5 county at any place other than such infirmary, except in case of 6 emergency or necessity, and then only as long as the emergency 7 or necessity may require, unless in the opinion of the court 7-a the interests of the county and of the individual or family to be 7-b assisted will be better subserved by tendering such assistance else7-c where than at said infirmary. His need of medical, institutional or 8 surgical attention or hospital or other service which cannot be 9 obtained at such infirmary shall in the discretion of the county 10 court be deemed to constitute such necessity. All poor persons 11 kept at the place of general reception who are able to work, 12 shall be required to perform such reasonable and moderate labor 13 as may be suited to their sex, age, and bodily strength; and the 14 proceeds of such work shall be appropriated to the support of the 15 poor of the county in such manner as the court may from time 16 to time direct, and in those cases where poor persons are sup17 ported in whole or in part by the county outside of the poor 18 houses, by allowing annually a certain sum for the support of 19 each person. It shall be the duty of the overscer of the poor, 20 in case of the sickness of any such poor person, to visit him or 21 cause him to be visited by some reliable person, and if it is found 22 that such sick person is suffering for aid or medical or surgical 23 attention or hospital service, such overseers shall furnish the neces24 sary aid and cause the necessary medical or surgical attention 25 or hospital service to be given to such poor person, notwith26 standing the sum allowed for the support of such person may 27 previously have been exhausted; but the additional aid, attention 28 and service so furnished through such overseer shall not exceed 29 fifty per cent. of the amount already allowed as aforesaid. Sec. 21. The county court shall cause the county infirmary to 2 be visited at least once a month by one or more of their number, 3 or by one or more of the overseers of the poor, who shall care4 fully examine the condition of the inmates, the manner in which 5 they are treated and provided for, ascertain what labor they are 6 required to perform, inspect the books and accounts of the agent, 7 and generally inquire into all matters pertaining to the infirmary 8 and report to the said court. The county court shall have full 9 power to cause like examinations and inquiries to be made with 10 reference to all poor persons who are receiving any hospital ser11 vice or similar attention at the expense of the county funds. Sec. 24. Annually at the session of the county court at which 2 the county levy is laid, and more frequently, if required, every 3 agent or overseer shall render to the court a correct account of 4 his transactions, with proper vouchers, and pay according to its 5 order such balance as may be in his hands. Any agent or over6 seer failing to do so shall forfeit not less than thirty nor more 7 than one hundred dollars. Every hospital or similar institution 8 which has received or has applied for any payment out of county 9 funds for service and attention rendered to any poor person, shall, 10 when required by the county court, submit for its inspection such 11 statements of account as will correctly and completely show the 12 nature, extent and value of the service and attention rendered 13 by it to every such person within the current period. Sec. 26-a. In addition to all other powers and duties respect2 ing the care of the poor, the county court of each county may in 3 its discretion pay for hospital service rendered not more than one 4 year previously, within the state of West Virginia, to poor per5 sons resident or found in the county, and for medical, surgical 6 or institutional attention given to such persons within this state. 7 But no such payment shall be made to any hospital or other in8 stitution which shall fail to permit all such examinations or to 9 answer all such inquiries as are authorized by the twenty-first sec10 tion, or which shall fail to render on request such statements of 11 account as are required by the twenty-fourth section. Sec. 27. The county court of every county shall, at the ses2 sion thereof at which the county levy is laid in each year, make 3 up and enter of record a statement of the number of the poor 4 provided for during the year next preceding, and showing how 5 many were white and how many colored; how many were males 6 and how many females; for what length of time, and where each 7 was provided for or assisted, and the nature of such provision or 8 assistance in each case; the name of each person so provided for or 9 assisted; the amount of money at their disposal for the support 10 of the poor for such year, showing how much from the annual 11 levy, and how much otherwise; the amount expended by them for 12 the year, showing how much was expended at the place of general 13 reception, and how much for those supported or assisted else14 where; the balance remaining in their hands or under the con15 trol of the county court; what amount in addition will be re 16 quired to pay arrears for the past and meet expenditures for the 17 ensuing year, and what will be the nature of the said expenditures. 18 It shall show whether any, and if any, which of the poor under 19 its charge were kept at work at the place of general reception, for 20 what length of time and in what manner, whether in the work 21 house, or in tilling the land or otherwise. The said statement, 22 and all other proceedings of the county court in relation to the 23 poor, shall be kept in a separate book, to be provided by it for 24 that special purpose. And the amount expended by said court, 25 or under its direction in each year, with the items thereof, shall 26 be published as a part of its financial statement, under section 27 thirty-five of chapter thirty-nine of this code. Sec. 28. Upon the completion of said statement the county 2 court of the county shall provide in the county levy for such 3 amount as it may deem necessary for the support of the poor for 4 the ensuing year, including the payment of arrears; and from 5 time to time thereafter shall appropriate out of the county treasury 6 such sums for that purpose as the said court may deem proper, 7 and cause proper orders therefor to be issued on the county treasury. 8 In such levy the county court may include an amount not ex9 ceeding one mill on each dollar of assessed valuation, to provide 10 for such payments as the county court shall in its discretion make 11 for hospital service or medical or surgical or institutional atten12 tion given to poor persons resident or found in the county. 13 All acts and parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby re14 pealed. CHAPTER 91. (Senate Bill No. 316.) AN ACT to amend and re-enact sections 56-a-LI, 56-a-LII and 56-aLIII of chapter forty-three of the code of West Virginia, edition of one thousand nine hundred and thirteen (being serial sections one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen and one thousand eight hundred and twenty of said code), relating to county road engineers, their appointment and removal. [Passed February 19, 1915. In effect ninety days from passage. Governor February 26, 1915.] SEC. Office of county road engineer tion such appointments entire- SEC. Approved by the Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: That sections 56-a-LI, 56-a-LII and 56-a-LIII of chapter forty-three of the code of West Virginia, edition of one thousand nine hundred and thirteen (being serial sections one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and one thousand eight hundred and twenty of said code), relating to county road engineers, their appointment and removal, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows: Section 56-a-LI. There is hereby created in the several counties 2 of the state of West Virginia, the office of county road engineer. 3 The county court in each of the counties of this state may ap 4 point as county road engineer, some practical road builder or 5 civil engineer, who shall be competent to establish grades and 6 keep the roads and records as provided by law. In the event 7 the county court shall not appoint a county road engineer as 8 herein provided, then it may appoint a competent man as road 9 supervisor for each magisterial district, who shall, under the di10 rection and control of the county court, devote his entire time to 10-a any work in progress in the district for which he is appointed and 11 perform the duties hereinafter defined, and who shall be allowed a 12 reasonable compensation by the court for the time in which he is 13 actually engaged in his official capacity, but not to exceed two dol14 lars and a half per day; but nothing in this act contained shall be 15 so construed as to require or compel the county court of any county 16 to appoint either a county road engineer or road supervisor for 17 each magisterial district; such appointment being left to the dis18 cretion of the county court. 19 Every road supervisor provided for in this act shall, before 20 entering upon the duties of his office, give bond, with security 21 to be approved by the county court of the county, in such sum 22 as may be required by the said court, the same to be made payable 23 to the county court of the county, and be conditioned for the 24 faithful performance of his duties. 25 Each supervisor of roads shall divide his district into con26 venient road precincts, not exceeding ten miles in length, and 27 after two weeks' notice of road letting by publication in some 28 newspaper printed in the county, and by posting printed hand 29 bills at various public places in the district, let the construction 30 and repair of said roads by contract for such time as the county 31 court may direct, to the lowest responsible bidder, taking bond 32 from the contractor in a penalty to be fixed by said supervisor, 33 and with condition for the faithful performance of the duties 34 of said contractor, which duties shall be specified in the contract, 35 all of which shall be promptly reported to the county court 36 and approved by it before the same shall become effective. Each 37 road supervisor shall furnish to any person desiring to bid on any 38 road contract specifications of the work required to be done. 39 Said road supervisor shall make such reports and perform 40 such duties from time to time as said court may require; and es41 pecially he shall report to the county court on or before the 42 fifteenth day of May of each year the condition of the roads in his 43 district, the improvements proposed, and an estimate of the funds 44 required for the coming fiscal year, and any other matters deemed 45 by him pertinent; and, in addition thereto, he shall within his 46 magisterial district perform the following duties: he shall su47 perintend the county roads and bridges, cause the same to be put 48 in good order and repair, of the proper width, well drained, and 49 to be kept clear of rocks, falling timber, landslides, carcasses of 50 dead animals, and other obstructions, and remove all dead timber 51 standing within thirty feet thereof. He shall cause to be opened 52 and made all new county roads and alterations of former roads 53 by proper authority. He shall cause to be placed and kept at 54 the forks or crossings of every county road a guide board, on 55 which shall be stated in plain letters the most noted place to 56 which each road leads. Across every stream, where it is neces57 sary and practicable, he shall cause to be placed and kept a suf |