Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/381



The Public Archives Commission was organized at the Boston meeting of the American Historical Association, in December, 1899. The project had been before the association for several years, but the way had not been clear for starting upon it. The commission proposed to undertake a systematic examination of the contents and condition of the various classes of American public records national, state, and local, with a view to the ultimate publication of such a guide to them as will make them available for students.

To facilitate the work of the commission an adjunct member was appointed in each state, who is the immediate representative of the commission in that state, and primarily responsible for such lines of investigation as may be undertaken in his rield. The work is without compensation, a labor of love for all.

Duties of Secretary of State—

The Secretary of State shall keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislative assembly and executive department of the state and shall, when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before either branch of the legislative assembly.

Duties of Secretary of State—

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State,—

1. To keep a record of the official acts of the executive department of the state; and he shall, when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before each branch of the legislature;

3. He shall be charged with the safe-keeping of all enrolled laws and resolutions, and shall not permit the same or any of them to be taken out of his office or inspected, except in his presence, unless by order of the Governor, or by resolution of one or both houses of the