SEC. 22. The auditor shall, for the purpose of enabling him fully to discharge the duties required of him by this chapter, have access to any books and papers in the offices of the secretary of state, general treasurer, the clerks of the several courts, the town treasurers in the several towns, and of the justices of the peace, and of the courts of magistrates or justices in the state.

SEC. 23. He shall keep fair, clear and distinct accounts under appropriate heads, of all the expenditures and disbursements made in pursuance of the provisions of this chapter.

SEC. 24. He shall keep an account with the general treasurer, and credit him with all the amounts paid on the orders drawn or countersigned by said auditor, so that the books and accounts of the auditor shall show all the expenditures and disbursements of moneys appropriated by the general assembly.

SEC. 25. He shall, twice in each year, carefully examine the books and accounts of the general treasurer, his vouchers for the charges thereon, and the moneys or funds on hand in the state treasury, and at the May session of the general assembly, and at the adjourned session at Providence, report the result of such examination, specifying the kind and amount of funds particularly, and such other facts and recommendations in relation to the same, and in relation to the expenditures of the state, as he may deem it important to the public interest to communicate.

SEC. 26. He shall furnish the clerks of said courts, justices of the peace and other officers required by this chapter to account to him, with such forms of accounts and returns as he shall think proper and convenient; and the said clerks, justices and other officers shall make return to the auditor according to law, agreeably to such forms by him prescribed.

SEC. 27. If any clerk, officer or other person shall neglect or refuse to account to the auditor as herein required, or shall neglect or refuse to pay into the state treasury any costs or moneys belonging to the state, at the time when the same ought to be paid, the person so offending shall forfeit treble the value or amount of the costs or other moneys so withheld or not paid, to be recovered by action of debt, to be commenced in the name of the general treasurer, for the use of the state.

SEC. 28. The auditor shall report all cases of delinquency under this chapter to the attorney-general.

SEC. 29. It shall be the duty of the attorney-general to cause prosecution to be commenced for all neglects of the duties imposed by the provisions of this chapter, whenever the same shall be brought to his knowledge.

TITLE V.

Of certain State Officers.

CHAPTER 18. Of the governor.

CHAPTER 19. Of the secretary of state.

CHAPTER 20. Of the attorney-general.

CHAPTER 21. Of public notaries and commissioners.

SECTION 1. All petitions for pardon, under article second of the amendments to the constitution, shall be presented to the governor, and the petitioners shall comply with such rules and regulations respecting the filing and hearing of the same as he may, from time to time, prescribe.

SEC. 2. In the exercise of the power of pardon, the persons who receive the benefit of such pardon shall comply with, and be subject to, such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the governor at the time of the exercise of such power.

SEC. 3. Whenever any murder, attempt at murder, robbery or any other high crime, shall be committed in the state, and the perpetrator thereof shall escape detection, or shall escape from custody or imprisonment either before or after conviction, the governor may issue his proclamation offering a suitable reward, not exceeding one thousand dollars, for the apprehension of the offender.

SEC. 4. The governor shall annually appoint a day of public thanksgiving, and shall announce the same, by proclamation, to the people of the state.

SEC. 5. He may draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of any particular services of a public nature to the amount of twenty dollars at any one time.

SECTION 1. The secretary of state shall be the keeper of the seal of the state.

SEC. 2. There shall continue to be one seal for the public use of the state; the form of an anchor shall be engraven thereon, and the motto thereof shall be the word "Hope."

SEC. 3. The secretary shall keep and preserve in his office, all acts and resolves passed by the general assembly, and all original papers relating to the proceedings thereof.

SEC. 4. He shall affix the seal of the state, to acts, commissions, certificates, and other papers in his office, in all cases required by law; and shall give copies, duly authenticated, of any official paper whenever required and paid therefor.

SEC. 5. He shall from time to time as he shall deem proper, contract for the printing of all acts and resolves, digests, reports, records and other documents, which shall by general law, or by the general assembly, or by either house thereof, be required to be printed at the expense of the state.

SEC. 6. Before making any such contract, he shall decide upon the style of printing and binding, and the quality of paper to be used for the acts and resolves, digests, reports, records and documents referred to, and shall advertise for sealed proposals for the same. He shall then make the contract with the person or persons who shall agree to perform the work required on the lowest terms, and in the most prompt and satisfactory manner; and who shall give satisfactory security for the performance of the contract.

SEC. 7. He shall, immediately after the acts, resolves and other proceedings of each session of the general assembly are printed as required by law, carefully examine at least six printed copies thereof, and shall certify and authenticate the same under his hand and the seal of the state, and when so certified and authenticated, the same shall be the record of the acts, resolves and proceedings

of such session, and the secretary shall keep and preserve the same in his office, and shall from time to time cause the same to be bound for more convenient use.

SEC. 8. He shall keep a copy of all official letters sent by him, and shall preserve in book-form all public letters received by him. SEC. 9. He shall, at the May session, annually, furnish the general assembly with a list of all civil commissions returned to him; and with the names of all justices of the peace, who refused or neglected to take their commissions.

SEC. 10. He shall, at least ten days previous to the day of election of general officers, representatives to congress, or electors of president and vice-president of the United States, furnish each town or ward clerk, with printed forms of returns, certificates and directions, together with any advice he may deem necessary to secure proper returns.

SEC. 11. He shall, within thirty days after any default in the return of votes, certify the same to the attorney-general, and his certificate shall be prima facie evidence of such default, and the attorney-general shall prosecute every person guilty thereof.

SEC. 12. He shall subscribe for and take, for the use of the state, three hundred copies of each number or volume, of the Rhode Island reports which may be published, and shall distribute the same as follows, three copies to the librarian of the congress library for the use of the United States; one copy to the secretary of each of the states and territories of the United States for the use of the states and territories; one copy to each of the justices of the supreme court; one copy to the circuit judge of the United States of the circuit embracing the district of Rhode Island; one copy to the district judge of the United States for the Rhode Island district; said justices and judges as newly appointed in succession to receive all back numbers and volumes of reports so far as the secretary can supply them; three copies to each of the clerks of the courts of this state and of the courts of the United States held in this district; one copy to the governor; one copy to the lieutenant-governor; one copy to the attorney-general; one copy to the speaker of the house of representatives of this state; one copy to each of the sheriffs of this state; one copy to the marshal of the United States for this district; one copy to each of the town clerks of this state; said copies to said clerks of courts, sheriffs, marshal and town clerks to be kept as appendages to their said offices; ten copies to be kept in the state library in the state house in Providence; and ten copies to be kept in the state house in Newport, for the use of the general assembly; two copies to each bar library in this state; one copy to the library of Brown University; one copy to the Providence Athenæum; one copy to the Redwood library, Newport; and one copy to the Rhode Island Historical Society; and other copies to such other officers, persons, corporations and associations as the general assembly may from time to time order.

SEC. 13. He may, by writing, appoint a deputy under him, who

shall be engaged for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office.

SEC. 14. Such deputy may, in the absence of the secretary of state, do all things by law required of the secretary, as fully as the secretary himself might or could do; and the secretary shall be responsible and liable for any misconduct, neglect or default of such deputy.

SEC. 15. The secretary shall perform such other duties as are, or may be required of him, by law.

SECTION

CHAPTER 20.

OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

SECTION

2. Duties of the attorney-general.
3. Same subject.

1. Attorney-general to attend the general assembly and courts. SECTION 1. The attorney-general shall give his attendance at the general assembly, and at the supreme court, and court of common pleas, for the service thereof: and shall give unto such courts, due advice and information, concerning any criminal matters, breaches of the peace, or wrong done to the state, or any of the citizens thereof, that shall come to his knowledge.

SEC. 2. He shall draw and present to such courts, all informations and indictments, or other legal process, against any such offenders, as by law is required, and diligently, by a due course of law, prosecute the same to final judgment and execution.

SEC. 3. He shall commence and prosecute to final judgment and execution, such other legal processes, and shall perform such other duties, as are, or may be required of him, by law.

SECTION 1. Public notaries are hereby authorized within their respective counties to act, transact, do and finish all matters and