, 1889-08-29
ARTICLE Nj.
COUNTY. CITY AND row wSsHp oRoAsIa

ARTICLE Nj.
COUNTY. CITY AND row SsHp ORGANIZATION.
! SECTION l.. The several counties OF the
territory OF Washington existing ut the time
| OF the adoption Of this constitution are here
state.
/ SEC. 9. No county seat shall be removed
unless throe-iifths OF the qualified electors of
the county, voting on the proposition NJ Il
general election, shall vote In favor OF such
the proposition shall be required TO relocate
a.county seat. proposition Of removal
shall not be submitted in the same county
more than once In four years,
SEC. 3. No now county shall.bc establish
ed which shall rcdurc amy county To pOpu-
lntion less than 1000 nor shall anew county
1000 There snail be no territory stricken
from any county unless a majority OF the
voters living In such territory shall petition
therefor, and then only under such other
conditions as may be prescribed by general
law applicable to the whole state Every
county which shall he enlarged or created
from territory taken from any other county ar
counties shall be liable for n iust proportion
OF tho existing debts aud liabilities OF the
county or counties from which such territory
shall be taken; provided, that, IN such nc;
counting neither county shall he charged
with amy debt or liability then existing In
Cured IN the purchase of any county prop,
erty, or In the purchase or construction OF
amy county buildings then in use or under
construction which shall fall within and be
]
further. that this shall not be construed TO
effect the rights ol creditors.
ssc. .. The legislature shall establish
system Of county government which shall be
uniform throughput the. state, aud by
general laws shall provide for township
orgaui2ation under which any county may
organize whenever At majority OF the quail
fled electors of such county voting at n
general election shall so determine, and
whenever n county shall adopt tow lship or.
ganl2Rtion the assessment and collection OF
the revenue shall be made and the business
OF such county and the local affairs OF the
and transacted III the manner prescribed by
such gencrnl laws.
sEC. ;, The legislature by general aud
uniform laws shall provide for the election
IN the several counties OF boards OF county
commissioners, shcrlfls, county clerks, treas.
officers as puhltc toIwC CntonCe may rcquirc,
and shall prescribe their, duties, and hX
compensation OF all such officers, In pro-
portion tn their duties. and for that purpose
may may elGJIy the COUNTIES by poplaton
bility OF such officers for all fees which may
be collected by them and for all public
moneys which may be paid tn them, or ofci.
ally come into their possession.
SEC. q. The board OF county commits.
siOners in each county shall I'LL all vacancies
occurring in amy county, township precinct
or roud district Office OF such county by ap-
pointment mud olllccr- thus urpulutcd shall
hold office TIL the next general election, aud
ssc. z. No county officer shull be eligible
to hold his office for more than two terms in
ssc. 8, The legislature shall fix the com
pensation by salaries OF all county officers,
and Of cOustablcs in cities having Il populu.
ton of 5000 ana upwards; eNcept.that pub
lie administrators, surveyors and coronors
may or may not he saldried officers. The
salary of any county, city, town or municipal
officer shall not he Increased or diminished
after his election, or during his term OF
oiiice; nor & shall the term OF nny such officer
be extended beyond the period Tor which lie
Is elected or appointed.
SEC. q. No county, nor the inhabitants
thereof, nor the property therein, shall be
released or discharged from Its or their pro.
portiohatc share OF taxes to be levied for
state purposes, nor shall commutation for
such taxes be authorized in any form what.
ever.
SEC 10. Corporations for municipal pur-
poses shall be created by special laws; but
the legislature, by general laws. shall pro-
vide for the Incorporation, Organization and
classification In proportion TO population, of
cities and towns, which laws may be altered,
heretofore organized or Incorporated may
become organized under such general laws
whenever ~ majority Of the electors, voting
at u general election, shall 30 determine, and
shall organize ia conformity Herewith; and
cities or towns heretofore or hereafter organ.
lied and all charters thereof framed or
adopted by authority of this constitution
shall be subject to and controlled by general
laws. Any city containing Il population OF
mtoJ to frame CHARTER for rs HSi nwn De per
mcnt, consistent with and subject to the
constitution and laws of this state, and for
such purpose the Legislative. authority OF
vt which election there shall be chosen by
the qualified electors of said city, fifteen
freehOlders thereof, who shall have been
residents of said city for n period OF ut least
Two years preceding their election and quail
He'd electors, whose, duty i shall be 70 CON
venG within ten days after their election
aud prepare and propose II charter for such
city. sucn proposed charter shall be sub
mitted to the qualified eleotorsoi said city,
aud II majority of such qualified electors
voting thereon ratify tho same, 1t shall be-
come thc charter OF said city, and shall be-
any existing charter, in Guiding ensel.inleuis
thereto, and all special laws inconsistent
with such charter. said proposed charter
pulls shed In said city, for at least thirty
days prior to the day OF submitting the same
to the electors for their approval, us above
authorized shall only bc hnd upon notice,
which notice shall specify the object of call
ing snch election, and shall be egiven for Mt
least ten days before the day OF election, in
all election districts Of said city Said cleo.
tions may be general or special elections,
and except as herein provided shall be
trolling general or special elections in said
city. Such charter may be amended by pro-
po,,ass therefor re submitted nI by the legislative
at any general election after notice of said
submission published rs above specified and
ratified by a majority of the qualified elect
ors voting thereon. In submitting any such
charter or amendment thereto, any alter.
nate article or proposition may be presented
for the choice of the voters, and may be
voted on separately without prejudice to
others
SEC. II. Any county, city town or town
ship may make and enforce within its
limits all such local police, sanitary and
other regulations as arc not In CONFLICT with
general laws
SEC. IL. The legislature shall have no
power to impose taxes uron counties, cites.
towns. or other public or municipal corpora.
tions or uron the inhabitants or property
thereof, for county, city, town or other mn-
nicipnl purposes, but may, by general laws
vest'in the corporate authorities thereof, the
power to assess and collect taxes for such
purposes.
SEC. 13. Private property shall not be
taken or sold for the payment Of the COPPER
! ate debt OF any public or municipal corpor-
alton, except In tho mode provided by law
for the levy and collection OF taxes.
SEC, ID. The making Of profit ont OF
county, city, town, or other public money,
or using the same for any purpose not author.
lied by law, by any officer having the pos