New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-18
COUNSEL FEES TOO MUCH.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OBJECT TO En-
JTDGE ALLISONS CHARGES.


At the regular meeting of the Board OF Educa-
ton AT the Hall Of Education. yesterday a1ter
noon there was a discussion as to the advisaDii'y
NJ demanding that all contractors and others doihB
business with the Board. requiring payments III ca
cess OF s. 600 be compelled to give the usual oo'
in the shape OF security to be turhisheu W Su'e''
companies o.,o,
There were some reflections on the Corporation
Corrsnl,e office This official has the appointment
of all special counsel required by the Board IN the
matter Of acquiring sites for SCHOOL purposes II
was the general opinion Of the Board thae ''e
charges of tho special counsel were exoroitah''
but as the bills had been properly taxed by the
Supreme Court the Commissioners couio "o' 'e'
lust how they could get them reduced
The bills under discussion were those Oh eA
rrdco Thomas Allison who charged $3.50 In each
case for the legal advice and attention necessary
for securing two sites, one at One-huhuieu anu
thIrd-st between Madison and Fifth aves'' anu
the other In One-hundred- d-eleventh-st between
rlftb and Ienox ayes. These charges were ex-
elusive OF two charges of $3.50 for the testimony OF
oxnort witnesses. Thus the cost of acquiring the
s,,as vyas 5000 each besides other charges for
survevinp etc Another special counsel presented
n bill for 500 In each Of two cases In whch ne at
tended to the legal requirements Tor acquiring
school sites IL was the differences IN THESE TWO
charges that caused the Board first 10 take up the
matter for serious discussion and the Board asked
Il
Of the Corporation Counsel
Commissioner Eustis said that II the charges OF
ex-Judge Allison were allowed. 1t would estaolsh
n precedent that IN not very long time would
cost the Board 10000 In counsel fees Commls-
soner Prentlss said that the bills had been prop
erly certified by the Supreme Court, and that II
the Board did not pay them 1t would be compeHed
10 by the courts. with additional court charges.
Commissioners Ketchum said that among the per,
qusites OF the Corporation Counsels office were
these special counselships, which put money INTO
the pockets OF favored attorneys and that the
School BOARD seemingly was powerless The Legs
iature might 1T to change things II resolution
OF the Board was presented to u stating the 9nde
STABILITY OF the present procedure. IL inc board
contested the bills II would have TO apply TO the
Corporation Counsel 10 furnish counsel ana thus
decided to audit and order paid all charges TOT eX,
pert Witnesses That Of ex-Judge Allison was laid
=,
II was decided to ask the Legislature or tho
Municipal Assembly TO appoint a counsel TO the
Board that would attend It's sessions and attend
10 It's legal matters. at salary OF s5u" or *VV
The matter o. requiring contractors and others
having similar relations TO the Board to secure the
Endorsement OF Incorporated surety companies was
finally decided so as to allow OF one OF the two
After this resolution had prevailed the Board took
W the matter OF additional high schools q, T Th
as So o oSino1intendents had decided 70 recon-
mend three annexes TO the present high schools
instead o. two separate schools. EXPENSES on ad
the annexes is estimated at s99.76 to be added &c
the budget OF 1898
tive officcr lieutenant II. VI. Hodges Z. s n.
who has had command OF the tranng-shlp. belnG
Sssd 'Sr h2 Ss by tns Ma
L. $. y. has been selected FOR tho place by th'
Executive Committee OF tho ship. The change WI
surgeon and Instructor. resigned on Monday ant
DR. Robert Smart. formerly o. the Boston school
ship Enterprise. was selected by the committee as
/ IA