It is the duty of a govern

§13. Overseers of the poor. ment to provide for the support of persons who, through misfortune, have been reduced to a state of poverty, and who are unable to support themselves. Such provision has been made in this country, and to such extent, that no person is compelled to beg for the means of support; and consequently the people of this country are but little troubled, and seldom imposed upon, by vicious persons who go about begging from the honest and industrious citizens.

§ 14. It is the duty of the overseers of the poor, of whom there are two in each town, when applied to for the relief of poor and indigent persons, to provide for their support. Formerly the poor were supported in the towns in which they belonged. But more lately the paupers of the several towns are removed to the poor house, in such counties as have a poor house, where they are supported at the expense of the county.

§ 15. But not every person who is unable to maintain himself is supported at the public expense. If the poor person has a father, the father must support him if he has no father, or if the father is not able, then his children must support him; and if there are no children, or none who are able, then the mother. If neither of such relatives is able, alone, to support the poor person, he may be compelled to pay a part of the expense; or any two or more of them may be made to pay the whole or a part of the expense of maintaining such poor person, according to their ability.

§ 16. When relatives fail to relieve and maintain their poor friends, as required by law, the overseers of the poor apply to the court of general sessions of the county for an order to compel such relief.

for improving roads and bridges? How is it raised? 13 Is any provision made for the poor? 14. What are the duties of the overseers of the poor? 15. Are all poor persons supported by the public? What relatives are bound to support their poor friends? 16. How are they compelled when they refuse?

CHAPTER XVIII.

Town Superintendent of Common Schools; Constables; In spectors of Election.

§ 1. To carry into effect the laws concerning common schools, some officers are necessary in the several towns and counties. The officer who is intrusted with this business in each town, is the town superintendent of common schools, who is to be chosen at the annual town meeting. This officer performs the duties which have, until the present year,(1843,) been performed by three commissioners of common schools, and formerly three, and more lately two, inspectors of com. mon schools.

§ 2. The town superintendent has power to divide the town into a convenient number of school districts, which are to be described and numbered by him, and the description and numbers delivered to the town clerk, to be put on record. As towns have been thus divided into districts, little of this nature is to be done, except occasionally to alter or divide a district, or form a new one; in which case the trustees of a district may apply to the supervisor and town clerk to associate with the superintendent.

§3. The superintendent must give a bond with sureties, in a sum of double the amount of school money received the preceding year by the town, conditioned, that he will faithfully apply all the school money that shall come into his hands. He receives from the county treasurer the school money apportioned to the town, and from the town collector the school money raised in the town; and apportions the money so received, among the districts, in proportion to the number of children in each, over five and under sixteen years.

§ 4. He must also report to the county clerk the number of school districts in the town; the districts which have made their reports to him; the length of time a school has been kept

1. What office has the superintendent of common schools in each town? 2. What are his power and duties in regard to districts?$3 What bond does he execute? What are his duties respecting the school money? 4. What does he report to the county clerk? 5 What are

in each, and what portion of the time by inspected teachers, the number of children taught in each district the preceding year, and the number residing in it between the ages of five and sixteen years; the amount received by the town the preceding year, the amount received by each district, and the manner in which it has been expended.

§ 5. The inspection of teachers also, now devolves upon he town superintendent. Persons wishing to teach a common school apply to the superintendent, who examines them in respect to their learning and ability; and he inquires, or ought to inquire, also as to their moral character; for it is highly necessary that scholars should be instructed in the principles of true morality as well as in other things. If the superintendent thinks a person qualified to teach, he gives to such person a certificate, stating that he believes him to be so qualified. Such certificate has effect for one year only, after which a new certificate is required.

6. The superintendent must also visit the schools at least once a year, to examine into their condition, to give advice to the teachers and trustees, as to the government of the schools and the studies to be pursued in them. If he finds, rn examining any school, or ascertains in any other way, that the teacher is not competent to teach or manage a chool, or is of bad character, he may annul the certificate of such teacher. To annul a certificate is to make or pronounce it void, or of no effect.

§ 7. The inhabitants of each district choose a clerk, whose duty it is to give notice of meetings called by the trustees; to record in a book the proceedings of the district, and to keep all the books and papers belonging to his office; three trustees, who call meetings, make out tax lists, build a school-house, employ teachers, receive and pay out the public money, and transact other business of the district; and a collector, who collects all taxes voted to be raised in the district, and the money for teachers' wages, and pays the same to the trustees.

§ 8. The trustees are required every year, in January,by

his duties as inspector of teachers? $6. What as to visiting schools? As to annulling certificates? 7. What officers are there in each school district? What are the general duties of each? 8. to whom do the trustees report yearly? What do they report? State the number, districts

the 15th, to report to the superintendent the whole time a school has been kept, in the district, during the year; the amount of money received and how it has been expended; the number of children taught and residing in the district, and the names of their parents or other persons with whom they reside. The trustees thus reporting to the town superintendent, and he to the county clerk, and the county clerk to the state superintendent of common schools, the whole number of districts and scholars in the state, and the amount of money paid to teachers, are every year ascertained. [In 1842, the number of districts was 10,893; children between 5 and 16 years, 601,765, not including New York city; scholars taught 598,749, including New York city; amount of the school fund $1,968,290; money received in the towns from all sources, $666,903.]

§ 9. Constables, not less than three, nor more than five, as the electors shall determine, are chosen in each town. The principal duties of a constable are, to serve all processes issued by justices of the peace, in suits at law for collecting debts, and for arresting persons charged with crimes.

§ 10. Inspectors of election. Until the present year, (1843,) the supervisor, town clerk, and assessors, were inspectors of election. By a late act of the legislature, the supervisor, assessors and town-clerk, are required to divide all towns containing more than five hundred electors, into two or more election districts, so that no district shall contain more than five hundred electors; and at the annual town meeting, the electors choose two persons residing in each district as inspectors of election in such district. And immediately after the votes of the town meeting are canvassed, the presiding officers of the meeting appoint a third inspector, to be selected from the two persons in the district who have received the highest number of votes next to the two inspectors elected.

11. The inspectors keep the ballot-boxes, and put into them the ballots handed to them by the voters. They appoint two clerks, each of whom is to keep a poll list, which is a list of the names of all persons voting at the election. By this list it may at any time be known who have voted, so children, &c., in the state. 9. How many constables are generally elected in each town? What are their duties? 10 How are towns divided into election districts? How are inspectors of election chosen? 11. By

that a person may be detected if he should offer to vote a second time; and on counting the ballots, if the number is found to agree with the number of names on the poll list, and if the lists of both clerks agree, it is presumed there is

no mistake in the election.

§ 12. It is the duty of the inspectors to keep order and regularity at the election; and they have power to commit to jail any person for disorderly conduct. It is their duty also to prevent persons from voting who have no right to vote; and if any person is suspected of offering to vote without being qualified, they may require him to make oath as to his qualifications.

§ 13. After the poll is closed, that is, after the voting is ended, the inspectors publicly canvass the votes, and make a statement of the number of votes given for each person voted for; which statement is to be delivered to the supervisor, to be carried to the meeting of the board of county canvasThis board consists of the several supervisors in the county, who meet to ascertain the whole number of votes given in the county, at the election.

sers.

CHAPTER XIX.

Town Sealer; Board of Auditors of Town Accounts; Commis sioners of Excise; Fence Viewers; Strays; Pound Masters.

§ 1. The town sealer is required to keep correct copies of the standard of weights and measures established by the state. Copies of such standard are furnished by the state sealer to each county sealer, at the expense of the county, who furnishes each town sealer with a copy of the different weights and measures, at the expense of the town. The town sealer must compare such copy once in three years, with that in the office of the county sealer.

whom, and why, are poll lists kept? 12. What are the power and duties of inspectors as to keeping order at elections? 13. After the poll is closed." what is done?

1. Whence does the town sealer receive copies of standard weights and measures? 1, 2. What are his duties? What is the penalty for