Our Government, National, State, Local (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ...Court papers. He administers oaths to witnesses in trial cases, to jurors, and to other people. In certain cases he takes bail. At jury trials he draws twenty names out of the jury box for each case as the case is tried. Then each side of the case alternately, beginning with the plaintiff, takes off four names. Judgments and municipal mechanics' liens are recorded in his office. He keeps records of all persons who are naturalized, and advertises liquor license applications. All election returns--National, State, County, and City--are kept in his office; he sends copies of the election records of National, State, and County elections to the Secretary of the Commonwealth; the Governor then commissions the officials duly elected. The Prothonotary is paid by fees fixed by law; if these aggregate more than $2,000 a year, he must pay one-half the excess into the County Treasury. The Register of Wills.--One Register of Wills is elected in-each county directly by the voters for a term of four years. He may be his own successor in office. He is paid by fees. He keeps and records the wills of decedents. Wills must be contested before The Register; he may hear and decide a case, but it may be appealed to the Orphans' Court. After probate, a copy of the will is given to the executor named therein. Where a person leaving an estate dies without having made a will, The Register grants letters of administration to a person or to persons who settle the affairs of the estate. The Register also collects the collateral inheritance tax and pays the same to the State. In a number of counties the office of Register is joined to the office of Recorder. In many cases the Register is also Clerk of the Orphans' Court. The Clerk of the Orphans' Court records births, ...