county, or local government. While writing this paragraph, a uniformed officer of the federal government visited my home; he comes daily. There are over thirty of these officials permanently located upon federal property in my city. My state never sends an officer to my home and owns no property in my city. In the study of these lesser "business units" we should not forget the far-reaching and fundamental powers of the federal government, lest we lend our study to a further development of a kind of bucket-shop statesmanship which looks after the district or the ward before it does after the country or the state. Preliminary Steps. If we were to make a list of the services performed for us by government, we should naturally select those nearest to us, forgetting, perhaps, that the successful performance of these services depends upon the strong central authority represented by federal and state governments. Such a list would probably include our schools and teachers, libraries, roads, bridges, water supply, sewers, firemen, public parks, hospitals, records of our houses and lands, courts for the punishment of law breakers and for the settlement of disputes, insurance companies, banks, post office, money, weights and measures, services of the army, navy, regulation of railroads and steamship companies doing business between the states, and many of the larger matters which, because of their size, do not come directly into our immediate experience, especially when all goes well. Preliminary Steps Classified. If we arrange these services according to the government which immediately performs them, we shall find that the first three are performed by the officers of the school district, who are responsible directly to state officials for the faithful performance of their duties; the next seven, by town, village, or city governments, whose officers are in many instances responsible to state officials; the next two would be performed by the county, although the town, village, and city have courts of their own; the next two would be under state control, except in the case of national banks; the last seven, including the management of national banks, by the federal government alone. Thus it will be seen that government is a series of circles ever widening as we go to the next form, with the individual standing at the center; yet all laws are made by the people directly or by their chosen representatives and for their (our) benefit. Why we have Government. One reason why we have government is that it is to our advantage; probably this is the chief reason. For example, we wish to send a letter to a friend in another state. We write our letter in the quiet of our home, protected by the local government (town, village, or city). When our letter is completed. we seal it in a paper envelope, put a stamp upon it, and place it on our front porch. Government, the mailman, comes along, understands what is wanted, takes the message, guards it in passage, and delivers it to the friend in another state all for two cents. We could not have done it so cheaply or so well; hence government. But notice: What would have been the result if we had forgotten to perform our part toward the government and had not placed a stamp on the letter? Thus we see that we have a duty toward government in return for the help which it renders. Or supposing our home were in flames; we might and probably would try to put them out ourselves, but the firemen would come, attach the fire hose to the hydrant, and quickly extinguish the blaze, saving our home and the homes that so thickly surround ours; so we find it safer and better to have firemen trained to do our work, while we are attending to other duties. Thus we might figure out that many of the things which all people have done and want done can be done better and cheaper by those hired and trained to do them. Then, too, there are some things which it would be very hard for the individual to do alone and some which he could not do. Therefore we have courts and policemen to further protect our property and our lives. For all of this protection it is the duty of the good citizen to pay and to pay liberally, since many of the services required of firemen and policemen are dangerous, frequently resulting in the death of the officer while guarding our lives or property. QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT 1. State how the federal government reaches the individual in his daily life. 2. What is the "fundamental law" of the land? 3. Are state and local officials limited in the exercise of their power by federal law? Explain how. 4. Are there government officials located in your town? If so, explain their duties. 5. In what ways are our transactions, whether it be the purchase of articles of food or clothing or a transfer of property, a recognition of the laws set up by the federal government? 6. By what authority is our money made and its value determined? CHAPTER II THE SCHOOL DISTRICT General Statement. For the convenience of administration, the state has been divided into various districts. Concerning each of these we are to learn in turn, as we study the work of each. The first form of organized government with which we have to do as soon as we are old enough to leave the home is that represented by the school. The school district is a certain territory set apart by law enacted by the state legislature. The number of these districts in the towns of the state in 1915 was 10,498. This, however, is not a fixed number, since the law permits two or more of these country districts to unite, and a united district to break up into its original parts. The law establishing these districts charges those who live within each with the duty of maintaining a school at least thirty-six weeks during the year and of authorizing a property tax for their support. If Officers of the District. The law provides that there shall be one or three trustees, as the voters of the district may determine, a clerk, a collector, and a treasurer. the district is known as a "union free school district," the number of trustees may not be less than three nor more than nine. Every school district officer must be able to read and write and must be a voter of the district. The term of office, where there are several trustees, is for three years. If there is a single trustee, the term is one year. All other officers are elected for a term of one year. Any officer of the school district who refuses to serve shall forfeit the sum of five dollars, to be used for the benefit of the district. Duties of Trustees. The trustee (or trustees) of the school district has charge of all property belonging to the district; calls special meetings of the voters of the district; gives notices of the annual or of adjourned meetings; makes out the tax list, apportioning to each taxable inhabitant his share of the school tax voted by the district; purchases or leases property as the district directs; insures the school building, library, furniture, and apparatus; employs a teacher and determines the salary of such and the length of term to be taught; prescribes the course of study, the rules for governing the school; engages a janitor; attends to the minor repairs; and may expend twenty-five dollars for necessary dictionary, maps, or other apparatus. Duties of the Other Officers. The duties of the district clerk, collector, and treasurer are indicated by their titles. The records are kept and preserved by the clerk in a book provided for the purpose. He gives the required notices for all special and annual meetings, notifies persons of their election to office, etc. The treasurer has charge of all moneys belonging to the district, and pays out the same upon a written order from the trustee or trustees. He must make a detailed report of receipts and expenses at the annual meeting and to the trustees whenever directed. The collector collects the school tax as per list made out by the trustee. He is required to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duties. He turns over to the treasurer all moneys collected. In case the district has no treasurer, the collector performs the duty of the treasurer. Where |