The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-06

There Is no department of American
government which a been more
sadly and thoroughly neglected than
that of the county. This is nowhere
truer than in Virginia. Ever since
the establishment of the American
government it has practically re-
NAMED the same. IT is true that on
"a few occasions changes have peeh
introduced and a few reforms nave
been made, but in most essentials the
county remains as by those
who first established themselves on
the shores OF Virginia, Even TO-DAY
it does not seem to feel h erect OF
the many momentous and progressive
changes which governments every
where are undergoing to meet the
new needs of society,
This neglect cannot be attributed to
any lack OF Importance Of the county
as a unit of local government. Every
state in tho Union is composed or
counties. there being more than 5000
in the entire forty-eight states. Vr'
ginja contains 100 counties.
In area and population the counties
OF the various states vary greatly.
, More than half Of them have a popu-
lation of 10, 600 to 10000; out In the
North Atlatic States more thar halt
contain a population of more than 50.-
600. 1t is true that in Virginia some
of the counties contain less than TO-
900 population but this only serves to
give greater importance TO the county
as a governmental unit.
Nine-tenths of the counties in the
state are distinctively rural in charac-
ter. and more thar one-half of the
people OF Virginia are directly subject
to county government. This means
that fka Hyng and fortunes of np3Tly
q million and a half Nirginians are
directly subject to the administration
of order and Justice by the 100 coun-
ties of the state in respect to their local
affairs. g
Not only Is the county an important
unit for the things that are entirely
local in nature. but it Is also a very
important governmental unit for the
execution of the laws of the state. In
this sense II is the agent of the state,
and upon its officers Is imposed the
duty OF carving out some of the most
important state laws.
Why the County Exists.
The functions of counties vary a
great deal, but in Virginia they have
the following general functions;
Everywhere and above all the
county is a district for the admins
tration Of justice. Courts OF general,
CINit, ana CTl1nltaI JuTlSdIttlou arr
held at frequent intervals in each
county,. Although the presiding Judges
are selected by the state legislature,
the administrative officers of the
court clerical and e~xecutive) are
regularly elected county officers, In
connection with the administration OF
justice. courthouses and jaiis are pro-
videl for. and maintained by. the
county. In Virginia. too. the county
is somewhat Of a police and militia
district. 1t is also the district for
probate administration and the pub
lie record of land titles.
Tho county has the important func-
ton to provide for, and maintain,
Dad and bridges. It In the unit for
the administration of poor relief.
Their, is also a county superintendent
OF schools who has general supervi-
sion Of the schools; thus it IL the
primary unit for school administra
ton in the state.
The county Is a district OF consid-
cradle importance in finance admins
tration. 1t ievies taxes for its own
collects these taxes acts as
the agent for the collection OF state
revenue, aud makes the assessment OF
taxes on property within the county
which is not comprised within the
c%orporate limits of a city or town.
The county is an important unit for
election urposes being the unit OF
representation in the house OF dele
gates. II chooses election officers,
and acts as a unit for canva ssing the
returns of state elections. The sig
niicance OF the county as an cleo
ton district is indicated by the inn
pcrtsnce of the county committee, In
the party organization Of the state,
and by the centering of campaign &C
tivity within the district.
Finally the county boards are given
authority by the state to enact police
regulations in certain classes of cases,
though II is true that these are ne
ccssarily limited,
Putting the Test.
From the brief enumeration OF the
activities OF county governments 1t
! ~ evident that. as far az the number