New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-29
COURT OF CLAIMS
BILL PASSED; SIGNED
Whitman Acts at Once on
Measure AboliShing
State Board.
QUIETUS PUT ON
w. H. REYNOLDS'S co.
Rodenbeck Probable Head u
Re-established COurt-Hard
Fight in Legislature.

IRON Star Correspondent o. The Thbun'l
Albany. Jan. 2S.-The knight bill
abolishing the board Of claims and re-
establishing the court of claims was
passed by the Legislature tonight, ana
was Immediately sent over 20 the Gov
ernor. who signed it. He recommended
its passage in a special message.
The bill contains an amendment pre-
venting the board Of claims from hear
ing or disposing of pending litigation
thus frustrating the efforts Of special
interests who wanted the board TO dis
pose Of their claims amounting TO sew
eral million dollars. An amendment,
giving the board ninety days in which
10 dispose of pending litigation, caused
the deadlock on the bill yesterday, the
Assembly. led by Harold J. Hinman'
the majority leader, refusing to con
cur in its passage until this amend
ment was stricken out.
Mr.. Human said that one Of the
concerns which would be affected ia
vorably by the amendment which the
Construction Company. Of Brooklyn. III
which ex-senator William II. Reynolds
is heavily interested. Linked with Mr..
REYNOLDS name was that OF hlgh
official OF New York City. The com
pany has a motion before the board OF
claims for O further award of S15O.OOO.
II has been awarded more than Sl.IoO.-
600 already. The amendment puts an
end TO its efforts 70 collect this little
fortune.
Passed After Hard Fight.
Other interests were manufacturers
in Seneca Falls, with some S6l7.OOO IN
damages involved. and claims for water
power for S1.250.000 more.
Senator j. Henry Walters, Of SYRIA
cuse. who asked yesterday 70 be ex-
cused from voting when the senate
passed the bill with the offensive
amendment in il, explained to-day that
the stories in the newspapers made -
appear he had a personal interest IN
the amendment. He informed the sen
ate the amendment was made by the
Senate Judiciary Committee, OF when
he is chairman, merely TO save 1iIne
and money to litgants.
The buLwss passed on ~ through ne
roic efforts by the Republican leaders
The legislators for the most part iol-
lowing the usual custom, LETT for thelI
homes last night. The Republicans
found themselves without Sul1clehJ
number to pass the bill and a closed
call Of the two houses was resorted
TO. SeTgeants-at-arms secured tne
town and found handful, and others
in response TO kilograms, came IN Az
o'clock the bill passed the senate
hut il was discovered that, while the
Republicans had a majority, there was
only thirty in the House, less than the
necessary three-ffths.
Summoned from New York.
A hurry call was sent to New YORK
for Senators Thompson, Mills and
Cromwell. who were there preparing
for the Public Service Commission IN
veetipation. which starts tomorrow
They arrived at 1880 o'clock, and their
annesrance was the occasion Tor APP
pIause by the supperless Senators.
The bill was then passed, Tor me
second time to-day, and sent 10 the
Assembly. where it went through WIN
q rush. In all the bill has been passed
nv tho two houses five times.
The members of the Board Of Claims
who will retire in ninety days are Johh
Jerome Rooney, New York: William A.
Gardner. Amsterdam, and James Z. NC
1onald. Schenectady. To assist them
in disposing Of their cases the Gov Gov
erpor viii appoint two additional judges
as coon after signing the bill as ne
sees a. The old board having retlreG'
fbe Governor will appoint new Doaro'
corsistinp of three members, who must
f be attorneys, to serve terms of three I,c
sly and nine years each. After these
,bree terms have expired all appoint
ments to the court will be for nine
vears, The salary of the chairman Will
Adolph j. Rodenbeck, Of Rochester
former member of the Court Of Claims
which was legislated out Of existence
h., Tho Democrats four years ago, prom