II. Powers of Town-Every town has power to prevent and suppress nuisances, riots, and breaches of the peace, to lay out and improve streets, to provide regulations against danger from fire, to prevent animals from running at large, to construct or permit the construction of water-works, and in general to do all those things which are necessary and reasonable to preserve the public peace and promote the safety and convenience of its inhabitants.

12. Terms of Office All elective officers of an incorporated town serve terms of two years each. 13. Ordinances-The local laws and regulations enacted by the council are called ordinances. Persons violating these ordinances may be punished by fine or imprisonment.

14. Cities of the Second Class-Municipal corporations having more than two thousand and less than fifteen thousand inhabitants are cities of the second class.

15. Powers-Cities of the second class have all the powers and privileges of towns, together with certain additional privileges relating to public improvements and the regulation of business done within the city limits.

16. Wards - Each city is subdivided into smaller parts called wards. The city council is composed of one councilman from each ward elected by the qualified voters of such ward, and two councilmen at large elected by the qualified voters of the city. Councilmen are elected for a

term of two years. Members of the council are commonly called councilmen or aldermen.

17. Mayor The Mayor of a city of the second class is elected for two years. He presides at the meetings of the council, but has no vote upon questions coming before it except in cases of a tie. He is also a magistrate with the same powers as the mayor of an incorporated town.

18. Solicitor The City Solicitor is also elected for two years. He is the legal adviser of the city and its officers, and represents its interests in all litigation. In cities of four thousand inhabitants or less he is appointed by the council.

Iç. Clerk-The Clerk is appointed by the council, and performs duties similar to those required of the Clerk of a town.

20. Marshal, etc.-A Marshal, a health physician, a street commissioner and as many policemen as are deemed necessary are appointed by the Mayor.

21.

Cities of First Class-All cities having more than fifteen thousand inhabitants rank as cities of the first class.

22. Officers-The officers of a city of the first class are Mayor, Councilmen, Solicitor, and Treasurer, having in general substantially the same powers as are exercised by officers of like name in cities of the second class. In addition to those named, each city of this class elects an Auditor, who keeps the books and accounts of the corporation; a Police Judge, who hears and de

cides cases arising under the city ordinances; and an Engineer, who surveys and determines the grades of streets and does other skilled work of that nature. In addition to ward councilmen each city of the first class elects two councilmen at large.

23. Police The Mayor of a city of the first class appoints the members of the police force, including a Marshal or Chief of Police, who hold their office during his pleasure. In cities of a population of more than twenty thousand the Chief of Police and Chief of the fire department are appointed by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, which board is appointed by the Mayor.

24. Superior Court-Any city containing a population of four thousand or more may by vote of its qualified electors establish a Superior Court. The judge of this court is elected at a regular city election, and holds his office for a term of four years.

25. Jurisdiction-The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction to try and determine all actions for violation of the city ordinances. It also has the power and authority usually exercised by justices of the peace, and in most civil matters exercises equal jurisdiction with the District Court.

26. Salary of Judge-A judge of the Superior Court receives a salary of $2000 per year, one half of which is paid from the city treasury and the other half from the county treasury.

27. Number-Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, Oelwein, Shenandoah, Perry and Keokuk are the only cities in the State now maintaining a Superior Court.

28. Annual Elections-Except in some cities. under special charters, the regular annual election for all city and town officers takes place on the last Monday in March.

29. Special Charters-It will be remembered that the present Constitution of the State (66) prohibits the incorporation of cities by special act of the Legislature, but at the time this provision was adoped a few of the older cities had already been incorporated by that method.

Of these cities, Dubuque, Keokuk, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids still retain their special charters granted under the old Constitution, but their government does not differ in essential particulars from that of other cities of the first class.

30. Abandonment-Any city or incorporated town may abandon its corporate government by vote of its qualified electors at an election called for that purpose.

If at such election two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor of the proposition and all corporate debts are paid, the corporation will be discontinued.

CHAPTER XXIII

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

1. Districts-Each civil township is a School District and is ordinarily subdivided into smaller parts called sub-districts. The township when spoken of in its capacity as a school district is called a School Township.

2. Directors-Annually on the first Monday in March each sub-district elects a sub-director and the sub-directors thus elected together form a Board of Directors for the district township.

3. Government-The management of district affairs is exercised in part by the voters assembled in annual meeting and in part by the board of directors.

Annual Meeting-On the second Monday in March of each year the voters of the district township convene in a mass or general meeting. When thus legally assembled they consider and determine many matters relating to district government, among the most important of which is the voting of taxes for the construction of schoolhouses and for the purchase of grounds.

5. Organization of Board-The Board of Directors shall meet in the first secular day in July and organize by electing a president from their own number, and a secretary and treasurer from outside the board.