Three Strong Names

New York, 1895

WOOD, VAN NOSTRAND AND TOWNSEND FOR COMMISSIONERS.

The Supervisors Name Them and Send Their Compliments to Our Representatives at Albany — Brooklyn Has a Tricky Bill in the Legislature — Seeking to Escape Paying Taxes.

The board of Supervisors met at Long Island City on Tuesday. Supervisor Siebs was absent, being ill with a severe cold.

The most interesting feature of the day's proceeding had relation to the bill now pending in the Senate, and introduced by Mr. Childs, creating a tax arrears bureau for the county. At the previous meeting of the board it was stated that Senator Childs was holding the bill in committee until he could learn the views of the board respecting it.

Supervisor Pople brought the matter to the attention of the board by calling from the table his resolution that the board name the persons who should become the commissioners if the bill is enacted into a law. After remarks by Supervisors Pople and Koehler, the board, on motion of Mr. Koehler, resolved itself into a committee of the whole, with Supervisor Everitt in the chair, and held an executive session.

The result of the board's deliberations was that the commissioners should be Martin V. Wood and John E. Van Nostrand, Republicans, and Solomon S. Townsend, Democrat. Mr. Wood and Mr. Townsend were already named in the bill. Mr. Van Nostrand was substituted for Colonel Jones, of Jamaica. A resolution was unanimously adopted, requesting Senator Childs to insert the above three names in the bill and secure its passage, if possible; also requesting the members of the Assembly to give the bill their best support.

The name of Colonel Jones was not dropped by the board out of any feeling, but for the purely business reason that Newtown, having more lands in arrears for taxes than any three towns, should be represented in the commission, and a better man than ex-Supervisor Van Nostrand could not be found in the town of in the county.

Permission was granted to St. Bridget's church at Westbury to acquire two acres of land adjacent to the church for cemetery purposes.

A new range has been provided for the Court House at a cost of $425. It is a nine-foot French range, having two fires and three ovens.

Counselor Wallace brought to the attention of the board a bill introduced by Assemblyman Ray, of Brooklyn, which provides that any action or special proceeding against the City of Brooklyn shall be brought in a court in said city. It is designed to prevent the trial in Queens County of cases brought by citizens of the county against Brooklyn for damages to property by the extension of the city's water system.

Supervisor Denton offered, and the board adopted, a resolution requesting the county's representatives at Albany to oppose the passage of the bill.

Supervisor Pople said that he learned while in Albany that the state of New York was liable for the whole or a part of the expense of building and maintaining the bridges over Newtown Creek, and he thought it was a subject worth the while of counsel to the board to inquire into.

Counselor Moore presented an application in behalf of J. L. Hamilton of Flushing, for the correction of an erroneous assessment. The taxes amount to $382.26, which is more than the value of the lots. The town board authorized the taxes to be rescinded on payment of $100. The town holds the land under a tax-sale lease. The application was granted.

Mr. Cumming presented an application for relief from an assessment on property on Beach Channel, in the town of Jamaica, which Thomas S. Smith leased from the town for hotel purposes. The taxes for 1889-1894, inclusive, have not been paid. He wanted the taxes vacated because of improper description, there being, in fact, no description at all. However, when Mr. Smith tries to pass title to the property he is met with the objection that the taxes are a lien. It was referred to Supervisor Everitt.

Counselor VanDeWater, of Flushing, again brought to the attention of the board the matter of erroneous assessments in Flushing. Supervisor Pople said it would be setting a bad example to grant the counselor's request. Mr. Pople said it was a deserving case and he had offered to contribute to a fund for the relief of the person complaining. The matter was referred to Mr. Pople.

Counselor Fitch of Flushing said that certain property in Newtown was advertised to be sold for taxes on which the taxes had been paid, and he held the receipts. It was referred to the Supervisor of Newtown.

Mr. Munger, representing the Charles Pratt estate, who manufacture oil on Newtown creek, appeared before the board and advocated the construction of a lift bridge over the creek at Hunter's Point. He was opposed to the bill now before the Legislature providing for two bridges on Newtown creek, the second bridge proposed being at the mouth of the creek.

Counselor Ingraham, of Hempstead, stated some time ago the town of Hempstead made a lease of land at Rockaway inlet to Daniel Lord and others, so that they could erect a bridge across the channel to the ocean beach. The lease was subsequently assigned to a corporation. The channel is fast closing up and the bridge may not become necessary. If the bridge is erected, the company wants to collect tolls thereon, and it is the duty of the Supervisors to fix the rate of toll. Mr. Ingraham asked the authority of the board to erect a temporary bridge until such time as it can be determined whether or not the inlet will so close up as to make any bridge unnecessary. If the inlet does not close up, the United States government may insist on a draw-bridge. The government has consented to a temporary bridge. Supervisor Wood said he had no objection to what Mr. Ingraham proposed.

On motion of Supervisor Underhill, the board proceeded to appoint a physician to the county jail. Dr. Taylor, Republican, received 4 votes, and Dr. Barry, Democrat, 2 votes. Dr. Taylor was appointed. The salary was fixed at $300.

It costs $150 a month for disinfectants for the county jail. That is said to be $100 a month more than it costs for disinfectants for the Kings County Penitentiary, where there are 1,100 prisoners.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 1.