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DUTIES OF STATE OFFICERS.

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He is commander-in-chief of all the military and naval forces of the State; has power to convene the Legislature (or Senate only) on extraordinary occasions; communicates by message to the Legislature at every session the condition of the State, and recommends such measures as he deems expedient; transacts all necessary business with the officers of the government, civil and military; expedites all measures resolved upon by the Legislature; takes care that the laws are faithfully executed; and has the power of granting reprieves, commutations and pardons for crime.

What are some of the duties of the Lieutenant Governor?

He is President of the Senate and has the casting vote therein; is a member of the Canal Board; is one of the commissioners of the Land Office; is one of the commissioners of the Canal Fund; is one of the trustees of the Capitol; is one of the trustees of the Idiot Asylum; and, ex-officio, one of the Regents of the University, and member of the State Board of Charities. If the Governor dies, resigns, is impeached, or otherwise becomes unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, they devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor for the residue of the term.

What are some of the duties of the Secretary of State?

He is the keeper of the record books and papers belonging to the State; receives and records all pardons, and other executive and legislative acts, election returns, etc.; furnishes certified and printed copies to the United States, State and County officers, and other persons authorized to receive the same; supervises the printing of the laws passed each year; reports annually to the Leg

islature statistics of pauperism and crime, and other information called for. He is a member of the Canal Board, a commissioner of the Land Office, a member of the Board of State Canvassers and of the Board of State Charities, a Regent of the University, a trustee of the Capitol, of the State Hall, and of the Idiot Asylum. What are some of the duties of the Comptroller?

He superintends and manages the fiscal concerns of the State; reports to the Legislature its annual revenues, expenditures and estimates; audits, examines and settles accounts due to or from the State; directs and superintends the collection of taxes and other moneys; draws warrants on the Treasurer for the payment of debts due by the State; negotiates temporary loans, if necessary to meet the demands against the State; countersigns and registers all Treasurer's checks and receipts. He is a member of the Canal Board, a commissioner of the Land Office and of the Canal Fund, a member of the Board of State Canvassers, a trustee of the Capitol, the State Hall and the Idiot Asylum, and a member of the State Board of Charities.

What are some of the duties of the Treasurer?

He has charge of all the moneys paid into the State Treasury; pays drafts upon the warrants of the Comptroller, the Auditor of the Canal Department and the Superintendent of the Bank Department; and keeps the State's Bank account. He is commissioner of the Land Office, and of the Canal Fund, a member of the Canal Board, and of the Board of State Canvassers.

What are some of the duties of the Attorney General?

He defends and prosecutes all suits in which the State

DUTIES OF STATE OFFICERS

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is interested; receives costs adjudged to the State; prepares drafts of contracts, etc., for State officers, and prosecutes in their behalf persons violating the laws in regard to their departments; prosecutes criminals in the Oyer and Terminer Court when required by the Governor or Justices of the Supreme Court. He is commissioner of the Land Office and of the Canal Fund, a member of the Canal Board, the Board of State Canvassers, the Board of State Charities, and a trustee of the Capitol and State Hall.

What are some of the duties of the State Engineer and Surveyor?

He prescribes the duties of and assigns divisions of canals to, engineers; visits and inspects canals; prescribes surveys, maps, plans, estimates, etc., in the construction and improvement of a canal; is a member of the Canal Board, of the State Canvassers, a commissioner of the Land Office, and a trustee of the State Hall. What are some of the duties of the Superintendent of Banking? He has the general supervision of the banks of the State, and reports their condition annually to the Legislature; issues circulating notes to banks on their depositing securities, holding their stocks and mortgage securities, and when a bank proves insolvent sells them and redeems its circulation.

What are some of the duties of the Superintendent of Insurance? He has the general supervision of all insurance companies transacting business in the State, and reports their condition annually to the Legislature.

What are some of the duties of the Board of Claims?

Two of the three members must be practising attorneys and counselors in the Supreme Court. They have

jurisdiction to hear, audit, and determine all private claims against the State; and also the claims of the State against any person making a claim against the State; and make an award thereof.

What are some of the duties of the Superintendent of Prisons? He has general supervision of the prisons; appoints the keepers and other officers therein.

What are some of the duties of the Superintendent of Public Works?

He has charge of the Public Works, of the construction of new canals, etc.; reports annually to the Legislature.

What are some of the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction?

He has general superintendence of the public schools; inquires into their management; advises and directs in regard to their course of instruction and discipline. He apportions and distributes the public moneys; examines the supplementary apportionment made to all the districts by the school commissioners, and sees that to each district is set apart its proportionate share, and that the same is expended by the trustees and paid by the supervisor according to law. He decides all appeals involving school controversies that are brought before him; has the general management of teachers' institutes; makes appointments of State pupils to the institutions for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, and the blind, upon the certificate of the proper local authorities, and he visits and inquires into the condition and management of these institutions; is chairman of the committee of the State Normal Schools, and appor

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

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tions among the counties the number of pupils to which each is entitled; has charge of the Indian schools; is, ex-officio, a Regent of the University; compiles the commissioners' abstracts of school districts in the State, setting forth their condition and the account of receipts and expenses for each year; and makes an annual report to the Legislature.

Of what officers is the Canal Board composed?

The Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, State Engineer and Surveyor, and Canal Superintendent.

What is the Railroad Commission?

I. The Governor and Senate appoint three persons who are called Commissioners. One is selected from each of the two political parties having the highest number of votes at the election in 1882. The other, upon a recommendation of a majority of the following named: "Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York"; "The New York Board of Trade and Transportation"; "The National Anti-Monopoly League of New York."

They hold their offices for 5 years.

II. Their principal office is in Albany, and they meet there at least once each month during the year.

III. They have general supervision over all the railroads; investigate the cause of any accident resulting in loss of life; examine books, suggest changes in regard to management, rates, transportation of freight, etc. If their suggestions are not complied with, they report the same to the Attorney General, and also to the Legislature.

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