not exceed one hundred dollars. They cannot act at all in a case where the title of land comes in question. They may try any person for a misdemeanor (i. e., an offence not punishable by death or by confinement and hard labor in the penitentiary) in all cases in which the fine cannot exceed five hundred dollars and the imprisonment cannot exceed one year. They may perform the marriage ceremony. They keep a detailed record of all their proceedings in a book called a docket. For all services they are paid certain fees, determined by law.

In all civil cases tried in a Justice's court, either party may demand a jury. This is composed of six men, un less the parties agree on a smaller number.*

28. Conclusion.—The duties of township officers are not very burdensome; but they call for integrity, tact, and shrewd common sense. It is not easy to understand why partisanship should have any weight whatever in the choice of these public servants. The best conduct of public affairs is all that is sought, and good citizens should be content with nothing short of this.

29. It is not difficult to see that with the district and township governments alone, very much could be accomplished. With good schools, good roads, efficient peace officers, and courts in which could be tried by far the greater number of disputes and misunderstandings, the community could thrive and dwell in almost unbroken peace. Within these limits men feel the direct results of the machinery of government which they set in motion. Beyond these, the impression is but slight; decreasing in intensity through the county and the

*See chapter on the Judiciary.

State; and for the great mass of men almost entirely dying out before the General Government is reached.

30. To these home matters, therefore, should be given most careful thought, and most prompt, efficient, and independent action.

THE COUNTY.

31. Prelude.—The first Territorial Legislature, in 1855, established twenty counties; that is, defined their boundaries. To these, twelve more were added before the admission of the Territory as a State. Others have been established at different sessions of the State Legislature; and some old counties have been divided, the early name has been dropped, and new names have been given to the reorganized portions. By a special statute, boundaries may be changed by a majority vote of the electors of the counties interested; but no county shall have an area of less than four hundred and thirty-two square miles.

* A striking illustration of this is to be found in a comparison of officials, as follows:

Officers in School Districts number about.

. 20,000

8,000

1,000

700

65

Again, the tax levied for the payment of all the expenses of the State government, including the support of all State institutions, is only about one-eighth of the entire amount of taxes levied and collected in Kansas each year.

†The number in 1885 was eighty-two.

32. Organization.—Whenever two hundred and fifty householders, who are legal electors of the State and who reside in an unorganized county, shall petition the Gov. ernor, showing that there are at least fifteen hundred inhabitants in the county, and asking that the county be organized, the Governor must appoint some competent citizen of the county to take a census of the inhabitants If these are found to be at least fifteen hundred in number, the Governor appoints three citizens of the county to act as County Commissioners and one to act as County Clerk. After these officers have qualified, the county is said to be duly organized. Under the direction of these Commissioners the county is divided into townships, and the first election called and held.

33. The county-town, or county-seat-i. e., the place where county offices are located—is determined by a vote of the electors of the county. As in the case of the school district and of the township, each county is a body corporate and politic; that is, is a legal person; and as such can sue and be sued, make contracts, and hold real estate.

34. Elections.—County elections occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each year; but not for the same officers each time. On each "even" year we vote for members of the Legislature (or Representatives), a Probate Judge, a Clerk of the District Court, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, one Com missioner, and a County Attorney. Once in four years, on what is called the presidential year, we add to these a State Senator. On the "odd" years there are elected one Commissioner, a Sheriff, a County Clerk, a Treasurer, a Register of Deeds, a Surveyor, and a Coroner. These elections are announced, or "proclaimed," by the Sheriff

at least ten days before they occur. The voting is done in election districts, which are townships, unless otherwise determined by law, and city wards. All county officers enter upon the discharge of their duties on the second Monday of January next after election; and all except the Commissioners give bonds. Senators and Representatives never give bonds.

35. Officers.-The County Commissioners stand in much the same relation to the county that the Director does to the school district, or the Trustee to the township. They are the representatives of the county, the general agents of the county, the county executive. All county property is in their care; they examine and settle all accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the county; they apportion and order the levy of taxes; they lay out, alter, or discontinue roads; they set off and organize townships, and change their boundaries; they canvass the votes for the respective township officers, and announce the results of such elections; they canvass the votes for State, county, and district officers, for members of the State Legislature, for members of Congress, and for Presidential electors, and determine the results; and they have powers necessary to meet the requirements of county business in all cases where no other provision is made by law. Their term of office is for three years, and is so arranged that one Commissioner is elected each year. This always leaves two of the Board-a majority-who have some acquaintance with county business; a very wise provision. Their compensation is by the day, for actual service required and rendered; the total number of days being limited by statute in proportion to the population of the county;

this being thought the most practicable way of estimating the probable business of the county.

36. The County Clerk is the Secretary of the Board of County Commissioners, and keeps all their records and papers, and the seal of the county. He also keeps a full set of accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the county, and of the business of his county with all county, township, district, and other officers. These are especially designed as a check on the Treasurer's accounts, and a test of their accuracy. This includes, of course, the complete tax-rolls, and all the proceedings connected with the levy and collection of taxes. makes a complete and detailed report to the State Auditor, every year, of the financial condition of the county. In return for his services he receives a salary, varying according to the population of the county.

He

37. The County Treasurer simply watches the money of the county. Everything due the county is paid to him, and all expenditures pass through his hand. He is the collector of all taxes; and therefore must open accounts with all cities, townships, and school districts in his county. He makes full reports to and settlements with the County Commissioners once in each year; and once each quarter the Probate Judge and two citizens appointed by the Commissioners, enter the office, without previous notice, and examine the books and count the funds in the Treasurer's hands.

38. The Register of Deeds has care of the various records affecting title to land. All deeds, mortgages, maps of towns or villages, and other writings which, under the law, may become a charge on any land, or may assist in determining the ownership of land, are