Sec.  20.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  collector  of  taxes  in  each
town,  to  be  and  remain  in  the  town  clerk's  office,  and  in  the  cities
of  Newport  and  Providence,  to  be  and  remain  at  his  own  or  at
the  town  clerk's  office,  from  and  after  the  day  of  his  receiving  the
copy  of  the  registry,  in  the  eighth  section  of  this  chapter  men-
tioned, for  at  least  six  hours  in  each  day,  to  wit :  from  twelve  to
six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  during  the  six  days,  exclusive  of  Sunday
next  preceding  the  last  four  days  before  the  day  of  the  annual  elec-
tion for  state  officers,  and  one  day  before  the  fourth  day  next  preced-
ing any  other  election ;  or  in  case  of  absence,  to  appoint  some  one  as
his  agent,  there  to  remain  as  aforesaid,  during  the  period  aforesaid,  to
receive  the  registry  tax  :  Provided^  that  the  certificate  of  such  pay-
ment shall,  in  case  of  payment  to  the  agent,  be  under  the  hand  of  the
collector,  in  order  to  avail  as  proof  before  the  board  of  canvassers.
Sec.  21.  If  the  collector  shall  die,  resign,  be  unable,  or  neglect
or  refuse  to  do  his  duty  hereinbefore  required,  the  town  clerk  of
each  town  shall  receive  and  certify  the  payment  of  the  registry
tax  with  the  same  effect  that  the  collector  might  do.
Sec.  22.  Any  wilful  neglect  or  refusal  of  duty  on  the  part  of
the  collector  or  town  clerk,  or  agent  under  the  two  sections  next
preceding,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five
dollars  nor  more  than  one  thousand  dollars.
