The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-20
Terms, ny Mail, in Advance
THE CONSTITUTION.
County Organization, Including
the County Court, Proposed as an
Alternative by James 9. wheat, OF
Ohio County.

Alternative by James 8. wheat. OF
Ohio County.
l. At the election to be hereafter held,
at which the voters OF this State shall
vote for or against the adoption OF this
Constitution, each voter 10 any county
shall have the right to vote for the
plan or system of county organization
provided for in tue following sections,
mum bered-andi il majority of the
qualified voters OF said county, who
shall have voted be found in favor Of
the organization provided for in said
sections, then shall the Governor, in
his proclamation announcing the result
OF said election, declare and make
known the county or counties which
have chosen the organization provided
for in said sections.
Every such county shall be dvided
into not less than three, nor more than
ten precincts, laid off as compactly as
practicable, with reference to natural
boundaries. and containing as nearly
as NAV be the same number Of inhabi-
tants, and, until changed by the Board
Of Commissioners, hereinafter men
toned, the number and boundaries OF
said precincts shall be the same as
those of the townships established in
each Of said equities.
At the first general election held,
after the adoption of this Constitution,
the voters Of each OF said precincts,
shall elect commissioner, a justice OF
the peace, and if the population of any
precinct shall exceed twelve hundred,
second justice Of the peace The
offices OF commissioner and justice OF
the peace shall not be deemed iucom-
patible; so that the same person may
be elected to each OF said offices by the
voters OF any precinct. A constable for
each precinct shall be appointed by the
Board OF Commissioners. The term OF
office of each of SAID officers shall be
four years; apd vacancy in either OF
them, shall be filled by the Board OF
Commissioners. The Justices of the
peace and coDstables shall give such
bonds and take such oath or affirmation
as may be prescribed by law.
The s-ioners thus chosen in
each couuty shall constitute board to
be known as the commissioners OF the
county OF -" by which name
they may sue and be sued, and make
and use common seal, and enact all
ordinances and bylaws not inconsistent
with or repugnant to the laws of this
State. They shall hold at least two
sessions in each year, at the Court
House OF their county, neither to be
continued longer than - days, and
NAV hold special and adjourned meet
ings. The judge Of the county court
shall preside at every session and at
every meeting, but without the right to
vote on any question, except in the case
OF a tie, when he shall give the casting
vote. The said commissioners shall
APPOINT a clerk, who shall keep jour
nal OF their proceedings, and transact
such other business pertaining to his
office as may be, by them, or by law re-
duired, and whose compensation they
shall fix by ordinance and pay from
the county treasury. The said clerk
shall hold his Office at the pleasure OF
the commissioners. The sessions and
meetings of the commissioners shall be
open and public.
The Commissioners of each county, a
majority OF whom shall be quorum,
shall, under such general regulations as
NAV be prescribed bv law, have the
superintendsnce and administration Of
the internal affairs and fiscal concerns
OF their county, including the establish
ment and regulation OF roads, public
landings, ferries and mills; the granting
OF ordinary and other licenses, except
ing in cities aud incorporated towns,
where the exclusive power OF granting
such licenses has been or may here
after be vested in such cities and towns
tv law; and the levyirg, collecting and
disbursing OF the county levles. They
shall, from time to time, appoint the
places for holding elections in the sew
eral precincts OF their county, and shall
be the judges OF the election, qualIti-
cations and returns Of their own mem
bers, and of all county officers. All
writs OF ad qYod dmnum shall issue
from the County Court.
The voters of the county shall elect
sheriff, prosecuting attorney, recorder,
and such other county officers as the
Legislature may from time to time d.
rect or authorize. The commissioners
shall appoint a surveyor OF lands and
one or more assessors. The duties OF
said officers shall be prescribed aud de.
fined as far as possible by general laws.
All the said officers shall hold their
offices for the term OF four years. The
same person shall not be elected sheriff
70. two consecutive full terms; nor shall
any person who has acted as deputy OF
any sheriff be elected his successor nor
shall any sheriff act as deputy OF his
successor; but the retiring sheriff shall
finish all business remaining in his
hands at the expiration Of his term, for
which purpose his official bond shall
continue 10 force. The duties OF all the
said offices shall be discharged by the
incumbents thereof in person, or under
their immediate superintendent. The
commissioners shall designate one or
more constables of their county to serve
process and levy executions, when the
sheriff thereof is party defendant, or
is under any other disability.
The Recorder, in addition to his du.
ties as clerk OF the county court, shall
record in books specially prepared and
now used, for each specific purpose, all
inventories, schedules, accounts, settle
ments and other papers relating to
estates; partitions OF realty, whether
amicable or decretal; Remuneration by
widows Of the wills Of their husbands
assignment OF bowers, whether by heirs
or lax or dayisaas n- tia daeraa OF