They shall have the general superintendence of all the poor who may be in their respective counties, and shall have power, and it shall be their duty:

     First, To have charge of the county infirmary that has been or shall be erected, and to provide suitable places for the keeping of such poor, when so directed by the board of supervisors, when houses for that purpose shall not have been erected by the county; and for that purpose to rent a tenement or tenements, and land not exceeding 80 acres, and to cause the poor of the county to be maintained at such places;

     Second, To ordain and establish prudential rules, regulations, and by-laws, and for the government and good order of such places so provided, and of the county infirmaries and for the employment, relief, management, and government of the persons therein placed;

     Third, To employ 1 or more suitable persons to be keepers of such houses or places, and all necessary officers and servants; and to vest in them such powers for the government of such houses as shall be necessary, reserving to the poor persons, who may be placed under the care of such keepers, the right to appeal to the superintendents;

     Fourth, To purchase the furniture, implements, provisions, and materials, that shall be necessary for the maintenance of the poor and their employment and labor, and to sell and dispose of the proceeds of such labor as they shall deem expedient: Provided, That no furniture, implements, provisions, or materials, shall be purchased of a superintendent of the poor; and any superintendent being the owner of any such furniture, implements, provisions, or materials, sold to or purchased by such superintendents, or interested directly or indirectly in the profits on any such furniture, implements, provisions, or materials, by commission or otherwise, shall forfeit his interest in the same; and in addition to such forfeiture, a penalty of 50 dollars for each and every violation of the prohibitions and terms of this proviso is hereby imposed, to be collected by and in the name of the county treasurer, in the same manner as the forfeiture provided for by section 21 of this chapter.

     Fifth, To prescribe the rate of allowance to be made to any person for bringing poor persons to the county infirmary, or place provided for the poor, which amount shall be paid by the county treasurer, on the production of a certificate signed by the chairman and countersigned by the secretary of the board of superintendents;

     Sixth, To commence any suit wherein they may be entitled to prosecute upon any recognizance bond, or security taken for the indemnity of any township or of the county, and prosecute the same to effect;

     Seventh, To draw, from time to time, on the county treasurer for all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, which draft shall be paid by him out of the moneys placed in his hands for the support of the poor;

     Eighth, To render to the board of supervisors of their county at their annual meeting, a detailed account of all moneys received and expended by them, or under their directions, and of all their proceedings;

     Ninth, To pay over all moneys belonging to the county, remaining in their hands, to the county treasurer, within 15 days after receiving the same.

     Tenth, To associate with the superintendents and directors of the poor of other counties and cities within this state, in the organization of a state association of superintendents of the poor, keepers and matrons of the county infirmaries and city poor directors, and provide for annual meetings and the attendance thereat of such superintendents, matrons and keepers of county infirmaries, as the said superintendents shall determine.