The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-25
THE TOWNSHIP LAW.
Text of the Measure Approved by the
Governor.


ers of their county. asking that The Quss-
ton OF township organization in said
county be submitted 70 a vote OF the peo-
PIE al the next general election. IL shall
he the duty Of the county commissioners
10 submit the question of adopting town-
ship organization IN said county 10 the
electors al the next general election II
the question carries II Is the duty OF the
commissioners at their next meeting 70
divide all the surveyed portion Of the
county, outside OF towns. into oFga nizea
townships and each township must have
al least twenty-five Inhabitants who are
legal voters When a county has been
divided into townships the commissioners
shall designate plan for holding the first
town meeting IN each town. which shall
be held on the first Tuesday In March fol-
loving the election. Each town is a body
corporate and mas capacity 10 sue and ne
sued. TO purchase and hold lands within
its own limits: 10 make contracts and hold
such personal property as may be neces-
sary. and 70 make orders for the regula-
tion OF corporate property. Town meet
fngs VIII be held annually on the first
Tuesday in March and every person pos
sessinG the qualifications of an slector in
any town Is entitled 10 vote at any town
meeting and Is eligible TO Office. There
shall be elected at the annual town meet
ing in each town three supery isors. one Of
whom shall be designated on the ballot
as chairman, one town clerk. one treas
urer. one assessor. one Justice of the
rseace one consta BILE, and one oVeTseer OF
highways for each road district In the
town. but justices and constables shall be
elected only once in two years. except TO
MI vacancies. Electors OF each town have
the power 10 determine,
First-The number OF poundmasters and
the location OF pounds
Second-To select town officers,
Thlrd-To direct the institution or de-
fense Of actions against the town.
Fourth-To direct the sums 10 be raised
for. prosecution or defense OF such actions
Fillh-To make regulations for ascer-
tanning the sufFiciency of fences and for
iTapounding animals
Slxth-To determine the time and man.
ner In which stock shall be permitted to
go at large
Seventh-To impose penalties for Of
fenses against the town. not exceeding $40
for each offense.
Eighrh-To apply such penalties TO i'm
provements.
Ninth-To vote to raise revenue for i'm
provements.
Tenth-To determine whether license
shall be granted for the sale Of spirituous,
malt or intoxicating liquors
The supervisors. treasurer clerk, as
SCISSOR. Justice and constable shall be
elected by ballot. Other officers shall be
chosen hy yeas and nays or by "A DIVISION,
as the electors may determine
Much space is devoted in the bin to
minute detail OF manner of elections,
bonds fling Of same. canNassihg OF re
turns and the duties of officers which are
no, mike such proceedings In counties.
Whenever any town constituting an
election precinct is found 10 contain more
than 40 votes IL shall be divided lEto
two or more districts. each containing as
nearly as may he an equal number OF
voters. The township assessor shah
in his own town have the same
duties and rights as are given 70 county
assessors IN their respective counties by
me laws OF the state. Ali taxes ShaH pe
levied or voted In specific amounts, ana
the rates per Certum shall be deterullned
from the amount Of property as equal
ized by the county hoard OF eauaAkattoh
The taxes voted by townships and not
previously returned 10 the county au-
attor and all delinquent poll road Std
other taxes 10 be collected by any town
officer and due and unpaid shall be ceFtl-
fed bv the proper authorities TO the couh-
~ auditor on or before November each
wear There shall be levied annuaiF on
each dollar Of taxable property In the
state. other than such as by law Is otneF-
wise "a xei as assessed and entered en-
the tax lists for the several purposes
en1Irnerate ted taxes at the rate speciff q
as follows. For township purposes, snch
sum as may be voted al any legal Town
meeting. the rate OF which shan not cS-
cepd exclusive Of such sums as may ne
voted at the annual town meeting for
road and bridge purposes. mills IN any
township having a taxable valuation cf
500 100 or more and the amount OF when
shall not exceed $50 in any township
having a taxable valuation less than sle''-
40 and the rate Of such tax shall rot
Of
tovrnshtr. The rate OF tax for road and
bridge nurposes in any town shall not
exceed mills on the dollar. But cor
no~afa authorities are not prevengei fFcm
Ievvlng any special tax they may he au-
thorized TO levy.
The following shah he deencd Town
81, s,--rhe compensation OF town off,
oars for services rendered their respective
towns
sarona-Contingent expenses incurred
for use and benefit Of the town
Thlrd-The moneys authorized to he
raised by vote OF the town meeting Tor
town purposes
b.. raised for any town purpose.
\o TOWN has power 20 contract dtots
fer any ono year IN a larger sum than
The amount OF taxes assessor ior SUSh
year without having been authorized ny
a majority of the voters OF the township
and no town shall assess FOR township
rttrr.,se more than In mills on he dollar
a. taxable properly for any one year.
rsosr3s of Supervisors OF townships ara
authorized 10 issue bonds tn such
amounts and at sUcb periods as they may
he directed by tWo-iAIFas OF al tie tesaA
voters n~esent and voting al any town
.-,s.,frr sch bonds 20 be- payable IN
s,,-h amounts ana az such times not *
.aaflfns- ten years from date, as NO