New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-09

As has been said. the Westminster Board of
Supervisors holds more sessions in year than
any other board in the State. The New-Ro-
chelle Paragraph a Republican newspaper.
recently printed a table showing the number Of
sessions held in some of the other counties Of
the State According 10 this table the number
u meetings in the various counties were fol-
lows: Albany. p; ,Allegany, 10; Broone. II: Ca
yuga, 81; Chautauqua. 6: Chemung 80. Erie,
-: Franklin, II. Herkimer. "a, jefferson. so;
Lewis. -. Livingston, %: Madison. 80; Mont
gomery. Il; Niagara 80: Oneida. 80; Onondaga.
%; Orange. D. Orleans. -; Oswego. %; Put
nam, 10, RoCkland, ~: st. Lawrence, DC: Sara
toga, ~, Schenectady "a. Schoharie, 20; Sen
eca. 20; Steuben. 16; Sullivan. l.; Tompkins. 90;
Ulster 26; Washington. 3; Wyoming l.. and
Yates. l.. In Westchester where the members
OF the board paid by the day. there were
sixty-two sessions. This. il will he noticed is a
greater number Of sessions than held in
either Albany or Erie County. It is believed
that the sessions viii be less numerous when
the new law giving each supervisor salary OF
5000 a year and travelling expenses, goes into
effect June l.
II was said yesterday that when John NJ
SIinn. who is chairman OF the board, took office
he issued a message after a consultation with
the leaders Of the Republican organization. in
which he came out strongly for retrenChment
and reform. but Mr.. Shinn soon afterward was
taken i'll with appendicitis and while he was in
the noSpltaI an opposition cirque got Lre peSI OF
him This clique, II is charged, has permitted
members who were defeated last fall at the
polls and whose terms have expired. TO continue
on important committees. where they draw large
pay. while the members elected in their places
have been put less important committees.
An ex-member has just received 5000 for help
ing the clerk Of the board
LEGALITY OF CONTRACTS QUESTIONED.
The question has arisen IN White Plains
whether contracts made by men after they
out Of the board are binding the county. The
committee on repairs 10 the jail, on which sew
eral Of these ex-members are serving has just
entered into extensive contracts for new floor
ing for the Jail and other improvements. which
it is alleged, are Illegal. The Westminster Coun-
" jail as managed by the supervisors has been
q costly institution. In the last few years
$4,000 has been spent on IT, OF this amount
zen OF White Plains. who has been around the
courthouse all his life. told a Tribune reporter
to-day that he could DUPLICATE all Of the locks
for 5000 This man also exhibited official re-
ports. showing that one supervisor from Green
burg drew Na.O4S Is from the county last year
OF this amount the sum Of ST6S is put in the re-
port with the mere explanation, Services rem
dered."
one supervisor now in the board the man
said, received more pay last year than his town
pays in taxes TO the county and State. This
man said that he had known the board 10 hold
sessions short five minutes. and then
charge the county a days pay for them. Re
Gently. he said. the board remained in session
for four hours, and after the meeting adjourned
some of the members complained OF OverWOrk-
They said that they would never do il again.
Il is because Of these dilatory methods that
the appOrtiOnmen1 Of State and county taxes
has been delayed. The law says that the ap-
portionment shall be made by December II. and
II is Onlv just tabulated.