The County: The "Dark Continent" of American Politics

INDEX

Accounting, (uniform) in Ohio, 122;
significance of better, 181, 184-185;
unit cost, 185
Administration, scientific, 181-192
Advertising (political), as a source of patronage, 53;
see also County press
Agricultural associations, importance in rural life, 203
Alabama, origin of county system in, 21;
county officers elective in, 29;
report of prison inspector quoted, 92;
lack of accounting law in, 122;
county local option in, 150
Alameda County, Cal., work of Tax Association in, 7;
home rule charter proposed in, 81-149;
classification as an urban county, 154;
map of, diagram of proposed federation of, 161-162;
savings effected through better purchasing methods in, 189;
recommendations as to purchasing methods in, 190
Almshouse, description of early, 82, 83;
insane in, 87, 137-138;
in Westchester County, 200-201;
a Texas, 266-273;
see South
American Judicature Society, proposals for county judiciary of, 131
American Revolution, influence of its philosophy on local government institutions, 25
Appointive power, lack of, in county, 30
Appointive system, workings of, in eastern states, 30
Appointments, new method employed in Westchester County, N. Y., 201
Arizona, uniform accounting law in, 122
Arkansas, lack of accounting law in, 122
Assessment and taxation, county as a unit of, 125;
state control over, 126
Assessors, functions of, in New Jersey, 27;
elective officers since 1693, 28;
local selection of, 108-109
Auditing, significance of better, 181; 187 et seq.
Auditor, importance of independence of, 188
Automobile, effect on rural life and government, 23

Ballot, insignificance of county officers on, in many cases, 44
Baltimore, abolition of county government in, 153;
classification as an urban county, 154
Board of Chosen Freeholders, powers reduced in Hudson County, N. J., 38
Board of Supervisors, clerks of, in New York, appear before constitutional convention, 3;
function in fiscal administration of, 14;
duty of, in law enforcement, 132-133;
how constituted in ideal county, 171;
text of provisions in Los Angeles County charter concerning, 220-223;
see also Governing body
Boroughs, proposed division of Alameda County, Cal., into, 160
Boston, city-county consolidation in, 158;
metropolitan district compared to London, 164
Boundaries (county), made obsolete by conditions of modern life, 23;
power to change county, 113;
necessity for relocation of, 153
Boyle, Prof. John A., on reporting and accounting laws, 122
Bramhall, F. D, on obscurity of urban counties, 65
Bridges, frauds in building of, 77;
awarding of contracts for, 98-99;
awarding of contracts for, in Polk County, Iowa, 100;
see Roads and bridges
Bronx County, N. Y., formation of, 24
Budget, importance of adequate county executive in making of, 176;
nature of, 177;
significance of better, 181;
accounting basis for, 185-187
Buffalo, N. Y., relation to county, 154;
see Erie County
Bureau of Inspection, etc., in Ohio, 121
Bureau of Public Efficiency, (Chicago), on special county legislation, 116
Butte County (Cal.), charter of, 149

California, extent of merit system in counties of, 52;
county legislation in, 115;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
salary of county judges in, 130;
highway progress and plans in, 142;
success of municipal home rule in, 146;
county home rule in, 145-147;
county libraries in, 199, 207-219;
see also Alameda County, Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, Assessors
Cartwright, Otho G., quoted, 176
Charities, State Board of, in New York, 128;
modern methods in administration of, 136;
gradual abandonment of county as unit for administration of, 138
Chicago, candidates for county offices voted for in, 62;
law enforcement in, 106;
county government in, 114;
see also Cook County, Ill.
Chief medical examiner (in New York City), 134;
text of law, 257-265
Children, prohibition against commitment to almshouses, 83;
injustice done to destitute, under New York poor laws, 85;
treatment of, in Westchester County, 202
Cincinnati, Ohio, proposals for city-county consolidation in, 152
Cities, reconstructive forces in American, 1;
greater need for government in, 151;
consolidation with counties, 151-167;
importance solving the county problem of, 167;
commission government in, 169
Citizenship (rural), 194
Civil Service, slow growth of reform in counties, 52;
state control over, 126-127;
in Los Angeles County, Cal., 172-173, 231-239
Clerk of Court, duties of, 13;
relation to the bench, 135;
see County Clerk
Cleveland, Ohio, county government in, 114;
proposal for city-county consolidation in, 152;
relation to county, 154
Clinton County, N. Y., (County “B”), irregularities in county offices of, 72-73
Colorado, establishment of counties in, 22;
extent of merit system in, 52;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
provisions in constitution of, affecting Denver, 155
Commission plan of city government, 169
Commissioner of Charities and Correction, 202
Commissioners (county) in Pennsylvania, 28
Commitments to almshouses,—abuses of, in New York, 85, 200
Comptroller (state), ineffective as check upon county officers without adequate examining staff, 36
Connecticut, origin of county in, 9;
local system of courts in, 12;
public prosecutor in, 12;
influence of Massachusetts precedents in, 19;
convention in, 38;
appointive judiciary in, 131
Consolidation (city and county), under California constitution, 149;
in general, 151-167
Constables, law enforcement by, in New York State, 107, 138
Constabulary, Pennsylvania, 140;
in Los Angeles County charter, 231
Constitution (state), provisions concerning counties, 112, 115
Cook County, Ill., President of Board of Commissioners elected by people, 40;
large fees of treasurer in, 51;
county commissioners prevent accounting for county treasurer’s fees, 52;
duplication of local governments in, 63;
humanitarian functions of, 80, 81;
prisoners in county jail of, 80;
insane cared for by, 81;
dependent children cared for by, 81;
appropriations for, in 1913, 81
Coroner, origin of, 13;
falsity of theory underlying his election, 32;
fees of, 50;
failures in urban counties, 59;
abolition of, proposed, 133;
appointive, 172;
see Massachusetts, New York (city).
Corruption and form of government, 102
Council, powers of, in Indiana counties, 37
Council of appointment in New York State, 28
County, the, treatment of problem in New York constitutional convention, 2, 3;
popular apathy concerning, 5;
neglect of, in college courses, and by journalists, 6;
general statistics concerning, in U. S., 7-8;
colonial origin of, 9 et seq.;
legal relation to state government, 10, 11;
general manner of its development, 22-23;
decline of, in England, 23;
unadapted to urban conditions, 24;
its failure as a humanitarian agency, 92;
relation to state government, 113, 127, 128;
power to erect new, 113;
limitation on powers of, 113;
misuse of funds by, 120;
as unit for tax assessment, 125;
growing importance of, in certain directions, 143;
superiority over town as tax assessment and collection unit, 144;
abolishment of, proposed in New York City, 157;
the ideal, 168
—— chambers of commerce, 203
—— clerk, duties of, 13;
independence of county judge, 130;
relation to the bench, 135;
appointment of advocated, 135;
appointive method of selection of, 171, 172
——committee, actual power in selecting county officers, 48;
basis of party organization, 55
—— court, consisted of justices of the peace in Virginia, 17;
its administrative functions in some states, 17;
jurisdiction of, 129-132;
see also County Judge, Cook County
—— custodian, office of, created in a New York county, 5
—— governments, lack of control over local policies, 15;
ineffectual in operation owing to lack of unity, 43;
lack of popular interest in and its effects, 43-44;
their stereotyped condition in face of new responsibilities, 60;
at work, 66-79;
defects in, as affecting highway matters, 95;
general criticism of, 170
—— health officers in North Carolina, 195-196
—— hospital in Westchester County (N. Y.), 202
—— jail, separate jurisdiction of, in Milwaukee, 62;
overcrowding of, 91;
buildings faultily constructed and unsanitary, 91;
need of publicity concerning, 92;
in Westchester County (N. Y.), 202;
insane in, 271-273;
see also Cook County, Ill.
—— judge formerly appointed county officers in Tennessee, 28;
see also New York (state), County Court
—— libraries, 198-199
—— lieutenant, militia officer in colonies, 17
—— manager, proposed, 175;
probable influence of, 176-177;
proposed in Oregon, 178;
in New York, 178-179;
in Alameda County, Cal., 180;
text of proposed law providing for, 251-256
—— officers, duties of, in colonial New England, 18;
effect of obscurity on, 44;
effect of divided allegiance upon efficiency of, 68;
in Los Angeles County, 223-225;
under Los Angeles County charter, 227-229
—— physician, in New Jersey functions of, 134;
in North Carolina, 195
—— planning in Westchester County, N. Y., 197-198
—— poor farm in Westchester County, N. Y., 201
—— prisons, administration of, by counties, 89-92;
see also County jail
—— superintendent of schools appointive, 172
—— surveyor as road master, 96
—— treasurer, created in Massachusetts, 18;
see Cook County, Ill.
Court houses, scandals characteristic of building of, 76;
in Hudson County, N. J., 74-75
Courts, differentiation of functions necessary in urban communities, 59;
see also County Court, local system of, in colonial Connecticut, 12
Cox, Governor James J., efforts to improve tax assessment system in Ohio, 111
Cuyahoga County, O., see Cleveland

Dakota, alternative plans of county government in territory of, 22
Darke County, O., management of road affairs by board of commissioners, 98
Dayton, O., city manager plan in, 175
Defectives, treatment of, in Westchester County, N. Y., 201
Delaware, lack of accounting law in, 122
Democracy, spirit of, in early nineteenth century, 25-26
Denver, selection of sheriff by mayor in, 133;
classification as an urban county, 154;
constitutional provisions affecting government of, 155-156;
commission form of government in, 156;
power of mayor in, 156;
unified control in, 174
Deputy (chief) county officers, importance of, and relation to elective superiors, 50
Direct primary, doubtful value of, in county government, 48
District attorney (state), origin of, in colonial Connecticut, 12-13;
popular interest in, 46;
elected on false issue of law enforcement, 107-108;
functions of, 134;
essentially a local officer, 155;
see New York (state);
see also Prosecutor
District attorney (federal), method of selection contrasted with that of local prosecutors, 33

Efficiency, Bureau of (in Los Angeles County), 191
Elective road officials, 96
Electric railways, effect on rural life and government, 23
Engineering services, duplication of in Milwaukee, 62
England, importance of its precedents in colonies, 17
Erie County, N. Y., form of county government in, 114
Essex County, N. J., classification as urban county, 154;
county park system in, 163;
office of supervisor in, 173-174
Examiners (state), character of service rendered to local officials, 123
Executive, how absence of, militates against proper law enforcement, 34-35, 74

Federation, proposed in Alameda County, Cal., 159-160
Feeble-minded, removed from county control, 83
Fees, attraction of, to politician and disposition of, 50-51;
of coroner, 50;
theory of system, 51;
failure of system, 51, 202;
abolishment of, in Los Angeles County, 173
Finance, laxity in methods of, 70;
in bridge construction, 183
Fire protection, proposed as county function in Alameda County, Cal., 160
Flaherty v. Milliken, decision in, involving sheriff’s liability, 53
Florida, uniform accounting law in, 122
Freeholders, Board of Chosen, (N. J.), 173

Georgia, uniform accounting law in, 122
“Good roads” movement, effect on highway administration, 95, 140
Governing body, ill-adapted for executive functions, 41;
insufficient control over elective county officers, 41;
see also Boards of supervisors, Freeholders, Commissioners
Governor, formerly appointed county officers in Kentucky, 28;
ineffective control over county officers, 36;
suggestion that sheriffs be appointed by, 133;
county officers appointed by, in Massachusetts, 158

Hamilton County (O.), see Cincinnati
Haviland, Dr. C. Floyd, on treatment of insane in Pennsylvania, 88
Health (public), neglected in rural communities, 60;
beginnings and basic idea of movement for, 83;
county as a unit for administration of, 143;
program of, needed in rural sections, under county control, 195
Highways, as a unifying factor in modern life, 94;
amount spent in U. S. in 1913, 94;
growing state control over, 95;
diminution of county control over, 140 et seq.;
state aid for, 141;
see also Roads and bridges
Home office, relations to county of London, 166
Home rule (county), 145-150;
text of provisions in California constitution, 207-218;
proposed constitutional amendment in New York, 247-250
Hospital service, duplication of agencies for, in Milwaukee 61;
see also County hospital
Hudson County, N. J., court house scandal in, 7;
boulevard commission in, 38;
separate powers of commission, 38;
park system, 39;
building of court house in, 75;
classification as urban county, 154;
supervisor in, 173-174
Humanitarian functions of county, 80-93

Idaho, establishment of counties in, 22;
county local option in, 150
Illinois, Southern and New England influence on county system of, 21;
county officers under first constitution of, elective, 28;
system in, 52;
insane in penal institutions of, 87;
report of State Charities Commission on county jails, 91-92;
Sabbath law enforcement in, 106;
special county legislation in, 116;
optional county government forms in, 147;
see Cook County
Indiana, origin of county in, 20;
county officers under first constitution elective, 28;
county government scandal in 1898, 37;
powers of county commissioners reduced by establishment of council, 37;
illegal payments by county officers in, 78;
law enforcement in, 107;
uniform reporting in, 122
Industrial revolution, indirect influence on county government, 23
Insane, removed from county control, 83;
care of, by counties, 87-89;
first hospital for, at Utica, N. Y., 137;
see Cook County, Ill., New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania
Institutions (state), see Insane, Penitentiaries, Reformatories, etc.
Iowa, county township system in, 20;
methods employed by supervisors in Woodbury County, 76-77;
bridge lobby in legislature of, 101;
state control of highways in, 142;
see Polk County

Jail, see County jail
Jersey City (N. J.), see Hudson County, N. J.
Judiciary (state), relation of county officers to, 129-132;
importance of reorganization, 131;
(federal) cited as instance of appointive method of selection, 131
“Jungle,” the, 34-42
Justices of the peace, duties of, in colonial Virginia, 17;
functions in Virginia, 27;
power to commit children to almshouses in New York State, 85;
reorganization of, 131;
jurisdiction of, 132

Kansas, county-township system in, 20;
report of roads and highways committee, 101;
uniform accounting law in, 122
Kentucky, influence of Virginia upon county organization of, 20;
county officers made appointive in eighteenth century, 28;
reaction against appointive system in, 29;
lack of accounting law in, 122;
county local option in, 150
Kings County, N. Y., former office of supervisor-at-large in, 40
Koochiching County ( Wis.), county health organization in, 196

Labor, provisions in Los Angeles County charter concerning, 239
Law enforcement, lax under county officers, 70, 74;
made a political issue, 107;
unification of local agencies for, suggested, 133;
see Nullification
Leadership, importance of, in county affairs, 176
Legislation (county), uniformity in, 112
Legislative representation, often based upon county, 56
Lewis, O. F., on county jails in New York, 91
Libraries, see County libraries
Local government, restricted functions of, in early nineteenth century, 27;
new burdens placed upon, as result of congestion of population, 58
London, functions of county of, 165;
County Council an example of county government unification, 164-166
Long ballot, its effect on organization of county government, 34;
contributions of county to, 62
Los Angeles County, Cal., charter of, 61, 149, 172, 219, et seq.;
county candidates on ballot of, 62;
civil service in, 191;
public defender in, 200
Louisiana, police jury in, 21;
insane in parish jails, 87;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
county local option in, 150

Macy, V. Everit, on operation of poor law in New York State, 84-85;
superintendent of the poor, 200-203
Madison, James, influence in favor of retaining original county system in Virginia, 29
Mail facilities, effect on rural life and government, 24
Maine, influence of Massachusetts precedents in, 19;
lack of accounting law in, 122
Marshall, John, influence in favor of retaining original Virginia county system, 29
Marshals, U. S., method of selection contrasted with that of sheriff, 33, 133
Maryland, county government, 19;
lack of accounting law in, 122;
highway progress in, 142;
county libraries in, 199
Massachusetts, origin and early history of county in, 9;
spoils system in, 52;
county prisons in, 90;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
abolition of coroner’s office in, 133;
leader in establishing state penal institutions, 137;
reform institutions in, 137;
state aid in highway construction in, 142;
metropolitan district of, 154
Medical examiner, suggested as a substitute for coroner, 60;
in Massachusetts, 133;
see also Chief medical examiner
Medical referee (in New Hampshire), 134
Michigan, township-supervisor system in, 20;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
state penitentiary in, 137;
county local option in, 150
Middle West, insane in almshouses, 87-88;
New England influences in, 104
Milwaukee, Wis., report of City Club of, regarding city and county offices, 61;
county government in, 114;
proposals for city-county consolidation in, 152;
relations to county, 154
Minnesota, alternative plans of county government in, 22;
uniform accounting law in, 122;
county local option in, 150;
county libraries in, 199
Mississippi, origin of county system in, 21;
county officers elective in, 29;
lack of accounting law in, 122
Missouri, county-township system in, 20;
alternative plans of, county organization in, 21;
county officers elective in, 29;
poor law and almshouse administration in, 86;
equalization of taxes in, 110;
lack of accounting law in, 122;
county libraries in, 199
Monroe County, N. Y., absence of road records in, 98
Montana, establishment of counties in, 22;
county local option in, 150
Mosquito Commission, in Hudson County, N. J., 39

Nassau County, N. Y., work of County Association in, 7;
recommendations of official commission in, for county home rule, 148
National Municipal League, its report on city-county consolidation, 153, 154
Nebraska, alternative plans of county organization in, 21;
activity of bridge builders in legislature of, 102;
county libraries in, 199
Nevada, uniform accounting law in, 122
New England, influences operating on local government in, 17;
formation of first counties in, 18;
county-town relations in, 143
New Hampshire, limited powers of commissioners in, 37-38;
convention, powers and duties of, 38;
lack of accounting law in, 122;
appointive judiciary in, 131
New Jersey, local assessors in, 19;
office of supervisor in, 39-40;
law affecting sheriff’s appointments, 52;
extent of merit system in counties of, 52;
insane in penal institutions of, 87;
county legislation in, 115-116;
state civil service regulation in, 127;
the surrogate in, 130;
appointive judiciary in, 131;
optional county government forms in, 147;
see Essex County, Hudson County
New Mexico, establishment of county system in, 22;
uniform accounting law in, 122
New York (city), special legislation for counties of, 117;
abolition of coroners in, 134;
city-county consolidation proposals in, 152;
extent of city-county consolidation in, 156-157;
metropolitan district compared to London, 164
New York (county), large fees of sheriff in, 51
New York (state), counties of, discussed in constitutional convention, 2-3;
supervisors in towns of, 19;
elective method applied to sheriffs and county clerks in, 29;
district attorneys and county judges made elective in, 29;
extent of merit system in counties of, 52;
legal relation of sheriff to his deputies in, 52-53;
requirements as to county advertising, 53;
almshouses in, 82;
improvement of condition of poor in, 84;
New England influences in, 104;
enforcement of anti-racing laws in, 106;
under-assessment of taxes by local officers, 109;
equalization of taxes in, 110;
county law in, 114;
uniform reporting law in, 121;
civil service regulation in, 127;
State Board of Charities, its jurisdiction, 128;
comptroller, his powers over county officers in, 128;
the surrogate in, 130;
state prisons in, 137;
first state reformatory in, 137;
“state” poor in, 138;
committee on State Police, 139;
highway control in, 142;
County Government Association, its recommendations concerning county home rule, 148;
metropolitan district of, 154;
proposal for county manager in, 178;
classification of county accounts in, 184;
public health movement in, 195;
county libraries in, 199;
see also Erie County, Kings County, Monroe County, Orange County, Nassau County, Prison Assn., Westchester County
New York Times, its proposals for abolishment of counties in New York State, 152
Niagara County, N. Y., district attorney quoted concerning rural post office robberies, 138
Niagara Falls, N. Y., city manager plan in, 175
North Carolina, influence of Virginia precedents on, 19;
lack of accounting law in, 123;
public health movement in, 195;
county physicians in, 195;
home-study clubs in, 204-205
North Dakota, accounting and reporting legislation in, 122
Northwest, importance of county as unit of government in, 22;
New England influences in, 104
Nullification, 104-111

Ohio, county-township system in, 20;
county officers in first constitution elective, 28;
extent of merit system in counties of, 52;
pioneer in county reporting, 121-122;
state penitentiary in, 137;
highway progress in, 142;
county libraries in, 198-199;
see Cleveland, Cincinnati, Darke County
Oklahoma, uniform accounting law in, 122;
public defender in, 199
Omaha, long ballot in, owing to elective county officers, 63
Orange County, N. Y., (County “A”), irregularities of officers of, 70-71
Ordinance of 1787, county officers under, appointive, 28
Oregon, establishment of counties in, 22;
county local option in, 150;
proposal for county manager in, 178;
county libraries in, 199

Parks, county system in Essex County, N. J., 163
Party, organization, importance of county as unit of, 55;
baneful effects upon county administration, 191
Payments, frequency of illegal, 188
Pennsylvania, commissioners in, 19;
party organization in, 55;
care of dependent children in, 86-87;
treatment of insane in, 88-89;
state constabulary in, 140
Pennybacker, J. E., on highways, 140 et seq.
Philadelphia, classification as an urban county, 154
Personnel, importance and limitations of, as factor in good government, 67;
administrative, 191;
see Civil service
Police, proposed as county function in Alameda County, Cal., 160;
see Constabulary
Police functions, county officers unable to perform, in complex communities, 58
Political boss, origin of, in county government, 47-48
Polk County, Iowa, awarding of bridge contracts in, 100
Poor, care of, entrusted to county governments, 14-15;
former treatment and present scientific handling of, 82;
superintendents of, in N. Y. State, powers of, 85;
overseers of, in N. Y. State, commitments by, 85;
importance of records concerning, 190;
administration of laws dealing with, 200;
see Missouri, N. Y. State, Pennsylvania
Poverty, prevention of, 201
Press (county), small circulation, lack of independence, 54;
need for improving, 194
Prison Association, in New York State, secretary of, quoted, 91
Prisoners, classification of, 83, 84;
jurisdiction of county over, 90;
classification of, systematically violated, 91;
transfer of certain classes of, to state institutions advocated, 136-137
Probation, importance of records concerning, 190
Professional politicians, great opportunity of, in obscurity of county government, 47
Prosecutor, appointment of, advocated, 135;
see District attorney
Public defender, the, 199-200
Public Efficiency Society, work of, in Cook County, Ill., 7
Publicity, importance in county affairs of, 182
Purchasing, duplication of systems in Milwaukee, 62;
significance of better methods of, 181;
agent, 189;
consolidation of local agencies for, 190, 200, 201

Qualifications (legal) of county officers, lack of, 50
Quick, Herbert, on county government in Iowa, 76-77;
characterization of county government by, 194

Race track legislation, enforcement of, by local county officers, 106-107
Readjustments of county system, 129-144
Recall, provisions in Los Angeles County charter concerning, 240-244
Reconstruction, of county government, 168-180;
formula for, 169
Recorder, appointive, 172
Records, usual lack of, in road management by counties, 98;
in Westchester County almshouse, 200-201
Reporting, importance of uniform, 121
Responsibility, lack of in organization of judiciary, 131;
necessity for fixing in counties, 170-171
Rhode Island, origin of county in, 9;
influence of Massachusetts institutions in, 19;
sheriffs appointed by legislature in, 29;
lack of accounting law in, 123
Roads and bridges, 94-103;
under Los Angeles County charter, 229-231
Rochester, N. Y., proposals for city-county consolidations in, 152
Rural politics, influence of county press on, 55
Rural voter, civic capacity of, 44, 170

St. Louis County (Mo.), city-county consolidation in, 153
Salmon, Dr. Thomas W., on county almshouse care of insane, 89
San Bernardino County, Cal., adoption and amendment of county charter in, 30, 31, 149
San Francisco, classification as an urban county, 154;
city-county consolidation in, 158-159
Saxon kingdoms, the original of English counties, 23
Secor, Alson, on bridge lobby at Des Moines, 101-102
Sectionalism, stimulated by governmental organization in some states, 97
Selectmen, functions in colonial Virginia, 16;
functions of, in New England, 27
Sheriff, maladministration of, in a central N. Y. county, 4;
historical origin of, 11;
court duties of, 12;
duties of, in Virginia, 17;
elective officer in Pennsylvania since 1726, 28;
in New Jersey after Revolution, 28;
falsity of theory underlying his election, 32;
large fees of, in New York County, 51;
appointing power restricted in New Jersey, 52;
relation to deputies according to N. Y. courts, 52-53;
principal police agency in early local governments, 58;
conflict with other police agencies, 60, 61;
limitations as jail keeper, 90;
as enforcer of state laws in N. Y. State, 107;
imperfectly controlled by county judge, 130;
functions as court officer discussed, 132;
suggestion that governor appoint, 133;
inability of, in dealing with crime, 139;
encroachment upon functions of, by Department of Correction in N. Y. City, 157;
appointive method of selection of, proposed, 171;
importance of records of, 190;
see Rhode Island
Short ballot, the basic principle of county reconstruction, 169-170;
meaning of, 181
Solicitor, see District Attorney
South, development of county in, 9;
the insane in county almshouses of, 87
South Carolina, influence of Virginia precedents on, 19;
lack of accounting law in, 123;
appointive judiciary in, 131
Southwest, importance of county as unit of local government in, 22
Special legislation, testimony of county officer concerning, in N. Y. constitutional convention, 4
State constitutions, provisions of, concerning counties, 112
—— control in taxation, 126
—— examiners in Ohio, 121
—— government, stiffening hold on highway matters, 95;
influence in county affairs, 112-119
—— legislatures, power over counties, 112
—— party organization, built upon county units, 55
—— supervision of accounts recommended, 185
State’s attorney, see District Attorney
Suffolk County, Mass., see Boston
Suffolk County, N. Y., work of Taxpayers Assn. in, 7
Superintendent of the poor, appointive method of selection proposed, 171
Supervisor (town), functions of, in N. Y., 27;
elective officers in N. Y. since 1691, 28;
in Hudson County, N. J., 40;
influence in road affairs, 97;
see Board of supervisors, Essex County and Hudson County, N. J.
Surrogate, jurisdiction of, in probate matters, 130
Surveyor, appointive, 172;
see County surveyor
System (of government), importance of, as contrasted with personnel, 66, 74, 78

Tammany Hall, its influence exercised through control of county offices, 55
Tax administration, inappropriateness of town as unit for, 144;
dual system of, in California, 160
—— collector, appointive, 172
—— laws, nullification of, by local officers, 108
Taylor, Graham, on humanitarian functions of county, 80-81
Tehama County (Cal.), charter of, 149
Telephone, effect on rural life and government, 24
Tennessee, influence of early Virginia precedents on county government, 20;
county officers of, made appointive, 28;
uniform accounting law in, 122
Texas, American county system established in, 22;
lack of accounting law in, 123;
county local option in, 150
Town, dominant idea in local government of New England, 17;
relation of county to, in New England, 143;
inappropriateness of, for performance of certain functions, 143-144
Township officers in Los Angeles County charter, 225-227
Treasurer, elective in Massachusetts, 27;
appointive, 172;
see county treasurer
Tuberculosis, effect upon general public health movement of fight against, 195
Turnpike companies, as road builders and operators, 94

Uniformity in county legislation, 112 et seq.
Urban communities, growth of, 57
Urban counties, 57-65
Utah, establishment of counties in, 22;
lack of accounting law in, 123

Vermont, lack of accounting law in, 123
Virginia, origin of counties of, 16;
constitutional convention, discussion concerning local government in, 29;
reaction against appointive system of, 29;
lack of accounting law in, 123;
highway progress in, 142;
independent cities of, 153

Westchester County, work of Research Bureau, 7;
patronage in political advertising, 53-54;
recommendations of official commission in, for county home rule, 148;
auditing practices in, 184;
discrepancies between estimates, etc., for poor relief in, 184;
see County planning, V. Everit Macy
Westchester County Chamber of Commerce, its activities in county planning, 197;
in activities for better county government, 204
Westchester County Research Bureau, statement concerning budget making, 186-187
Western Reserve, New England influences in, 20, 104
West Virginia, uniform accounting law in, 122
Wisconsin, compromise plan of county government, township system in, 21;
spoils system in, 52;
provisions for county graduate nurse in, 196;
county libraries in, 199
Wyoming, auditing system in, 122;
county libraries in, 199

The County: The "Dark Continent" of American Politics

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INDEX