The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-03
CANAL CLAIMS AGAINST
STATE REACH $56,|47,OOO
General Woodbury. Urges the Appointment
of Another Judge to Hasten Work of Adjust
ment-Interest Piling Up.

ALBANY. April New claims against
the State of more than s25, 900, 900. grow
ing out Ut the construction Of the barge
canal. were filed during the year 1915,
according to the report Of Attorney
General Woodbury.. which will be ub-
mitted 90 he Legislature tomorrow.
During this period the state Court OF
Claims disposed Of claims a~ggregating
$4,000, 900. leaving others outstanding of
s56.l47 900.
As n large proportion Of the amount
claimed is for compensation for property
taken for canal construction and as the
awards draw interest at Q per cent. from
the date Of appropriation. the Attorney
General urges the Fastening OF the dis
position Of these interest hearing claims.
To this end he recommends the APP
pointment OF an additional Judge TO the
Court OF Claims and the adoption of a
plan under which at least three of the
Judges may be required 10 devote their
time to the trial and determination of
appropriation lain Al the present
time there are five Judges on the Court
OF Claims. three permanent and W tenn
porary. Acknowledgement woodbury's
suggestion would call for the termination
OF the services OF the additional or tenn
porary Judges on March 81. 1920. by
which time the barge canal litigation will
have been cleared up.
The interest Of the State" the Attor-
ney-General says. requires that every
effort possible should be made TO deter
mine the amounts due 20 land owners
whose lands have been taken, and such
amounts should be paid promptly to such
claimants In order that the burdensome
tnf0rpef ohm rDao v,ox no eltsrtratn N, ~.
earliest date.
"Inasmuch as the State has issued its
bonds and has available funds derived
from the sale Of such bonds with whic
to pay the awards for the appropria-
ton Of lands. and that the borrowing
has been accomplished at a rate slightly
less than I per cent. per annum IL would
seem to be the part OF wisdom as well
as economy to hasten by every lesitimate
means the determination OF these ap-
preparation claims the payment from
the proceeds OF such bonds Of the awards
which will be made Hereunder.
IF a saving OF the difference between
S per cent. and 4 per cent. can be accom-
piished upon awards OF this character.
amounting possibly TO SIS, 1000. 900. such
saving will represent an amount very
much greater than the entire cost Of
maintenance OF the Court OF Claims as
1t now exists. and would justify. IN my
opinion, an increase in the number OF
Judges over the number now authorized
by law"
During the year Of 1915 A~ttorney-Gen-
eral Woodbury. collected and turncd INFO
the State Treasury S1sS.00o. NJ this
amount $4,000 was recovered for the
care OF inmates in State hospitals; 500
oo0 from the enforcement OF the agri-
cultural and pure food laws $4,000 un-
der the conservation law and SIG 600
from other sources.
The report recites that the Attorney-tten-
eral on January I, 1915. discontinued the
policy OF employing special counsel. The
prosecution OF agricultural cases in New
York city has been handled by the New
| York office OF the Attorney-General with
a great saving.
Data contained in the report disclose
that the At'o-neyAiencral Is at present
handling 5000 cases involving IN prop
erty and money values over $500. OoO.-
coo. In the United States Surrcme
Court last year one state case WAS
argued and the state was successful.
-Four cases are pending 10 this court.
or % appeals taken 10 the o Of Ar-
peals by the Attorney-oeneral. he WAS
successful In l6. lost five and two are
undecided.
OF i31 cases argued in the appellate
Divisions of the supreme Court, the
State was successful in lol, lost Is, with
five undecided, The total number OF ac-
tons commenced in the supreme Cour,
by the Attorney-Generul was 3.lOo. Al
Special Term COS motions were made in
wldch the Acknowledgement was rep
resented. and t73 pro, eedings in Suvro-
gates Court, exclusive Of state hospital
- 49,.
sand informal or letter opinions and 1os