Nassau Post 19160609

              12 PAGES
Gat ThetnjAU
12 PAGCS Get Thetn All
VOL, 5.    NO. 19.
OKFICIAL FAPES OF THE VULAGE OF FREEPORT.
FREEPORT, N. Y.. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1916.
OFFICIAL REPUBLICAN PAPER OF NASSAU COUNTY.
PRICE TWO CENTS
NEWSPAPER STATEMENTS SPURIOUS AND MALICIOUS SAYS SUPERVISOR SMITH
STATE AUDITOR'S FIGURES CONFIRM NASSAU POST ON HIGHWAY APPROPRIATION
An (/pen letter to the Taxpayern and Residents of the Town of Hempntead from Hiram R. Smith, Supervisor.
My attention has repeatedly been called to a statement appear- i7ig in a local paper in which it is inferentially yet unmistakably charged that the Supervi.Hor of the Town of Hempstead receives more than $18,000 ammally in fees; that the County Engineer receives more than $.30,000 annually in fees; that the Receiver of Taxes of the Town of Hemp.stead receives more than $14,000 an¬ nually in fees; and in which statement I am challenged to deny the correctness of the figures therein given.
The statement is so spurious and unsupported in fact that I have hesitated to dignify it lyy answer, but as the statement has recently been made in a public address that "The commissions <ind fees of the Supervisor and Town Receiver of Taxes is esti¬ mated only, as I have stated. It is difficult to learn what they receive and impossible to learn, except from them, ivhat they pay out." It would seem proper for me to make reply. If it is intended tits a true statement of facts, it is easily refutable; if it is intended to create an atmosphere of distrust of my administration to impugn my official acts, and by inuerido to charge misfeasance in office, it borders on the malicious and is absolutely unwarranted. In either view it is made with such boldness and with such personal directness that my duty to the public compels an acceptance of the challenge and a statement of the real facts.
The charge that the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead received more than $18,000 annually in fees, is absolutely false. The fact is that from April 1, 1914, to March .31, 1915, / received from the County the sum of $8,954.37 and from the Town of Hemp¬ atead the sum of $3,545.50, a total compensation of $12,499.87, Out of this amount there u-a-s necessarily expended for clerk hire in copying the tax rolls and making tax extensions, required by latv, a .sum in excess of $3,500, thus leaving a net compensation for my services for that fiscal year, a sum approximating $8,500. From April 1, 1915, to March 31,1916, / received from the Coimty the sum of $11,221.19 and from the town of Hempstead the sum of $3,138.10, a total of $14,359.29, Out of this total there was neces¬ sarily expended for clerk hire for copying the tax rolls and making tax extensions, required by law, a sum in excess of $5,000, tlius leaving a net compensation for my services for that fiscal year, a sum approximating $9,000.
// these sums seem'large for the multiplicity of work imposed by laiv upon a Supervisor of a Toivn of 66,000 populatioifi and ivith an a-tsessed valuation of over sixty-seven million, the answer is tJiat they represent fees authorized to be paid by statute, and do not represent compensation fixed or established by the Supervisor, nor by the Toivn Board, nor by the County Bourd of Supervisors.
The charge that the County Engineer receives more than $30,000 annnally in fees, in addition to his annual salary of $1,800 7.<? likewise equally false. It must be obvimis even to one unfamiliar with highway engineering that in order to prepare plans and specifications arid surveys for construction work on and to supeii- intend the construction of three hundred and fifty miles of new ond reconstructed roads, engineers and assistants skilled in road- making must be employed to aid m the work. The Comity makes no provision for the compensation of such assistarits and their pay is a personal matter with the County Engineer. The fact is that public necessity and demand for neiv road construction and recon¬ struction of old roads, which led tn tlir. bond is.iue of $600,000 entailed an unusual amount of work upon the County Engineer and the Board of Supervisors realizing this added burden fixed ids eompensation of 5% on all moneys expended by the County for construction work on County Roads. I am credibly informed that the expenditures of the County Engineer for this character of v>ork will approximate $25,000, so that in no event will he receive a sum. in excess of $7,000 in full for his services to the County, which services require and demand his full time and attention. Is this amount excessive compensation for the services of a skilled and trained engineer of recognized ability?
While I do not feel called upon to answer the charge that the Receiver of Taxes of the Toivn of Hempstead receives more than $14,000 annually in fees, his office being entirely separate from mine,, I regard it entirely proper to say that his fees are likewise fixed by law and that during the year Uist past he received the sum of $10,122.55 in fees for his services and out of said fees he ex¬ pended for clerk hire and incidentals a sum approximating $4,500, leaving a net return to him for his services of approximately $5,600.
/ give these detailed explanations not by way of defence, but rather to set forth the true facts as they exist. With respect to my own compensation, the figures above quoted are taken from official records in the office of the County ComptroUer at Mineola, and in the office of the Town Clerk of Hempstead at the Town HaU, Hempstead, and are open to public inspection and verification. I It is not my purpose at this time to give an account of my stewardship. The challenge is directed to specific charges and I have given my answei\ As a public official I must expect just cnticism but I do resent a statement of alleged facts, the falsity of which could have heen established hy proper investigation of public records.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) HIRAM R. SMITH.
Hempstead, N. Y., June 1, 1916.
OSTERHOUT REPORTS G. 0. P. CONVENTION
PREDICTS NOMINATION OF JUSTICE HUGHES
Special Press Despatches by Howard Osterhout, Secretary to State Secretary Francis M.  Hugo
(Special to The Nassau Post.)
HOTEL BL.\CKSTONE, CHICAGO, June ,'i, -Chicago is all ready for the big conventions. There are flags anil bunting on all of the principal thor¬ oughfares. .Micliigan avenue, partic¬ ularly, is a riot of red, white and blue. The corridors of the large hotels teem with a mass of buzzing human¬ ity. Delegates, public offlcials, poli¬ ticians, senators, congressmen and newspaper reporters mingle, shake hands and discuss the iirobabilities of the solution of the presidential enigma. The governors ot the differ¬ ent Republican States add a toucli of dignity   to  the   panorama.
Governor Whitman of New "i'ork State is a conspicuous figure in the lobby of the Hotel Blackstone, where he and a majority of the New York State delegation are etopping. There, ahso is to be seen several of our Nas¬ sau county friends. Foriner Congress¬ man W. \V, Cocks, a veteran of many Republican national conventions, holds a levee in the centre of the Blackstone lobby. With his large brown stiff-brimmed conibrero, he makes a uniiiue figure, reminding one somewhat of a Kentucky colonel or a Southern congressman. He Is a spec¬ tator this time, but no one doubts his political sagacity and he is therefore tlie mecca of a continual stream of in¬ quiring friends.
Congressman Hick.s arrived today from Washington with a party of con¬ gressmen. Nassau may well feel proud of her representative in the national legislature. Of genial personality, he, at the same time, present's a vigorous appearance with his full erect figure, deep voice and his firm features. Our own delegate, Wilbur Doughty, ar¬ rived on the New "Vork special at 2,,''i() p, m, Sunday, accompanied by Assem¬ blymen McWliinney and Murphy, the latter being an alternate from Suf¬ folk county.
Tlic qtiostion. "Who will be nomi¬ nated for President?" naturally fur¬ nishes the chief topic of discusesion. 'TheTe is a strong surface current for Hughes at the present writing, with few back eddies running to any other candidate. The Supreme Court Jus¬ tice's followers maintain that Mr. Flughes will be nominated hy at least the fifth  ballot.    The West ia elowly
but surely lining up behind Hughes, Uhat is, the duly elected delegates. JTlie psychology of his boom, which, Iby the way is both wordless, noiseless I and leaderless, is curioue. if not in¬ scrutable. It aptly llltistrates the aphorism, "still waters run deep. " I There are no brass bands, no but- Itons or banner, no pyrotechnics to !proclaim the candidacy of the former I .New 'V'ork governor. The movement in Ills direclion is purely psychologi¬ cal. It hardly approaches the ineplra- I lional. Ask the leading press repre- [.sentatives of a metropolitan dally, , fresh from his interviews with some jof tlie Republican national solons, in- jiltiire of some astute political leader j whose life lias been spent in the em¬ battled arena of Republican national {conventions. The an.swer almost in¬ variably given is the single word: Hughes, Some of his admirers have passed around a slogan lo meet the skepticism of the Roosevelt managers: "Hughes, Harmony, and Home De¬ fense."
Governor Whitman is to be seen in constant communication with Frank Hitchcock, the unofllclal leader of the Hitgheti movement. The New York governor is slated to make the nominating speech and this will place Mr. Whitman in an enviable poaitlon, in  case Hughes is nominated.
When it comes to • enthusiasm Roosevelt and his followere easily lead the fiirld. One hears Teddy's name on all sides, his picture Is scattered broadcast, while his headquarters have even gone so far as to announce moving picture performances in the Florentine room of the Congress Hotel each night this week, in which the colonel and his preparedness pro¬ gram figure prominently, the recent western trip to Kansas City being fea¬ tured.
When all of the smoke has cleared away, careful observers have taken tlte pains to get out their pads and •giire up the vote among the delegates and it is found that Mr. Roosevelt cannot command over ir>0 delegates. Tliere are contingencies that may arise, however, such, for Instance, as the withdrawal of Hughes whicli would leave the convention in a most chaotic state and might pave the way for a wild stampede to T. R, This contingency is a ratlier remote one on
the eve of the convention's opening, Klihu Root, while he will probably receive the complimentary vote of more than half of the New York State delegation on the flrst ballot, does not develop much real strength. Even his managers do not appear sanguine, which only confirms the conviction of many that Root's strength will be swung to another candidate upon an early ballot.
The favorite eons, Burton, Weeks, Fairbanks, .McCall, Sehrman, LaFol- leite and Cummins have well organ¬ ized headquarters, bands to cheer them on and loyal camp followers to carry the standards and button-hole delegates. But. unlike Napoleon's three greatest assets, they lack dele¬ gates, delegates and delegates. When one figures out tliat a presidential candidate, to be nominated must com¬ mand the support of a majority of the 98,'i elected delegates, it ceases to be a niatter of abstract enthusiasm and becomes one purely of mathematics, ill wliich tlie figures become import¬ ant in proportion as one knows the tlioughts of the leaders of various State delegates, and as the real lead¬ ers refuse to talk, one cannot divine their thoughts. Hence it resolves it¬ self into a matter of pure surmise, and niv giiess is "Hughes, or a dark horse, HOWARD OSTERHOUT,
Chicago, 111. James E. Stiles,
HOTEL BLACKSTONE, CHICAGO, June 6.—New York State delegation met Florentine room. Congress Hotel, tonight, and organized by choosing Governor Whitman chairman. Har¬ mony prevailed throughout. William Barnes, national committeeman, call¬ ed the meeting to order. Decided to po.st pone selection of new national committeeman until presidential can¬ didate nominated. Chauncey Depew, Senator Wadsworth and Job Hedges addressed the delegation. Indications point to an even split of New Y'ork elegates between Hughes and Root on first ballot. Root forces claim .oO of the S" votes, Hughes favorite as the convention opened, Roosevelt not con.^idered dangerous by Old Guard managers. Latter expected to spring surprise by swinging to Fairbanks, Burton or McCall, Root considered out of running, Hughes' Washington utterances yesterday strengthened his randidarv,
HOWARD OSTERHOUT.
THEGOVEIHIITQF
IS
The commission on the government of Nassau county is engaged in formu¬ lating a comprehensive plan of coun¬ ty government.
The members of the commission ap¬ pointed by the board of supervisors are Frank L. Crocker, George S. Em¬ ory, William G. Miller, Willard D. Straight, Frederick N. Watriss, Bron¬ son Winthrop and Charlea N. Wysong. The cominission organized in March, 19l'l, and elected Bronson Winthrop as chairman, and George S. Emory as treasurer.
The commission was appointed to make ft study of governmental con¬ ditions in Nassau county, its needs and requirements and to report Its findings to the board of euperviaors.
The members of the commission ap¬ proached their work unprejudiced and with open minds and with a view of securing all the available statis¬ tics and data in connection with the town and county governments.
A number of public meetings were held and citizens of the county, of- flciala and former oflficlala were in¬ vited to meet with the commisaion for the purpose of acquainting the coramiesion with all the details of the government and to suggest such changes as was deemed necessary to bring about a more comprehensive plan of town and county government.
The commission has made it a plan to get in touch with the various points of view from the extremely radical to the very conservative resident. Meet¬ ings were held in Mineola and the cominission bas secured some very val¬ uable information.
Bronson Winthrop, chairiban, Frank L,  Crocker and  Frederick N.
Watriss are members of the sub-law committee of the commiasion and they liave been holding numerous confer¬ ences with the counsel. Surrogate John J, Graham, with the view of pa.ssing on the legality of the plan for¬ mulated.
The plan whicii will be flnally sub¬ mitted by tlie conimission must of ne¬ cessity conform to the provisions of the State constituion. The amend- mens defeated last November neces¬ sitated a delay as the commission was unable to formulate a plan until it knew the provisions of the constitu¬ tion.
The members of the commission are holding weekly meetings and the sub¬ committee is holding frequent night sessions each  week.
CO, BULL iOSERS DELAY GONFERENGE
Sunday School Parade June 17.
The Freeport Sunday School pa¬ rade will take place on Saturday. June 17, and the schools that will march include this of the First Baptist Church, the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Bethel A. M, E, Church, the Church of God, A. M. E-l the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Shell Island Mission, all of Freeport, also that of the Presby¬ terian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Roosevelt.
Additional schols expected are the Protestant Epls<?opal Church of the Redeemer, the St, John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, both of Merrick, and the Presbyterian Church of Bell¬ more.
The schools will form at South Ber¬ gen place and Pine street, and march to Randall avenue, thence to South Ocean avenue, to Olive Boulevard, to jSouth Long Beach avenue, counter- ! marching to South Ocean avenue and to Pine street, where they will dismiss and go to their respective churches. The reviewltfg stand will be located on the Olive Boulevard. The parade will start at 3.30. Two brass bands are expected to be in line, and it is hoped tbat this year's anniversary will eclipse that of last year. More details next week.
The Nassau County Progressive county committee met at Weidman's Hotel, on Friday evening last. County Chairman Elvin N. Edwards presided, and the roll call showed 60 leaders present.
A special comniittee of nine was appointed by the chairman to take up the local political situation with Colonel Roosevelt, on which c:ommit- tee Mr, A, L. Marsh of Oyster Bay was ppointed cliairman.
The county committeemen wore all very enthusiastic for their cause and reported renewed interest in the com¬ ing campaign. Chairman Edwards stated to the committeemen that he had been requested to appoint a com¬ mittee to confer ^itjj the other politi¬ cal parties as to the fall campaign, but he did not believe that the Pro¬ gressives should take the initiative in this matter. He advised against the appointing of any such committee at least for the present time, stating that although he was heartily In favor of a conference toward fusion, he felt it was a matter to be taken up at a later date and not on the initiative of the Progressives.
AT  THE   PL.AZ.\.
I Week of .Tunc 12,—Monday: Hamilton IR."veII«' in "The Halt Million Bribe," I Tuesday: Hockcllffe Fellows and Arma Nilson in "The ReBeneratlon, " 'WedneB- day: Tyronne Powers and Kathlyn 'Wll- llamH in "Thou Shalt Not Covet." Thursday: Alice Brady In Frederick Chapln'B unusual dramatic tale. "The Woman In 47." Friday: Jack Pickford and Vivian Reed In "The Hard Way," Saturday: Alan Forrest and BJvelyn Pace In "Jackstraws," Napoleoc and gallr In "Two Chimps and a C^hurap,"— Adv,
In the .May 12th issue of The Owl, the Progressive paper published at Rock¬ ville Centre, there was printed an edi¬ torial statement to the effect that, "according to the State highway de- artment tliere remains yet unexpend¬ ed more than $(iO0,00O of State money due Nassau cotinty for aid in building roads,"
The satiip editorial contained other stalenients reflecting upon the integ¬ rity and ability of our town and county ofiicials.
The editor of the Nassau i^ost took the matter up with the local ofiicials, notably.Supervisor Smitli, In our is¬ sue of .May lit we printed a long, com¬ prehensive and forceful interview with Supervisor Smith which sliowed con¬ clusively that The Owl statements in detail were false, tinfouncied. and in fact mere fabrications, Wc frankly stated that we believeel thc state¬ ments were published for thc purpose of discrediting the administration.
It hurt tlte proprietors of The Owl to be called liars and in their issue of June 2 tliey made a Ilai contradii:- tion, basing their reply on correspond¬ ence with tlte State department.
On Monday of this week the editor of The Nassau Post went to Albany and interviewed the State olficials. Their statements confirmed absolutely and without question the interview with Supervisor Smith and the facts given in our issue of May 19. We print below a letter over the signa¬ ture of State Auditor S. D. Gilbert, It speaks for itself and at our request was written in detail.
It shows that the first appropria¬ tion for Nassau county roads was not made until 19 Ki—-that it was only this year that the legislature appro¬ priated additional funds—that there is $J2.-i,C)80.2.-) which is still to be ap¬ propriated by future legislatures and tliat never at any time since 1912 has there been due Nassau county %i'il 4,'2'.M'i.ot)
We reiterate that the statements and interview printed in our issue of May 19 were correct, founded on fact and decidedly comprehensive. The statements of The Owl were pure un¬ adulterated fabrications and false- liood,s.
The State auiiitors letter follows: State of .New York CO.MM ISSION OF HIGH WAY.S Alltany, G June, 19 IU, .Mr. James E, Stiles,
Tlic Nassau Post, Freeport, N, Y, .Dear Sir:
In answer to your request for an explanation of the money which lias been available in Na,s6au County from the second fifty niillion bond issue, or referendum, for the construction of State and county highways, 1 beg to advise that in 19 12 the second refer¬ endum, or bond issue, of $.JO,000,OUO was voted. This referendum provided tliat the wholo $,')0,000,000 should be divided among the counlies on the basis of population, mileage and area, two-fiftlis of each county's share to be used for State highway construc¬ tion and three-fifths for county high¬ way construction.
Under this referendum, or bond issue, Nassau county received for the construction of county roads |4G1,- :JGO,:"i() and for the construction of State roads $,'{0(1,907,00. No part of either of the.se amounts was available however, until appropriated by the Legislature.
By Chapter 647 of the Laws of 1913, $,'),000,000 was appropriated by t!ie Legislature from the second flfty million bond issue. This being one- tenth of the total bond issue, one- tenth of the share of the bond issue of each county In the State immedi¬ ately became available, and Nassau county had available from this appro¬ priation $45,136.05 for county high¬ way construction and $30,090.70 for State highway construction.
By Chapter 516 "of the Laws of 1914 $10,000,000 more were appro¬ priated from the second flfty million bond issue, and therefore a total of three-tenths became available for highway construction, and Nasaau county's total share of the amount available at that time became $135,- 408.15 for the construction of county roads and $90,272.10 for thc con¬ struction of State roads.
By Chapter 10 of the Laws of 1915 $10,000,000 more were appropriated by the Legislature from tbe second flfty million bond issue, and there¬ fore five-tenths of the total bond issue became   available   of   eacb   county's
share and Na.ssau county's total amount available up to this time was $i'L','i.(;S0,2,-i for county highway con¬ struction and $l,-i0.4,'i3,,-.0 for State Iiighway construction.
The last legislature by (Jhapter •¦">97 appropriated $10,000,000 moro from the secoud fifty million bond is¬ sue making a total of seven-tenths appropriated from this bond isstie^iup to this time, so that the total amount that has become available since the second fifty million bond issue of Nas¬ sau county's share at this date is .seven-tenths of Nassau county's share I of this bond issue, or $:n ,"i,9.".2,:i5 for Ithe construction of county roads and *l'I (!,(;,'14,9II for the construction of State roads,
I      As advised you in mv letter of June
I'tll, there is available and tinobligat-
jed  of these    amounts    at    this date
*-i'-t,-( 1-1,4 2   for   the  conslructlon   ot
I county highways and $127,223.9;! for
I State   roail   ccitistriicl ion   in    Nassau
. foiinty,   our   records    showing   that
there has been expended or obligated
trom    the    ,seven-tcnths    of     Nassau
C(_)tint.y_s  share,  already appropriatetT
*w •¦,","¦;'- *'"'¦ C"""t.v roads and ^>i,..l iit.'j,   tor State roads.
There ,still remain unappropriated 01 the original bond issue $15 OIIO 000 or three-tenths of it, so that there are three-tenths of Nassau county's share- of    the    ,second    fifty  million
th
i^i        11 —.   •-v,,,..u    lui.v   iiiiiiion icii  will not become available un¬ appropriated   by the legislature I  wish  to state further that under e  second   referendum   creating   tho
llfty million bond issue it was provid-
,!,„, , "   ....,u.    ,1.    inan.   prOVIU-
-. HP lni.'¦'¦"¦' *'°""'>' "'"''^ ^f> '-^eivo mim n ' '. ^'"'' "^ ^''^ ^''^ond fiftv nillion,  and   thc amount  so  received
fn.')r'*" ''"""'¦'¦ ''^'"K I4i> 1.360.50 for the construction of countv high¬ ways and $300,905.00 for the con¬ st ntc^tlon Of State highways, cannot be diverted by the legislature, or by this department for any other use except that Shown in the referendr^ o the construction of Slate and coun^ ty highways in Nassau county It makes no difference whatever wheth¬ er Naasau  countv    u.scs     its amm nt
avai,a,le each year, or dtJ'noH seu until en years from now, that money cannot he diverted for u.se in any othc^r county in the .state, except by another   referendum   ,o   be   voted   on
the .State  is  a.ssured  of an  abso-
u.ly deflnilc amount as its share of
the second fifty million, which  must
be expended within the county for    "'¦
purpo,so designated, ^  '"r tlic
In reply    to    your    inqulrv    as to
tinie $(,ll,2,!i,,;,o available for the constructlcm of Slate and courUy '¦Khway.s „, Nas,sau county since l.'l... I bcK to state that there"»ha3 no been and by roferent;c to my pre¬ ceding statements you can determine -iviiUM '^"'"""t ^''ich lias become a atlablc each year for this purpose in Nassai, county and which is avall- ablcat this time.
Very truly yours,
.S",   D,  GILBERT SDG, MSG K W:
''^*^'' Auditor,
Summer Time
5oda Time
Anil Nuild tlini' ri,'iclii-K Its hixli- ' "' fniiiioii In .iilciHian lili.s.s at f ill lillK-KVS FOI \TAIV. Here you Koi III,. i.uri'Pt (cyrups, thc nii- •¦si lc.. rri.am, alisoluti- rleanllnp,s,s of KlawHi-H and iji..nsil8, iwid expert and rourtcouB scrvlci-; ancl tho«f ar(. the roaHoii.s for the rapid KIO wth of our Hoda trade Comi! in and have our Mr. Ollclersleovc 'li'inonKtratc—and you will a»(ree with    un   thai
"ooda   (Ime   mpana Cliubliiirk'o." Ilorden'n Ire Cream
difrertnt fluvors, or In brlckH, sent :iiiywli»r<' In   Kri-.'port.
IlujIer'a   CelehrmteA   Cocoa
11.11.d exc'lu.sively In  our chocolate Ryrup.
Kvery KlaH,.< .sterlliz.d and pol- Iwlied hefore UBintc asain.
99
CHUBBUCK'S
Quality Drug Store
MAIN STBEET      FEEEPOET
J