODS & FORBES, Publishers. (
AGENTS
Coloma: Saturday, March 81, 1855.
Supervisory.


Supervisors.
The Legislature passed general law, on the
Goth March, to create Board Of Supervisors in
each county of the State, and to define their duties
and powers.
Sec 2. Provides that the County Clerk, Surveyor
and Assessor, shall constitute board, who shall
previous to the first election divide the county into
districts corresponding to the number of supervisors
to be elected, which for this county will be three
three being by the Act fixed as the number of su-
pervisors
Sec O. The Board Of Supervisors shall nave pow
er and jurisdiction in their respective counties:
First to make orders respecting the property of
the county in conformity with any law of this
State and to take care of and preserve such prop
erty. Second to examine settle and allow all ac-
counts legally chargeable against the county, and
to levy for the purposes prescribed by law, such
amount of taxes on the assessed value OF real and
personal property in the county as may be author
lied by law; prouided, the salary Of the county
judge need not be audited by the Board, but the
county auditor shall ON the first judicial day OF
each month, draw his warrant on the county treas
urer in favor of the county judge, for the amount
due such judge as salary for the month preceding.
Third to examine and audit the accounts of all
officers having the care. management collection or
disbursement of any money belonging to the coun-
ty, or appropriated by law or otherwise for its use
and benefit. Fourth to lay out control and man.
age public roads, turnpiked, ferries and bridges
within the county in all cases where the law does
not prohibit such jurisdiction and to make such
orders as may be necessary and requisite to carry
its control and cement into effect. Fifth to
take care of and provide for the INDECENT sick Of
the county. Sixth: to divide the county into
townships and to change the divisions of the same,
md tn 70 as ha Of
the county may require. Seventh; to establish and
change election precincts, and to appoint Inspect
and judges of elections Eighth to control
and manage the property, real and personal, be-
longing to the county, and to receive by donation
any property for the use and benefit of the county.
Ninth to lease or to purchase any real or personal
property necessary for the of the county: pro-
Uidej, no purchase of real property shall be made
unless the value of the same be previously estima
ted by three disinterested persons to be appointed
for that purpose by the county judge. Tenth; to
sell at public auction at the court house of the
county, after at least thirty days previous public
notice, and cause to be conveyed any property be-
longing to the county, appropriating the proceeds
of such sale to the use Of the same. Eleventh; to
cause to be erected and furnished a court house,
Jail, and such other public buildings as may be ne
cessary, and to keep the in repair proUided,
that the contract for building the court house, Jail
or other public buildings, be let out after at least
q readiness to receive proposals therefor to the
lowest bidder who will give good and sufficient se-
curity for the completion of any contract which he
may make respecting the same: but no bid shall
be accepted which the Board may deem too high.
Twelfth to control the prosecution and defense of
all suits to which the county is party Thir-
teenth to do and perform all such other acts and
things may be strictly necessary to the full dis
charge of the powers and jurisdiction conferred on
the Board.
The Board of Supervisors will also act as a Board
of Canvassers and declare the election returns. ap-
prove the bonds Of county officers, act as a Board
Of Equalization, and levy taxes. They will also
ascertain the present condition Of all property and
revenue belonging to the county, and may, by an
order entered the record, adopt ratify and con-
firm all acts proceedings and contracts of the
Courts of Sessions heretofore made. And general
ly, 'the Board of Supervisors shall have and exer
else in its county, all jurisdiction and powers other
than criminal, conferle ed by any law on the Court
of Sessions, or heretofore exercised by said court
when the same does not conflict with the provisions
of this Act'
1t will be seen at glance, that the selection Of
good and competent men is a matter Of great i'm
portance. With this Board will rest all our fnan-
cial affairs and upon their judgment and discre-
tion will depend to great extent, the future pros
perity of the county. To review and pass judg-
ment upon the transactions Of the Court of Ses-
sions will be q work of no ordinary magnitude;
and to ratify, adopt and confirm the acts of that
now defunct body, will require detailed and care
full examination This, together with other duties
imposed by law upon the Board of Supervisors, will
impress upon ALL the Importance and necessity of
selecting good and competent men.
The time now to elapse before the election will
take place, is short; and every tax payer should
therefore be up and dressed, for the occasion.
While we believe that among the Wings there are
many good mon, we at the same time can not re-
fran from stating distinctly, that we should look
first to the ranks Of the Democracy, for men to fill
this responsible Board. True, it may be urged
that partisan feeling should not enter into the cleo
ton of local officers, whose duties are defined by
statute. Yet it is cardinal principle of republic
an and democratic government, that maibrities
should control the direction of public affairs 1t
will not be denied that in this county, as between
Democrats and Wings, the Democracy is largely in
the ascendancy. Let, then, the Democracy turn
out in their strength, and elect good men-demo-
crats-in spite of any and all combinations which
the common enemy of all democratic rule may ar
ray in the contest.