Chap. 295.—-An ACT to Prescribe the Duties and Fix the Compensation of
Officers in Cities and Towns of over Five Thousand Inhabitants.

Approved July 11, 1870.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That in cities and
towns of over five thousand inhabitants the duties, compensa-
tion and liabilities of clerks of the hustings, circuit, and chan-
cery courts, and commonwealth attorneys shall be the same as
were prescribed by the laws in force, for clerks of circuit and
county or corporation courts, and for commonwealth attorneys,
when the constitution was adopted, so far as consistent with
this act and the constitution and the laws of this state.

2. The duties, compensation and liabilities of city sergeant
shall be those conferred by the charter of the cities for which
they are elected, and in addition thereto they shall be charged
with the collection of the state revenue and taxes of the city
or town in the same manner as the collectors of the various
townships within the counties of this commonwealth; and the
shall be clothed with the same rights and power for the col-
lection of the same as are now, or hereafter may be, given by
law to the sheriffs or other officers charged with the collection
of taxes, and subject to like pains and penalties (except that
in the city of Richmond the sheriff of said city shall be charged
with collections of the state revenue in like manner as is herein
required of city sergeants). They shall qualify before the judge
of the husting court of their city or town, either in term time
or vacation, by taking the necessary oaths required by law,
and executing bonds with good security, in a penalty not less
than double the amount of taxes or revenue which may come
into their hands: provided, that the minimum of such bond
shall be five thousand dollars. They shall account for and pay
over to the city treasurer all taxes or other moneys received
by them, proper to be paid to the said treasurer, in the same
manner as is or may hereafter be required of the collector of
townships to account for and pay over to the county treasurer;
and for a failure to do so shall be liable to the same penalties,
forfeitures, fines, or damages as are or may be imposed by law
upon such collectors for neglect of duty. In all cities in which
no provision shall have been made for a collector of city taxes,
under the charter thereof, they shall also be charged with the
collection of the city taxes, under such rules, regulations, lia-
bilities, and compensation, as may be prescribed by said charter;
and if the charter make no provision for the same, then, in the
same manner, subject to like penalties, pains, forfeitures and
damages as are or may be hereafter provided by law for col-
lectors of various townships in the collection of the county
levy or taxes.

8. The duties, compensation and liabilities of city or town
treasurers shall be the same as those defined by the charters
of said cities and towns, and as are or may be hereafter defined
by law for county treasurers, both in relation to the state taxes
or revenues from such city and town, or in relation to the city
taxes. They shall qualify before the judge of the hustings
court of their cities or towns, executing like bonds as are or
may hereafter be required of county treasurers.

4. The duties, compensation and liabilities of commissioners
of the revenue for said cities and towns shall be the same as
now defined by Jaw for commissioners o&the revenue, so. far
as the same may be applicable to said city or town and not in-
consistent with the constitution of this state and the laws
thereof.

5. This act shall be in force from its passage.