OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
xr8. Wlllla,~094sal>.
County Auditor
Oarson Coculty
Panhandle, Texas
Dear Mrs. O*Neal: opinion HO A o-222
use
or the
as -
r0r 0p recdvsa and
"In Bdaroh of 8 introduced
In the Leglsla
a Ssoretary tb
and wae placed
of this Bill in
it was paaeea and
illar with it.
me if this is suiii-
cretemy to the County Judge at
Commiesionere~ Court not to Sx-
a letter from Honorable (hrar
tlve of 107th District, dated
o the payment of actual oar ox-
psnae o* the Ccirwnissioner~
of Carson County, nhieh
reads ae follows:
wCounty Judge, Carson County
Panhandle, Texas
Dear Slrt
"1 SINlOSS herSWith OXSOt SOpy Qf thS 1aW
whloh allowa the Comlesfoners~ Court of Carson
rdn. Willla O'Poal. Page 8
County to pay sash lndiridual member OS mid
Court, the amount not to oxosed (iS5.00per
month ior aotual oar axpuma. I am s.ncling
this for your files so that you and the Corn-
airsionsrr will have same for rsfersnoa at.all
tial.6.
*Ii I oan serve you people 15 any manner,
please aall on swat any time.
7ours r&y truly
. -~.
iaimml) O&m Burkstt Rearesentatire
107th District -
0B:KW
snol.
The Copy attached to the above letter is
H. B. No. 19s.
me rsgar!llng the payment of
*Plsast~a~dvlss~
this car expenas Andyany liability I mixyhare la
the niatter.w~
Howe Bill Ilo. 193 of the 46th Lo~lslatam of PIxas
reads as followsi
H. B. HO. 193
wANACTluthorirfng the Ooemissiormra Court in
eaoh au&y in this State having a population of
.not less than sefen thoUand, seven hundred
(7,700) and not more than 0410~ thowand, li&ht
hundred (7,800); and oountise having a~populatlon
or not leas than twelve thoueaml, smven hundred
and twenty-tire (u!,785) nor more than twslro
thornand, li&ht hundred and twenty-five (18,885);
and oounties.~havlnga population of not lss~~than
seventeen thoueand, five hundred and sixty (17,550)
nor more thin seventern thaWand, fire hundred and
ninety (17,890); and counties having a po,ulation
of not less thin twenty-three thousand, s1p f hue
dmd and fifty (23,650) nor more than twenty-thrss
thousand, mm411 hundred (SS,700); and aountiW
having a population of not less than tWe&ty-iOur
thousand, two hundred (24,200) nor more thnn
Mrs. wi.l110OWeal, Page 3
twenty-four thouaand,~two hundraa and acmntp
fir0 (24,275), aooording to the laat praoading
Federal Census, to allow uah County Cwmiaaioner
oertsin expansea for traveling and in oonneotion
with the use of his automobile on ot?Ioial bual-
,noss only and/or in ovarsoeing the oonatruetion
and amfntenanoe of the pablio roads of the county;
requiring eacrhsuch Commiaaioner to gay the em-
ppsnaaof operation and rspalr ol such vehlole so
used by him without any furthor expanm Matsoarer
to the county; and daelariny an emerganoy.
"BE19 ENACTEDBY TEELEGX3UTUREOF To[ESTATE OF
TEXAS;
WsotIon 1, In ani oounty 3.5 thio mate oon-
~taininsa popuhtion or Pot leae than awen thou-
aard, aeven hundred (7,900) and not mere than seven
thouaand,'eigbt hundrad (9,eoO)I and oouatfaa hay-
i56 a POpldAtiO~ Of IlOt1888 thM tWOl+a thousand,
aeven hundred and twantpfifa (12,925) WC IBM
than twelro thousand, eight huad~d and twenty-rira
[12,82S); tid oountlea having a population of not
loaa than seventeen thouasnd, flrr huudrad and tixty
(19,~O) nor more th a nlbrentson thousand, five
hundred end-ninety (17,690); and oountims ,havInga
population of not leaa than twenty-three ~thouaand,
six hundraU and fifty (23,6SO) aor nare than twanty-
three thouaand, seven hundrad (23,900); and oeantlu
having a populationsof not lea8 than twenty-four
thousand, two hundred (2dJbOO) nor more t&a5 twenty-
four thousand, two hundred and aevoaty-tfve (84,27S),
aoeordln@ to the last prsoedlng Federal Census, the
CoollPIsaionsraCourt is boreby authoriaed to allow
each Commiesloner not more thaa the sum at Thirty-
tire Dollara ($SS) per month to be paid out ot the
Road and Bridge Fund of eaoh respaotlro Oommlaalon-
lr*a.Preainot, for traveling rxpans*a an4 deprsoia-
tion 05 the automobile while uard 05 oifIoIa1 buaine~a
only and/or in oraraoeing the oonstruation and mein-
tenanoe of the publio roads of said oountisa. Eaoh
such Commlaaioner ahall pry all lxpensoo In the opara-
tfon of auoh automobile and keep same in repair nt
hia own axpsnae, free of any other oharga whatsoever .
to the county.
XI-U.WI1118 O'lcial,?Ago 4
'&SO. 8. The iaot that in the countle8af-
feotod by thla Aot there is grsat ns8d that the
oountie8 pertiolpate in derraying the experuieof
8uoh Cm~la8lo~er8.beoau8e the great a!Aormtof
road work now gelng on inorea8ea the neos88ity of
8ueh Comak88ion8r8 trarellng fro8iplao8 to plaoe
orer8eelng ths oorutruotlon end aainterunor 0r
8UOh rold8 Or@&88 an aergen6y and an i.QpeFatiVe
public xmoe88lty that the Cofmtitutional Rule re-
~ulrlng bill8 to be read on three 8ersral day8 in
each House ba sti8psnded,Iandthe 8Wi8 is hereby
suspsnded, and this Aot'shU talc6s?feot eAd be
in force from and sitterit8 passage; and it is 80
enacted.
*Approved March 31, 1939.
"Bffeotire Uaroh 31, 1039."
Camon County, TUXAS, aooording to the la8t pnosd-
lng ledera Cenaim of 19250,hea seven thousand, 84100 hundred
end fort*-five (9 745) inhabitant8 and 18~the only oounty
in %ns ooming Athin the poptiation braokete oi not le88
than 8eten thowusd, gey8n hundred (7,700) end not molr,than
~8emn thowmnd, oight~hundred (9,800), set out in Buue Bill
193, 8AprA.
Callahan County Texa8, eoaordlng to the la80 pre-
aeding Mderal Cen8us of iOS0 ha8 tW8lt8'thOA8AAd
hundred and eighty-iIT8 (lg,785) iAhabftAnt8, end i8'ztA
only oounty in Tsxao eolning dthia the population braoket8
of not le88 than twelve thoumnd, 88~8~1hunilredand We&y-
fire (12,7Z?8)and not more than twelve thou8anb;~ight hun-
dred end twenty-five (l%i,g%6)8et out In Hou80 Bill 195,
mlpra.
Palo Pint@ Oounty, Texu, AOOOrdiAg to the lut
preceding Federal Census of lOSO; he8 88vante8n thtiund,
fit0 hundl'sden6 88Venty-8iX iAhabitant8 (17,676) and i8 th0
only oounty'in T8xae oomi~g within the population bracket8
of not 1888 than 88rsntaen thawAnd, fly8 hundred +~d Sixty
(17,560)end not mo$v than 8eVwteen th8u8AAd, firs hundred
end ninety (13,590) 8et out in flOU8SBill 199, 8uprA0
Colma~ Oounty, T8x~8, eoq8rda to ths h8t pre-
ceding Federal C8n8u8 or 1950, lmu'tw8Aty-thne thowAnd,
81x hundred and 8ixty-nine (%a,(LOQ)hhabitant8, And i8 the
ooly county In T8xa8 ooming within the population bracketi
ot not le88 then twenty-three thousand, 8ix hundred and
iiity (tS,I)SO)end not nor8 ~&AA twenty-three thou8end,
8even hundred (SS,700) 8et out In Eou80 Bill 193, eupn.
Jone8 County, Texa8, aacordlng to ths last pre-
oediag Federa]. hn174u8 of 1930, hae twenty-four thousand
tw hundred and thirty-three (M,SSS) fnhebitents, end i8
the only oouoty in Texas comfng within the population
braokets of not lea8 then twenty-four thou8end, two hun-
dred (S4,gOO) and not more than twenty-four thousand, two
hundred and seventy-five (E4,875) set out in Hou8e Bill
&es, 8Ilpm.
Xou8e Bill 4% of the 46th LsgIslattue or l'eres
md8 a8 fOuOW8:
"COCRTYJUDOT- STEnOCRWl%ERORCLlCRll
H. 0. Ho. 458
"AR ACITauthorizing the County Judge to employ a
8teNgraph8r or alerk In OountIes hering a popula-
tlonof not nor8 then 88ven thoruaod, eight hun-
dred (7,800) and not la8r then 8even thousend,
8oren hundred (7,900) and In oountier of not more
thrn ten thousAnd, four hundred and ninety-Rime
(10,499) and not lr8 than tan thoumud, three
hundred and ninety-nIn8 (10,399) tnhabitants, ae-
aording to the last prcoedlog yederal Oen8u8; fir-
ing ulary of ame; provldlng for pqaent of malery;
providing for remoral; and 6sOlarfng~ 8ergency.
-BITIT ELJACTEDRY THE LROXSLATURR OR TWZ S'Wl'ROF
TBXAS:
*SeotIon 1. In any oounty in this State with
e population ot not 1801%than 8even thou8and, eight
hundred (7,800) and not le8s than Ieten thousand,
8e78n hunarea (7,700), end In aountierr ot not 3aore
than ten thousand, four hundred and nlnoty-nine
(10,499) and not 10~8 then ten thou8and, three
hundred end elnety-nine (10,RVS) Inhabltant8, ae-
cording to the last preo8ding Federal Csn8u8, the
Oounty Judge shell be end ia hereby authorlud to
P employ a stenographer or a 018rk at a salary of not
P
Mrs. Willie O*Weal, Page 6
to 8xoeed One ~HundredBollam ($100) per AOAth.
LhrohMlaly'i8 t+ be pid monthly by county
warrants drewn on the oouty general iund, the
OOrv\tysalary fund, or the read end bridge fund,
or either o? them, on the order8 o? the Commia-
8iOwra Court o? suoh aounty. 'Suoh a stenographer
or olerk ah~ll be subjeot to remora1 et the will
o? 8uob County Judge.
-sec. 8. The ?eot that In the alma o? OO~A-
tie8 eiiaatsd by thi8 Aot there is great need for
e 8tenographer or olerk by the aounty, and the
fact tbat,fhInAot,abould take s??eot a8 8oon em
po88Ibls, orsate an emer&eAay and en Iwpamtlva
publla neoe88Ity that the Conatltutlonal,Rule re-
wiring bill8 to be road on three 8everal daya
In laoh House be suspended, and the 8eme I8 here-
by suspended, 5nd thi8.Aot shall,teke s??eet and
bo in form from imd after it8 pdl88agd, and it
18 80 lnaoted.
wFlled without CaverAor's 8ignatux-e April 80,
1989.
~B??eotlo8~bprll 2C; 1959.*
Carron County, Termi aooordlng tQ the le8t preoad-
ing Federal Csneu8 of 19% ha8 ~'(18~ thou8and, ~YOA hun-
drad and ?orty-rive (9.9451 inhabitant.8and is the sdy aounty
in Texe8 coning within tha populetion braoketco? .Aot mAre then
8even thotmapd, Al&t hundred (7,800) and Aot 1488 than 8iron thou-
8aAd, 8evon himdred (9,900) set Out in HoA8s BIll~458, 8upre.
Willaoy County, Texa8; eooordiAg to the lest pre-
asding Federal Cur8u8 o? 1930, has ten thousand, four hun-
dred and ninety-nine (10,499) Inhabltaate and la the only
county In Texes coming wlthln ,thspapulation brfioket8 or
not aom then ten thO&WaAd, .fourhundred end Ainaty-nine
(10,499) and not le8A then ten thousand, three hundred and
ninety--nine(10,SOO) set out in Hou8e Bill 438, ~upra.
At the very.OUt8st or this opinion, we are oon-
frosted with the a~n8tItutlonelIty of the above quoted bIl18. I
The qUe8tiOn erirm aa to'Whether or Rot the8e bill8 are looal
or specie1 laws reguletlag or etturrptingto regulate the
a??alr8 of aouutlea IJIvIolirtIono? ArtIole~'9,Soetfon 56 o?
,:- the COO8titUtiOU o? T~XIAD.
The oa8e A? Altgelt ~8. Cuteolt, SO1 SW 400, hold8
that a Boxer County Road LAW, providing for en ennuA1 8alery
for oomwi88Ioner8 of t+4 aounty for acting iA all oapaaitle8,
Mrs. Willie O'Er'sal,
Page 7
was unconstitutional, as an attempted regulation of county
lffiirs by loeal and speoial law.
Ths oass of Smith vs. Stats, 49 SW 3nd 739, holds
that the eonstltutional prohibition against special laws
eansot bs evaded by making law applicable to a protended
olass and that a statute classifying munieipalitlss by popu-
lation is wspsclalW ii population does not afford rair basis
for elassitleatlon but statuts msrsly dssi@atss singlo
musioipalit~under guiss 0r e~asifyb4g by population. ws
quots from said ease as follews:
"A eonsidemtlon or the dla88iri0ati0n ereat-
sd by ths aet Involved in ths present oass in the
light 0r utia 3, s0Oti05 30 0r the c0n8titrrti0n,
prlm~rily.aalls for the application or ths rule t&at
ths Lsgislaturs oanaot evade the prohibition ot the
Oosstltution bymsklsg a lsw applieable to a prs-
tsadsd class, which is a6 manifested by the aet,
in hot, no class. Clark vs. Tinlsy, 34 SW 343,
aupra. sotie 0r the teats r0r dhmda5g rhOthOr
a prOtendOd class is mifiirO6tOaby an sot arc laid
down bg YeCpillan on tioipal Corporations,Volume
1, gags8 498, 499. 80 quofsr 'The elassifloation
adopts6 must rocltin real or substantial distino-
tion, which rondsrs one olass, in truth, distinet
or ditisront from anethor class.... There must
exist a reasonable justiflcatioa ror the classiri-
eation that is, the basis of the ela8siriOat'~.oa
invoked must have s aIreGt relation to the pu.poss
0r the law....*
In ths oaso of Wood vs. mrfa Indspsndsnt Sebool
Dirtriot, lZ3 SU end 429, ths eourt used the following lan-
@WV :
We take judioial knorlsdge that no other
eouaty in Texas haa the qualirioation 0r ';r-and
population demanded by the statutes....
sufflOlent to say here that when we look to tho
praetieal opera+on of the act, we are led to the
eonolusion that beyond doubt 2t nas tbe putpose
of the Legislature to single out Presidio County
and naks the aot applleable to that county alone.
Bexar County vs. Tynan; 97 SW End 467. For that
mason the aot is a looal aot and one whieh it vms
beyond the power Or ths Lsglalaturs to snaot.
Vernon's Annotated Ciril Statutos, l'ema COestltutlon,
.
;-
YrS* ri111* O'Neal, Page 8
Utiels 3, Section 56; Brownfield vs. Tongste,
109 SH and 3321 City of Fort Worth vs. Bobbitt,
36 SE end 470; Britter vs. #set, 65 SA'2nd 414;
Austin Broe. vs. Patton, 2488SW 1SZ; 3aith vs.
State, 49 SW 8nd ISQ."
This deparfnsnt held in its opinion 100. 0-10 on
Maroh 6, MSQ, that Artloles 3378s-1 and 3QElb-E3, Rsvlsed
Clril statutes of Texas, 1%?5, the former being appliealbs
to counties having a population or not less than rorty-
eight thousand, nine hundred (43,900) and not more than
Forty-nine thousand (49,COO) and the latter applying to
oountlss with a population of not lass than rorty-eight
thousand, nine hundred (48,900) and not nors than forty-
eight thousand, nine hundred and seventy-fire (43,975)
and ~O~ti~8 with a population of not 1088 tlan ten thou-
sand, threw huadred and seventy (lO,S70) and not more
than ten thousand, three hundred an6 eighty (10,380),
aooording to the last proording Bsdsral csnsus, were un-
oonstitutlonal and told as special laws under Seetion 36,
Article S 0r tho State Constitution, citing the ease 0r
the City of Fort Worth va. Bobbitt, 36 SW and 470.
This dopattmertheld in its opinion No. C-344,
on JdarOh1, lQS9, that &tiOls SQOE, Ssoti~ S8 thersoi,
Rsrissd Civil Statutse of Tal06, 19t8, providing for an
offloe'a8si8t8nt, bookkeeper and stsnographsr in counties
having a population 0r not 1088 than forty-e,ight thousand
nins hundrsd (4S,OOO) and not 80x8 than fortg-nine thousand
(49,000) inhabitants, aoeording to the last praeeding Fed-
oral csnsus, was told under Artiels 3, Seotlon 36, of the
State Oonstitution.
This deparfsmnt held in its opinion No. C-463,
on Uareh 31, 1939, that House 3111 6S3, 46th Logislaturo,
'which provides for the attaqhment of adjacent territory
-for aening urposes by towne or not less than tour thou-
sand (4,0007 inhabitants nlthin counties oY not 1888 than
thrse hundred thousand (SC0 000) and not mere than three
huntied and rirty thousand fSSO,OO?) inbabittmts aeoofiing
to the last prseeding Federal oensus, WUI unconstitutional
in that it attsmpted to snaot a loeal law and foil within
the prohibition or Artiele S, Soetgon 56 of ths Constitution
0r 'Taxes.
Mrs. Ulllle OWeal, Age 9
Opinion lo. O-899 of thls de&artment holds that
House Bill 866 of'ths 46th Legislature of Texas, a bill
ettempting
- to pfovldo traveling
_ ._ 4xp4ns44 for oo0nAsdo5srs
of count148 having a p0pulat.l
on or not 14k18thn twenty-
two thousand, one hundred (3!e,lOO)and not more than twslpty-
two thouslmd, five hundred (88,600) inhabitants accordilpg
to the last preceding Federal Census, la unconetitutlonal
and void as a looal or spseial law attempting to regulate
the airairs of'a county in oontravention or Section 56 of
Artiole 21or the Constitution.
Opinion Ho. O-1955 or this deplrtmant holds that
HOMU Bill es6 of the 46th Legislature of Texas, a bill
attempting to provide traveling 4xp45s4s tor oanmissioners
of oounties baring a opulstion of not less than thirty-
four thoussnd (34,000! nor more than thirty-four thousaad,
two hundred.(S4,2!00)inhabitants, according to.ths lset
preoeding'federsl Census, is unoonstitutLona1 and void as
a 10aal or spsoidl law attmsptlng to regulate the stiairs
or a county in oontrav4ntlon of Section 56 0r Article 3 0r~
the Constitution.
This department has held a large number of sJmil.ar
aots to be unoon4tltutiotml and void.
You arc therefore res~Ot~ully advised that it la
the 0p15105 of this department that Eouss Bills 195 and 4SS
or the 46th Legislature of Texa8, quoted above, era looal
and speaial laws sttespti5g to regulate tha affairs of
00u5t148, in contrsr6ntlon or Beotion 56 0r Art1014 3 0r
our State Constitution and are therefore unoonabitutlonal
and void.
You also Inquire In your letter of request as to
your llabllity for payirq out county funds under these bills.
Artlole 1649, kavised Civil Statutes of Texas,
reads as r0n0w8:
*Art. 1649. Bond and Oath. - The auditor shall,
tithin tw45t.ydays 0r his appointment, a54 bstore .
he enters upon the duties of his 0rriO4, make a
boad with two or more good ma 6UfriCi45t sureties,
in the sum or rive thousaud dollars, parable to
Mrs. Will14 O'Neal, Page 10
the oounty Judge aonditloned r0r th0 rlithrul
performenas of hi8 dutl48, to b4 approved by
the coamlasloners aourt. He ahall also take
the orrlclal oath and an additloual ona In rrlt-
lng, atatlug that hs la In ovary ray quallried
under the pro~l%lon% and raqulrm4nta Of ml8
title, and giving fully tha poaltlona of prlvats
or pub110 trust ho has hemtorore hold, and the
lmgth of aervias under sash. Ho ahall further
lnaluda in hi4 oeth that ha will not personally
bs intcreetad In any contract 45th the runty."
Arti'cle1651, Revlaod Civil Statutes of Texea
road8 a4 rollowa:
"Qenorel Iml88. - Thr auditor shall have a
gsnorel over81 t of all ths book% and .recorde
or all the 0rrk"
a4ra 0r th4 aounty, dlstrlat or
Stnto, who may be authorlzod or required by law
to reaelvo or aolloat any monay, funds, roe8 or
other propotty for ths uaa of, or belonging to,
the aouuty; and ha shall see to the ltrlat mn-
roraomont or the l4w govomlng aounty rinena4%.*
Artiale 16259,Revlaod Clrll Ytatutos or Tour8 road6
as r OiiOWS :
*To reuaino Aaaount. - Ii4 ahall b4v4 continual
aaooaa to and shall 4x4min4 all the booka, aa-
aounta, reporta, vouahora and othsr roaorda of
any ofiiaor, the order8 of the aommlaalonors oourt,
mlntlng to flnantm of tha OOunt~ and all
vouahora given br the truat.44or ah aaamon school
diatrlata or ths aounty and shall Inquire Into
the aorreatnoaa or aaai4.'
Artlals 1660, Rovls4d Civil Btatutoa ot Texas road8
aa rollowa 1
-Apprwal of Clear. - All claims, bllla and
acaounto egalnat the county mu4t be f$l4d In 4mpl4
tlaPsror the auditor to 4nain4 end approvs %%n4
before the meotl~a ot the aommiaalonora court.
Ko alaim, bill or aaaount shall be allowod or pld
until it has beon eumined and a proved by the
oounty auditor. The auditor aha P1 lraalnr th4
same and atemp hi% 'approval theroon. If be 644~
it noaeaaary, all such amounts, bill, or claims
muat be verlilod by arrldavlt touching tho aorroat-
Nra. Will14 O*Neal, Pass 11
noms of tha a-4. The auditor la hereby author-
Izsd to admlniatsr oaths for the purposas oi thl%
law.”
Artlalo 1661, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas road%
a% r0ii0w8:
*RoquI%ltes Of Approval. - He ah411 not audit
or approvo an;l such claim unlsss It has bean aon-
tracted 4s provldod by law, nor any account for
the purchase of supplies or araterlalafor tha 1144
or eald county or cay or its offIcor%, unlear,
In addition to other requlromenta of law, thorn
la attaahed theroto a roqulaItlon algnod by the
offloor ordorlng 44m4 and approved by ths aounty
Judge. Said rquleltion must ?JOmade out and
algnod and approved In tripllaata by the said
orrloora, the trlpllaate to romaln with the offl-
aor Ussiring the.purchaas the dupllaate to bo
Illod with ths aounty auditor, and the original
- t.0bs dolfvored to the party from whcm maid
puralmrrola to be am&debetOr any puraharo #h6ll
be aPade. All warrants oa the county troaauror,
lxo4pC warrants for Jury aorvlae, must b? aounter-
al&nod by the oounty auditor.*
The aeae of Southern Surety Commny lt al vs.
0ouutf, 83 61 Zd 513 Connalasionot Appaala Of Tox48,
B holds that the f’aiiursof the ootlntyauditor to
cause propor entry to be rnads on oounty books or the ro-
oeipt aad deposit of 4 w4mnt payrrbleto the aounty and
to m&a report to the aomla%Iouora* court shoring rooelpt
.of money entItls% the county to recover jud(pssntagainst
ths auditor and the eursty oa him orrlalal bond, on the
ground of the auditor18 mnlfeaaano~ In offloe. lo quota
rroa th4 adurt*% opinion 44 r0ii0wfi:
-ho offloe of aounty auditor Is highly
Important under our aches440r local dr-
gor4rn!44n’t. RI% aoleatlon 1% removed,am far
a% poaslblo from dlrsat politiaeilinfluenae
by requlrlng hla appointment at the hands Of
the aiatrlat judgoa of the aounty. The ata-
tutory quallflaatlone and oath proeorlbod for the
Inoumbent of this orlice are oxaoptio441. Ho
C
met be or unquoatlonable.good moral aharacter and
intollkgenoo, ,thoroughlyoompsfent In bualn4aa
dotalla. B4 +% rsqulrod to t*e the uau41 ori:-
Mrs. iYllll4OWeal, Page 12
ala1 oath of ofilco, and also an additional
oath, in writing, atatlng ho Is In every my quall-
rlod under the provialona and roqul~4smnta or thr
Jaw relating to hi% 0rrio4, the poaItlon4 0r pub-
lic trust or private trust he he% theratofOr4 held,
and the length of servloa under eaah. He Is also
roqulred to include In him addltionel oath that
he will not be personally lnt8reate6 In any con-
tnat with the county. Artlaloa 1648, 1649, H. S.
19g5. Artiolo 1651 providos tht.tho %uditor
ahall hsve *goner&l over81 ht or 411 the books
and records of all the oiffa4ra of the county,
dfatrlat or Stats, who may be authorized or ro-
qulred by law to reoalvs or oollsct any money...
ror th4 ~$0 or, or belonging to the county; and
he shall aoe to the rtrlat enforaeffiont of the law
governing oounty fl,nanooa.* Articls 1853, pro-
vldoe 'he shall havs continual aoaoas to and shall
oxaaifneall the books, a6aount8, r4port4, vouchers
and othar rocorda ....rela$ing tot he financoe Or
the aounty ....aad ahall inquire Into the correot-
noms or 84m6.q.....
wArtlcl4 1663 aakoa It his duty ap4olllcally
to roqulre 411 prsona who havs roaelvod money
bolonglng to the aounty, or have the dlsposltlon
or managomont or any or the property of tbs oounty
to reador atatamanta to him. !Ch4auoa4sdlng artl-
al4 (1664) provides, 'he ahall keep a general dot
.& book% sharing all ef th4 trenaaotlons of'the
aounty rolatlng to aaaounta, oontraota, indebtsd-
naaaea of the county, and it% reaelpts and dla-
buraeaenta of all Linda, and ah411 maLe tabulated
roporta of said funds 4nd eoaounta ior eath rsgu-
14r meeting of ths oommIaslonara* aourt.'....
*The roregolng resti of the naturs and dutlos
or the orrlca or oounty auditor Is made for the '
purpoae of ehowlng not only what tha statutory
~dutlsa incumbent upon him are, but also a% rafbaot-
iag the power conforrod upon hlaiby the Logialature,
and his obligations In oonsoquenae tbercsof,in the
aatter of saroguerding oounty funds.
0 ....Whether through vIoletIon or law or
dereliction of him ofilalal duty, ho socure; ;;%-
aoaaion oS the warrant and It% proaooda,
waa his d~uty as auditor to moo that the proper
II
ma. Wlllil,O'luaal,Page 13
rund of the oounty rec9ir8d oredit r0r ~MO
and to eee that entrier were laedeupon the
oounty rooorda retlebtlng their proper handling
and diaporitlon.... He was aharged by Ian with
knowledge of how reoeipt of the funde oould be
prooured iromthe county treasurer. Artlole 1657.
Thi faot that the county*@ fund8 wore in hla
hands did not take rroc.hfs power to make, cr
CtiU60 to be mudo, proper.aocounting to the
oollnty. His statutory duty wae plain to oauso
proper entries to be made upon the books of the
ocunty, and upon deposit of hbe funds to charge
the 8ame to the county treasurer, orediting the
amount to the party depositing aape. Artloles
1656, 1657. It waa Me duty thereupon to make
a report to the oofmissfonarsl oourt ahowing re-
cd@ by the oounty of this money. Art101e 1665.
Hla failure to do any' of theba thfngs oonstituttm
flagrant vlolatlon of the oonditlon or his bon6
r ithf llr mrrorm the dutlea required ot him
F- ain aoquirlng ponee~~slonat the oountj*rr
ii+ u
WI 8 inth8 mannar stated, together rfth him
rallure to oauae propor rooouatlap, ror mama and
make report thereof; waa auoh oonduot with N-
epeot to hle offiolal duties as to oohstltut6
malfeaaanoe in mfoe. Certainly this is trua
In the abasnoe or any shwfna. or attempted sha-
lng, or juetlrloatlon on his-$rrt ror euoh rail-
ura....* (Undatrsoorfngours)
It is rundantectallaw that~a alafm again& a county
besed upon an unconetitutiona~ statute Is not a lawful claim
agalnet the oouuty. It is the uuty or the oounty auditoF
*v me that only
. *.lawful
_ 0lel.m againat the county me paid.
w aas no aucnon~y TO approve an unlawful.olai.magelnat the
oounty. Artiale 1651, R. G. S., eupre, also pr&dee, among
other thinge, that the oouuty auditor shall WC to the etrlot
enfomement or the law governing oounty rinanoos. As pointed
out above, the orriolal bond of the aounty auditor is oon-
ditioned upon the faithful perfoI%nnnoe cf his duties.
In view or the above authorities, you are roepeot-
filly advised that it is the opinion of this department that
you have no authority to and should not approve the payment
Or olelma again& your county arialng under Bouse ,Bllle 195
PD. WrillleO'Kaal, Page 14
and 493 OS the 46th Legislature ab 'Pexae.
Trusting that this aatl8faOtOdlj answer8 your
lnqulry , wso are
very truly yours
APPROVED APR. RS, 1940 ATToRKzY CRNRRAL 01 TUAB
/m/ Wrald C. Mann
BY
ATTORIRXY ORZWR4L 01‘TEXAS /a/-. Jiazrh%t
WJYSAW
AFPROTBD OpIRlaW CO!&WFTKS 8'7B.V.B. C&MRwIo