The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-03
THE BOARD OF CLAIMS.
A Desirable State once Which Is to BE
come Vacant on March Is Next.

n Sthte oHlC0 "n1Cn y TO DS-
come Vacant on March IS Next.
The term Of the Judges OF the Board Of
Claims OF the State Of New York is six years.
and as now constituted the board consists Of
two Republican members and one Democrat.
The Republican member are former Lieut.
Gov. Charles T. saxton. who is the presiding
Judge. whose home residence Is at Clyde.
In Wayne county. and John F. Parkhurst.
whose residence is at Bath. Steuben county.
who Is the Steuben district member OF the
Republican State Committee. representing rhe
Twenty-ninth ConGressional district. which
consists of Steuben. Chemung. Schuyler and
Seneca counties. The Democratic member OF
the board is former Judge William NJ. Beebe
OF Monticello. Sullivan county. He was one Of
the original Judges appointed at the time Of
the establishment OF the board and has been a
member continuously since. His present
term expires on March 10 and there 10 already
a considerable scramble among aspirants for
the post. which is con sidered most desirable.
The Board OF Claims was established by an
ing the Governor. with the assent Of the Senate
to appoint three persons, residents of the
neys and councillors. Of the Supreme Court.
the persons 50 appointed, to constitute the
were to hold Office for two. four and six years
respectively. and vacancies as they occurred
were 10 Do nlled Dy the GoHernor and Senate
for the term OF six. years. The Governor may
remove any Commissioner within the term for
which he shall have been appointed. but before
50 doing he shall give him a COPY Of the
charges against him and an opportunity Of
being hoard In his defence. The board Is re-
Quired to hold at least four sessions. in the city
Of Albany. In each year. and may hold ad-
lourned sessions at such other places in the
State as Il may deem necessary.
hear. audit and determine all private claims
against the State which shall have accrued
within two years prior to the time when the
existing statutes. and to allow thereon
such sums as should be paid BY the State.
Tho Commissioner have power to punish for
cepSntem2 t in like cases and in Ike manner as
controversy exceeds $500. either party feeling
itself aRgrieved by the award, of the board may
appeal to the Court OF Appeals upon questions
modify or dismiss the appeal, or order a new
hearing before the Board Of Claims. Chapter
go Of the Laws OF 1884 vested in the Board of
Claims all the jurisdiction and power to hear
merry possessed by the Canal Appraisers and
the state Board OF Audit. The Attorney-Gen-
eral is required to attend, IN person or by dep
uty. each session on behalf OF the State.
The Commissioners receive annual salaries
OF $4,000 and receive an allowance for neces-
sary EXPENSES not TO exceed 5000 for each
Commissioners They are authorized to appoint
a clerk. deputy clerk. a StenOerapher and q
messenger. The expenses OF the commission
are about S3O.OO0a year. and In matters of con-
troversy arising from contracts given by the
State the Board Of Claims is u serviceable adj
and a satisfactory substitute in many cases
for the judicial branch. Prior to. 1893 there
existed a Board OF Canal Appraisers and a
Board OF Audit. but the Board Of Claims was
Intended TO supersede both. and simultaneous-
ly with its establishment the Board of Canal
Appraisers was abolished.