acting secre SECT. 3. The secretary, and also the acting secretary appointed CHAP. 7. as aforesaid, shall give bond to the state of Maine, in such sum as Bonds required the governor and council shall direct; with good and sufficient of secretary and sureties, with condition, that he will faithfully appropriate, according tary. to law, all moneys belonging to the state, which may come to his 1830, 480. hands by appropriation, and render, annually, a true account thereof to the governor and council. appointments commissions. SECT. 4. When any person shall be appointed to any office, Secretary to upon which a duty is or may be required, it shall be the duty of the give notice of secretary of the state to notify such person of the appointment; and and deliver on his producing from the proper officer a receipt for the amount of the duty, a commission shall be immediately made out under the direction of the governor, and delivered to him, or to any other person by him authorized to receive it. 1825, 236, § 1. paid on com SECT. 5. On the first day of January annually, the secretary Annual certifiof state shall certify to the treasurer of the state, the amount paid cate of duties to the several treasurers of counties, for duties on commissions, by missions. him delivered, the year preceding. 1825, 286, § 2. SECT. 6. It shall be his duty to distribute the laws, when pub- Distribution of lished, to such corporations, officers and other persons, as the legis- the laws. lature may direct. commissions for the gover nor's signature. SECT. 7. It shall be the duty of the secretary, and acting To prepare secretary, in person, or by his deputy, to make out and present to the governor and council, under the seal of the state, a commission for every person, who shall be appointed or elected to any office, which, by the constitution or laws, requires a commission, in order that the same may receive the signature of the governor. commissions filed. SECT. 8. It shall be the duty of the secretary of state to enter Registry of in a book kept by him for that purpose, the time when, and by delivered and whom, every commission is taken from his office, and also the time certificates of when any certificate of qualification for any office as aforesaid shall qualification be filed, or left at his office to be filed, and certify, by himself or his deputy, the truth of such entries, when thereto required. SECT. 9. All bills, passed by both branches of the legislature Bills to be ento be engrossed, shall be engrossed under the special direction of his direction. the secretary of the state, for the use of the legislature, and their further action thereon. grossed under when a commis SECT. 10. Whenever a commissioner of the treasury is appointed, What proceedpursuant to the provisions in the sixth section of chapter eight, the ings to be had secretary of state and the attorney general, or two impartial citi- sioner of the zens, to be appointed by warrant under the hand and seal of the treasury is appointed. governor, as soon as practicable, after either of the events in said 1820, 165, § 3. sixth section shall happen, having given notice to the sureties, or any two of them, or the late treasurer, or the treasurer to be superseded, shall take a true account and inventory of all moneys, notes, books of account and other property, belonging to the state, which were in the hands of such treasurer, or of any of his agents, and deliver the same to such person as is appointed to discharge the duties of treasurer, he giving a receipt therefor, which shall be lodged in the secretary's office. SECT. 11. It shall be the duty of the secretary, when directed, Blank election to furnish the several cities, towns and plantations in the state, with returns to be furnished to towns. 1833, 81. CHAP. 7. blank forms for election returns, when not taken and receipted for by the members of the legislature, or by some other person, by the written request of one or more of the officers of the said cities, towns or plantations, by seasonably delivering such blanks in packages, directed to such cities, towns and plantations, to the sheriffs of the several counties, to which such cities, towns and plantations, respectively belong: and such sheriffs shall forthwith deliver the same to the selectmen, assessors, or the clerks of such respective corporations, taking a receipt for the same and if such secretary or any sheriff shall neglect his duty, in violation of this section, he shall forfeit and pay a penalty of one hundred dollars, Office at the seat of government. Amount of his bond, $150,000. 1820, 165, § 1. Condition thereof. CHAPTER 8. OF THE TREASURER OF THE STATE. SECT. 1. Office at the seat of government. 2. Amount of his bond, $150,000. 3. Condition thereof. 4. Bond to be left with secretary. SECT. 8. Warrants for assessing taxes to be transmitted to assessors. 9. Warrants for delinquencies. 11. Also of delinquent officers. SECTION 1. The treasurer of the state shall keep his office at the seat of government. SECT. 2. He shall give the bond, which is required by the constitution, in the penal sum of not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to the state of Maine, with good and sufficient sureties residing in the state. SECT. 3. The condition of the bond shall be for the faithful discharge and performance of all the duties of his office, and for 1820, 165, § 1. the fidelity of all persons by him employed, and entrusted with any of the concerns of such office, and that during his continuance in office, he will not engage in trade or commerce, or as a broker, agent, or factor, for any merchant or trader; and that he, or his executors, administrators, or sureties, or their executors or administrators, shall render a just and true account of all his agents' and servants' doings and transactions in the office to the legislature, or such committee as they shall appoint, on the first Wednesday of January, annually, and previous to the choice of a new treasurer, and at any other time, when required by the legislature, or the governor and council; and that he will settle and adjust said account, and faithfully deliver over to his successor in office, or to such person as the legislature shall appoint, all moneys, books, property, and appertenances of the said office, in his, or any of his agents' possession, and pay over all such balances found due, on such adjustment. SECT. 4. Such bond, when approved as the constitution prescribes, shall be lodged in the secretary's office. CHAP. 8. Bond to be left with secretary. 1820, 165, § 1. sureties in cer SECT. 5. Upon the complaint of any surety for the treasurer of the state, as aforesaid, to the governor and council, that such officer Treasurer may is insane, or manifestly insolvent, or has absconded, or concealed be removed on himself to avoid his creditors, or is absent from the state or the complaint of duties of his office, to the imminent hazard of the state, in respect tain cases. to the trust reposed in such officer; and the truth of the facts stated 1820, 165, § 2. in such complaint appearing, on examination, to the governor and council, it shall be their duty to discontinue such treasurer, and declare his office vacant. vacancy. SECT. 6. In case of a vacancy in the office of treasurer, by Acting treasurdeath, resignation, or otherwise, or in case said treasurer shall be- er, in case of come manifestly insolvent, in the recess of the legislature, the gov- 1820, 165, § 2. ernor, with consent of the council, shall appoint some person a commissioner, to perform the duties of the office during the residue of the term, for which he was chosen, unless the legislature should be sooner in session; and the person so appointed shall, before entering on the duties of his office, take and subscribe the oaths, and give bond with the same conditions, to the acceptance of the governor and council, as are required of the treasurer, by the legisla ture. debts due the SECT. 7. The treasurer, on the first Wednesday of January Annual stateannually, shall lay before the governor and council, for their inspec- ment of certain tion, a statement of the amount of all warrants in favor of the state, state, and of and of any other sums of money, or balances due from the several names of suresheriffs in the state, and shall certify the names of the sureties in bonds. their respective bonds. SECT. 8. He shall also send such warrants as he shall be ordered to issue, for assessing any tax, enclosed to the sheriff of each county, to be by him transmitted to the assessors of the towns and plantations within such county. ties on sheriffs' 1821, 91, § 4. Warrants for assessing taxes to be transmitted to assessors. 1821, 116, § 4. Annual report SECT. 9. It shall also be his duty to issue warrants or execu- Warrants for tions against delinquent towns and plantations, assessors, constables delinquencies. and collectors, to enforce the collection and payment of state taxes, in the several cases particularly prescribed in the fourteenth chapter. SECT. 10. He shall also, annually, on the first Monday after the meeting of the legislature, lay before the two houses thereof, a of receipts and printed, detailed account of the state of the treasury; distinguish- 1522, 188, § 2. ing, in the receipts and expenditures, those sums which were due at the close of the preceding year, from those, which have become due during the current year, and what sums are due to and from the treasury, and the resources of the state for the ensuing year. SECT. 11. He shall also report the names of any officers, who Also of delinhave not settled their accounts, as by law required, and those who quent officers. 1822, 188, § 2. are delinquent, and have not paid over the money in their hands, belonging to the state, and the amount due from such officers. SECT. 12. Whenever the account of any county treasurer is made to the treasurer of the state, it shall be his duty to enter the same in a book kept for that purpose, and the balance of each account, when the same is settled; which book shall be open for the inspection of all persons interested. Of county treasurers' accounts. 1825, 303, § 3. CHAP. 9. Tenure of offi ces, when not the constitu tion. CHAPTER 9. OF THE TENURE OF OFFICES. SECT. 1. Tenure of offices, when not pro- | SECT. 2. Certain officers excepted. SECTION 1. All civil officers, who shall be appointed by the provided for by governor and council, whose tenure of office is not otherwise provided for, or limited by the constitution, otherwise than during the pleasure of the governor and council, shall hold and exercise their respective offices for the term of four years and no longer, unless reappointed; subject, however, to removal at any time, within said term, at the discretion of the governor and council. Certain officers SECT. 2. But the preceding section shall not be construed to extend to ministers of the gospel, who are, and may be, appointed to solemnize marriages; or to such persons as are or may be commissioned by the governor, before whom certain judicial, executive and civil officers are required by law to take and subscribe the oaths or affirmations, required by the constitution. 1821, 104, § 1. CHAPTER 10. OF QUALIFICATION OF OFFICERS. The justices of the supreme judicial court, the attorney general, secretary, treasurer, adjutant general and quarter master general, shall take and subscribe the oath or affirmation required by the constitution, before the governor and council, when in session, and, in their recess, before any two members of the council; and every other person elected, or appointed, or commissioned, to any judicial, executive, or civil office, shall take and subscribe the same before any one member of the council, or before any one of the magistrates commissioned by the governor for that purpose, excepting in cases where the constitution has otherwise provided. CHAPTER 11. OF REGISTERS OF DEEDS. SECT. 1. Present registers to continue. SECT. 6. Further proceedings, when no SECT. 11. In certain cases, clerk may ap- SECT. 15. Removal in case of misconduct or CHAP. 11. point a substitute. 12. Substitute to be sworn. Clerk to be responsible. 13. How vacancies may be filled. 14. County commissioners to examine returns. incapacity. 16. Quality of paper for records. 18. Of recording attachments. SECTION 1. All registers of deeds, now in office, shall continue Present registherein during the residue of the term, for which they were respec- ters to continue. tively elected, unless sooner vacated by death, resignation or other wise. SECT. 2. In each county in the state, and in each registry district, described in the seventh, eighth, and ninth sections of this chapter, there shall be chosen by ballot, by such persons as are qualified to vote for representatives at town and plantation meetings, on the second Monday of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one, and every five years thence following, some person to be register of deeds. Mode of choice by counties, or districts. 1821, 98, § 1. SECT. 3. The meetings for the election of register of deeds shall Same subject. be notified, held and regulated, and the votes received, sorted, coun- 1821, 93, § 1. ted, declared and recorded, in the same manner as votes for representatives, and fair copies of the lists of votes shall be attested by the selectmen and clerks of towns, and assessors and clerks of plantations, and sealed up in open town or plantation meeting; and the town and plantation clerks, respectively, shall cause the same to be delivered into the office of the clerk of the county commissioners, on or before the first day of the meeting of said commissioners next after the said month of September, to be by them opened and compared with the like returns from the several towns and plantations in such county, or registry district; and the person, having a majority of the votes, shall be declared register of deeds for said county or registry district, and shall hold his office for the term of five years, and until Term of office. another shall be chosen and duly qualified. SECT. 4. Said register shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of Oath and bond. the duties of his office, and give bond, with sufficient sureties, to the 1821, 98, § 1. treasurer of the county, in the sum of two thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of the trust. SECT. 5. When the register of deeds shall be treasurer of the county, such bond shall be given to the clerk of the county commissioners, for the use of the county. a Bond when county treasur er is register. 1821, 98, § 1. no choice is SECT. 6. When, in any county, there shall be no choice of Further proregister of deeds, the county commissioners shall issue their warrants ceedings, when to the selectmen of the towns, and assessors of the plantations, in made. such county, to call meetings of the qualified voters, to vote for a 1821, 98, § 2. register of deeds, and the votes shall be received, sorted, counted and certified, and the same proceedings be had, as mentioned in the third section of this chapter. coln Western dis county. 1826, 336, § 1, 2. SECT. 7. All the towns in the county of Lincoln, lying west of Kennebec river, shall continue to compose and constitute a district trict in Lincoln for the registry of deeds, and be called the western district of Linn county, and the register shall keep his office at Topsham. SECT. 8. The towns of St. George, Thomaston, Cushing, Friend- Eastern district ship, Warren, Union and Washington, in said county of Lincoln, county. in the same 1836, 220, 1, 2. |