$10,500 BILL IS HELD UP.

The New York Times
December 12, 1909

Court Refuses to Approve Claims of Highway Commission for Fees.

ALBANY, Dec. 11.—Holding that they must submit affidavits showing the actual number of hours of work each day for which compensation is asked, Supreme Court Justice Howard to-day refused to pass upon the claims for services rendered by the Highway Commission which he appointed last March to appraise damages to property along the highways of the Ashokan reservoir for New York City's new water supply.

The commission asked Justice Howard to approve a bill for seventy days' work at $50 a day for each of the three Commissioners, a total of $10,500.  The bill was presented by Sydney Harris of New York, Chairman.  The other Commissioners are C. Gordon Reel of Kingston and Dr. McKenna of Troy.  Justice Howard, in a letter to Mr. Harris some time ago, urged upon them the necessity for economy, the speedy determination of their work, and for itemized statements of expenses incurred.

The commission has passed upon the awards affecting the Hudson River Telephone Company, the American Telegraph and Telephone Company, and the Citizens' Standard Company of Kingston, aggregating about $29,000.  The matter of the confirmation of the award was postponed by mutual consent.

Of the seventy days devoted to the duties of the commission, thirty-five were consumed by executive sessions.

Mr. Harris informed the court that the commission would accept whatever the court deemed proper for compensation, and each Commissioner would submit an itemized statement of expenses at an early date.