Page:1887 Compiled Laws of Dakota Territory.pdf/175

§§ 580-586 and may adjourn from time to time; and the county clerk shall have power to call special sessions when the interest of the county demands it, upon giving five days' notice of the time and object of calling the commissioners together, by posting up notices in three public places in the county or by publication in one newspaper in the county; provided, that in case of a vacancy in the office of the register of deeds, the chairman of the board shall have power to call a special session for the purpose of filling the same.

§ 580. At the first meeting of the county commissioners in each and every year they shall elect one of their number chairman, who shall act as chairman of the board of said commissioners during the year in which he is elected, or until his successor is elected, and in case of a vacancy from any cause whatever the board of county commissioners shall elect another chairman.

§ 581. It shall be the duty of the chairman of the board of county commissioners to preside at the meetings of said board; and all orders made by the board of county commissioners, and all warrants drawn on the county treasurer, shall be signed by the chairman and attested by the county clerk.

§ 582. When the board of county commissioners are equally divided on any question they shall defer a decision until the next meeting of the board, and then the matter shall be decided by a majority of the board.

§ 583. Copies of the proceedings of the board of county commissioners, duly certified and attested by the county clerk under seal shall be received as evidence in all courts of this territory.

§ 584. The board of county commissioners shall have the power to preserve order when sitting as a board, and may punish contempts by fines not exceeding five dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding twenty-four hours; they may enforce obedience to all orders made by attachment or other compulsory process, and when fines are assessed by them the same may be collected before any justice of the peace having jurisdiction, and shall be paid over as other fines within ten days after they are collected.

§ 585. The said commissioners shall keep a distinct account with the treasurer of the county, in a book to be provided for that purpose, commencing from the day on which the treasurer became qualified and continuing until the same or another person is qualified as treasurer, in which account they shall charge the treasurer with all sums paid him and for all sums for which the said treasurer is accountable to the county, and they shall credit him with all warrants returned and canceled, with all moneys paid and with all vouchers presented by him and with all matters with which the treasurer is to be credited on account; and the said board shall in their settlement with the treasurer keep the general, special and road tax separate, that any citizen of the county may see how the same is expended.

§ 586. They shall keep a book in which all orders and decisions made by them shall be recorded, except those relating to roads and bridges; and all orders for the allowance of money from the county treasury shall state on what account and to whom the allowance is made, dating the same and numbering them consecutively as allowed from the first day of January to the thirty-first day of December in each year.

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