tion. Chap. 225. AN ACT making an appropriation for the expense of the unusual Became a law April 8, 1897, with the approval of the Governor. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Appropria- Section 1. The treasurer shall pay on the warrant of the comptroller, from any monies not otherwise appropriated, to the superintendent of public buildings, for the unusual alterations, repairs, changes and improvements in the public buildings already made under his charge and for deficiency now existing in the appropriation for care, cleaning, labor, lights, services and other necessary expenses of said department, the sum of eighty-five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary. No such warrant shall be issued except for wages until the amounts claimed shall have been duly audited and allowed by the comptroller. Audit of claims. Official acts legal ized. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. Chap. 226. AN ACT to legalize the official acts of certain justices of the peace The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Section 1. The official acts of every justice of the peace heretofore done and performed, duly elected or appointed to office, so far as such official acts may be affected, impaired or questioned, by reason. of the failure of any such justice to take and subscribe the official oath, or give an official bond as required by law, are hereby legalized, ratified and confirmed, and any justice of the peace heretofore elected or appointed to the office who has neglected to file an official bond or undertaking or take the oath of office within the time prescribed by law, may take such oath and file such bond or undertaking within sixty days from and after the passage of this act, and the same shall have all the force, effect and validity as if the same had been Proviso. done within the time required by law. Nothing herein contained. shall affect any action or proceeding now pending. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. Chap. 227. AN ACT to amend the highway law and the town law, in relation to abatement of taxes for watering troughs. Became a law April 8, 1897, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Section 1. Section forty-eight of chapter five hundred and sixtyeight of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety, entitled "An act in relation to highways, constituting chapter nineteen of the general laws," is hereby amended to read as follows: § 48. Abatement of tax for watering trough.-The commissioners of highways shall annually abate three dollars from the highway tax of any inhabitant of a highway district, who shall construct on his own land therein, and keep in repair a watering trough beside the public highway, well supplied with fresh water, the surface of which shall be two or more feet above the level of the ground, and easily accessible for horses with vehicles; but the number of such watering troughs in the district, and their location, shall be designated by the commissioners. In a town in which the highways are worked or repaired by the money system of taxation, the commissioners of highways shall annually issue to each person to whom such an abatement is allowed, a certificate specifying the amount thereof. § 2. Section one hundred and eighty of chapter five hundred and sixty-nine of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety entitled "An act in relation to towns, constituting chapter twenty of the general laws," is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof a new subdivision to be subdivision eight thereof and to read as follows: 8. Every sum allowed by the highway commissioners of a town in which the highways are worked and repaired by the money system of taxation in abatement of highway taxes for the maintenance of watering troughs. § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. Vol. I 14 Jurisdic tion to hear claims. Appeals from awards. Chap. 228. AN ACT to confer jurisdiction upon the board of claims to hear, Became a law April 8, 1897, with the approval of the Governor. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Section 1. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon the board of claims to hear, audit and determine the alleged claims of Alonzo Denton and N. G. Waterbury (comprising the firm of Denton and Waterbury), William E. Syphert and Albert Harrig (comprising the firm of Syphert and Harrig), Woodhull Lumber company, Forestport Lumber company, and James Gallagher, junior, for all damages alleged to have been sustained by them respectively by reason of the building of the state reservoir at Forestport, during the six years last past, and award thereto such sums as a reasonable compensation therefor as, in the judgment of said board, shall be just and equitable. § 2. Either party may appeal to the appellate division of the supreme court of the third judicial department from any award. made under authority of this act, provided such appeal be taken by service of notice of appeal within thirty days of the service of the copy of the award. § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. Salary of county judge and surrogate. Chap. 232. AN ACT to amend chapter six hundred and eighty-six of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled "An act in relation to counties, constituting chapter eighteen of the general laws." Became a law April 14, 1897, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Section 1. Subdivision forty-nine of section two hundred and twenty-two of chapter six hundred and eighty-six of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled "An act relating to counties, constituting chapter eighteen of the general laws," is hereby amended so as to read as follows: § 2. This act shall take effect on the first day of January, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. Chap. 233. AN ACT to amend chapter nine hundred and eight of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "An act in relation to taxation, constituting chapter twenty-four of the general laws," relative to the purchases by the comptroller for state. Became a law April 14, 1897, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Section 1. Section one hundred and twenty-three of chapter nine hundred and eight of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "An act in relation to taxation, constituting chapter twenty-four of the general laws," is hereby amended to read as follows: § 123. Purchases by the comptroller for state or county.-The comptroller shall bid in for the state all lands of the state, and also all lands which may have been bid in by or for the state at any tax sale which has not been canceled, or from which said lands have not been duly redeemed, liable to be sold at any tax sale held by him, or lands that are then mortgaged to the commissioners for loaning certain moneys of the United States, and for each county, all lands belonging to such county liable to be sold at such sale, and also all lands which may have been bid in by or for such county at any tax sale which has not been canceled or from which said lands have not been duly redeemed; and to reject any and all bids made for any of such lands. The comptroller shall make certificates of sales for all lands so bid in by him, describing the lands purchased and specifying the time when a deed therefor can be obtained. Such purchases shall be subject to the same right of redemption as purchases by individuals; and if the land. so sold shall not be redeemed, the comptroller's deed therefor shall have the same effect and become absolute in the same time, and on the performance of the like conditions, as in the case of sales and conveyances to individuals. The comptroller shall charge to each county, on the books of his office, the amount for which it may be liable, by reason of any purchase made in accordance with this section, and such amount shall become due on the last day of each tax sale, and shall be payable in the same manner as the state tax is required by law to be paid. The comptroller shall, as soon as practicable, after each tax sale, transmit the certificates of sale for such lands to the treasurer of each of such counties, on receipt of which the county treasurer shall enter the same, in their proper order, in a book to be kept by him for such purpose, and unless otherwise directed by the board of supervisors of his county, shall have full power and authority, until the expiration of one year from the last day of such sale, to sell and assign any of such certificates for any land not at the time owned by his county, on payment therefor, into the county treasury, of the amount for which the land described therein was sold at such tax sale, with interest thereon, from the date of such tax sale to the date of such sale and assignment by him. All such sales and assignments shall be duly and fully entered by such county treasurer in such book, which book shall be a part of the records of the county. If any such tax sale certificate shall not have been sold or assigned by the respective county treasurers on or before the expiration of one year from the last day of such sale, each of such county treasurers shall then transmit such unsold certificate or certificates to the comptroller, who shall issue to the board of supervisors of each county, respectively, a deed or deeds for all of the lands described thereon then remaining unredeemed, or the sale for which has not been canceled. The title thus acquired by the boards of supervisors shall be held by them in trust for their respective counties, and may be disposed of by them at such times and on such terms as shall be determined by a majority of such board at any regular or special meeting thereof. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. |