The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-05-05

syns1sas 8 1ns Iaw PrevS11ng1 - Tsw1e
This law il a~ltogsthsr too long fef hs1Spapsr oolunAS,
or We should publish it entire. We give . synopas ef
its main and important provisions, which " take ftsH
the Albert Lea &ar, which will b Sssnd ustal.
Sec. l Of the law provides that the Coahty Conais-
sioners Of each county shall divide their towns into -
many towns as there are townships By Goyernmentsu r:
vey. This part Of the law has already been compiled
with BY our County Commissioner.
Sec. 2 provides that towns shall b named in accord.
ance with the expressed wish Of = plurality Of it, u.
habitants.
Sec. 3 makes it the duty Of the County Clerk to nAte
out and deliver to the Sheriff notices oftexn n~estisgs
for each town, which are to be posted in three Of t1e
most public places in such town 6ftsen days before tAe
18th day Of May, on which day the int tows nessihys
are to be held. The annual town elections after IS .
DO held on the first Tuesday Of April.
Sec. 4 relates to the duties Of tho Auditor Of State.
Sec. 5 makes each organized town . body c~srpsrase,
with capacity to sue or be sued ia manner prescribed ~
State laws-to purchase and hold laAds, make contrasts,
10.
Sec. 6 prescribes the time Of holding town nasetiAks,
and the duty Of the Town Clerk II issuing and postink
up notices Of the same, ten days prior to said nsetiAI,
Sec. 7 provides for the election h each town Of three
Supervisors, one Of whom shall b dssiepsted . Chair
man, one Town Clerk, one Assessor, one Collector, one
Overseer Of the Poor, two Constablss, two Justices st
the Peace, and As many Overseers Of Roads ~ there Ire
Road Districts in the town ; the Justices and CenstA-
bles to hold two years aud the others one. The III.
SCISSORS and Supervisors in each town are made fence
viewers Of such town. +'
Sec. s gives tho electors Of each town At their town
meetings the sole control of the affairs Of the town.
Sec. 9 provides for special town meetings to be held
when any twelve freeholders Of the town shall 20 request.
Upon such request being made in writing, the Town
Clerk shall call such meeting BY posting sp aotisss IN
Eve Of the most public places in the town, ten days
prior to said meeting.
Sec. 10 authorizes the Town Clerk 70 call all town
meetings to order, and in case Of his ssssnce, the elses
tors shall appoint q Chairman, after which they are 70
choose q moderator to preside over the meeting. The
Town Clerk, if present, shall be Clerk Of the meeting j;
if not there one shall be chosen BY the electors. The
Clerk is to keep faithful minutes Of the proceedings of
the purpose, together with all the rules aud regulations
made by such meeting. q 90 -.
Sec. IL says town meetings shall be kept open from
the time of opening until 5 o'clock, P. Nj; unless the
majority present vote to adjourn one hour from IL I. l
o'clock. So 81.
Sec IL. All questions or motions at town meetings
shall be determined by q majority Of the electors voting ;
the resul. to be .scertained and DECLARED y the unsds.
rator. ~ q
Sec. IL relates to the qualification Of voters-chal
lenged votes to be dealt With in the saiAe manner % By
Judges Of Elections under the Territorial Statutes
Town voters must be qualified to vote at general cleo.
tions, and shall be an actual resident Of the town where
he shall offer to vote. f' s" <ss5Seoss%t
Sec. IA. The minutes of the town meetings Of each
town shall be recorded in . book and sabsctibed By III
Clerk and presiding officer, whiting two days after town
meeting. - go
Sec. Is make it the duty Of the presiding officer to
open the polls by proclamation, and to make ~proclana,
tsAA rs III >3c>,r~-->-A r. n No. I'LL ~
season, Overseer Of the Poor, Collector, 6upersisofs,
Constables, and Justices, shall be voted for on az
ticket. The votes shall be canvasssd By The moderator.
nd the result proclaimed inmedistely upon the closing
of the polls. Ha
Sec. l6 makes legal voters eligible e any town olkoe.
Persons elected to any town Office are required, within
ten days after his election, to take aud subscribe an
oath before some Justice Of the Peace faithfully Is PEI.
form the duties Of his Office, and file the sane in the
Office Of Town Clerk. Every person, notified Of bis
election as Overseer of Roads, shall, within ten da1s
thereafter, file q notice Of his acceptance in the Office ct
deemed a refusal to serve. Any perscn'eleeted to either
Of the above named Offices who shall refuse to serve
ehall forfti to the town the sum Of ten dollars,
Sec. II relates to the penalty attached to the refusal
Of any town OK county officer to pay over any money
collected OF received by him in his official capacity, when
the same is demanded BY the person or persons TO
whom it is due or belonging-the same to be deemed
felony, and to be punished BY imprisonment IL the
County Jail OF State Penitentiary, one year for every
thousand dollars the person 80 offending to be forever
incapacitated from holding Office in the Stass.
Bee. IL. Towns not organizing shall Be attached to
adjoining towns, and if a vacancy occur in any town
Office, the Justices, With the Chairman Of the Super.
visors, are empowered to ill said vacancy BY appoint
meut. Justices Of the Peace are authorised to accept
the resignation Of town officers. s>hs e
Sec. 10 provides that the Chairman Of each town
shall receive and pay over all moneys raised therein for
~defraying town charges, except those faibod for high
ways and bridges, and keep IN account Of same.
Sec. 20. The Chairman of each town ahall be q mem.
Der Of the County Board Of Supervisors, aud shall re-
ceive and lay before the Board Of Town Auditors Ill &C.
counts against his town. d rs <ea
Sec. p. Every person chosen % Collector, before en-.
teriug upon his duties, and within eight days after re-
ceiving notice Of the amount Of taxes to b collected BY
him, shall execute to the Supervisors . bcad with one
Or more securities In double the amount Of such taxes,
conditioned for the performance Of his duties - Col
lector. k I'll
Sec. 20 relates to the fling Of said bond ia the oGee
of Clerk Of the District Court, there e BE- recorded.
Sec. %. Cousables are also required TO- give bond Or
instrument with one or more s~urcties conditioned for
payment Of all money received BY them ~oh6eially.
Sec. "a. The above bond to b approved BY che Su-
pervisor or Town Clerk, and Sled in the Office Of the
Town Clerk. Y
Sec. rs. All actions against . Consssble OF his sure
ties to be prosecuted within two years aftsr the etpira-
ton of his term Of Office. fs4
Sec. 26. Persons elected to Office and not giving bsnd
a. above prescribed are deemed to have refused 70 serve.
ART. II, Sec. l, gives the Town Clerk Of each town
custody Of ell books and records Of his town.
Sec. 2. He is to transcribe in the book Of records tho
proceedings Of town meeting, to- go
Sec. 3. He shall deliver to the Chairman certified
copies Of all entries.
Sec. 4 makes it the duty Of the IOWA Clerk to return
70 the Clerk Of the County Board the warrants of Ill
Justices Or Constables elected or appointed immediately
after such election OF appointment. q
Sec. s. Copies Of all papers fled IL o6ce Of Tewa
Clerk, and transcripts from the book IT records certified
by him shall be evidence in all Courts the same a. If
the original were produced.
ART. III makes the Town Clerk and Justices 8
Board of Town Auditors to examine the accounts Of