of highways within the state, pursuant to an act of congress, entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads and for other purposes, approved July eleventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen, as apportioned by the secretary of agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen. The moneys hereby appropriated shall be used for the payment in the first instance of the federal government's share of estimates rendered during progress of such construction or reconstruction, and the state shall be reimbursed by the federal government for such advance payments upon such estimates under the contract upon which such payments are made. The comptroller is hereby authorized to receive from the federal government the amounts so advanced upon such contracts, and to deposit such funds with the state treasurer to the credit of the general fund, so that upon the completion of all such contracts contemplated under the acts of the federal government, the states* shall be reimbursed for the full amount of any and all of such payments.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

CHAPTER 17

AN ACT making an appropriation for the state's share of the cost of construction and improvement of the rural post roads within the state pursuant to certain acts in congress which provide that the United States shall aid the states in the constructing of rural post roads, and for other purposes, to be expended in accordance with article six-a of the highway law. Became a law February 20, 1924, 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:

tion.

Section 1. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is Appropriahereby appropriated from any moneys in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended for the payment of the state's share of the cost of construction or reconstruction of highways within the state, pursuant to certain acts of congress, which provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads and for other purposes, in accordance with the provisions of article six-a of the highway law.

purposes

The moneys hereby appropriated shall be available also for the For what payment of preliminary engineering charges by the state in making available. surveys, and the preparation of necessary plans, specifications and estimates on such highways; for advertising, for overhead charges; for the purchase or exchange of automobiles for travelling expenses of designated employees attending highway conferences; for membership dues in the American Association of State Highway officials, and for items disallowed by the federal government. The amount available for such construction or reconstruction for Amount the fiscal year of the federal government ending June thirtieth. for fiscal nineteen hundred and twenty-four, is three million one hundred year

* So in original. [Evidently should be "state."]

available

end

ing June 30, 1924.

For purposes

what

to be expended.

Cost how

to be borne.

and ninety-five thousand four hundred and ninety-three dollars and eighty-five cents ($3,195,493.85).

§ 2. The money hereby appropriated shall be expended in the construction or reconstruction of any state highway which is described and set forth in section one hundred and twenty of the highway law, for the construction of any county highway designated and described in section one hundred and twenty-two of the highway law; for the elimination or alteration of any railroad crossing as provided in section one hundred and sixty-seven-b of the highway law, and for reconstruction of any county highway.

The cost of the construction or reconstruction of such proposed federal aid highways for which the funds are made available by this act shall be borne as provided in article six-a of the highway law.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

CHAPTER 18

AN ACT making an appropriation for the payment by the state in the first instance of the federal government's share of the cost of construction and improvement of rural post roads within the state, pursuant to an act of congress entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes." Became a law February 20, 1924, 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. The sum of three million one hundred and ninetyfive thousand four hundred and ninety-three dollars and eightyfive cents ($3,195,493.85) is hereby appropriated from any moneys in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, payable by the state treasurer on a warrant of the comptroller. Such sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be available for the payment in the first instance of the share of the federal government of the cost of the construction or reconstruction of roads within the state, as provided by an act of congress, entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid all states in the construction of rural post roads and for other purposes," approved July eleventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen, as apportioned by the secretary of agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, such sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be used for the payment in the first instance of the federal government's share of estimates rendered during the progress of such construction or reconstruction work, and the state shall be reimbursed by the federal government for such advance payments upon such estimates under the contract upon which such payments, are made. The comptroller is hereby authorized to receive from the federal government the amounts so advanced upon such contracts, and to deposit such funds with the state treasurer to the credit of the general fund, so that upon

the completion of all such contracts contemplated under the acts of the federal government, the state shall be reimbursed for the full amount of any and all of such payments.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

CHAPTER 19

AN ACT authorizing the creation of a debt of the state and the issuance and sale of bonds to provide for the payment of bonuses to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of the World war who were actual residents of the state at the time of their enlistment or induction into the military or naval service of the United States.

Became a law February 28, 1924, 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. Authority. The legislature having been authorized by law to create a debt or debts of the state to provide for the payment of bonuses to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of the world war and to apportion such moneys on the basis of the periods of service of the respective beneficiaries, such authority having been conferred upon the legislature by an amendment to article seven of the constitution of the state1 and the maximum amount of the debt authorized by such section having therein been fixed at a sum not to exceed forty-five million dollars, it is hereby determined and declared that the apportionment of the moneys applicable for the payment of the bonus hereinafter provided, on the basis of the period of service of the respective beneficiaries shall be made in such manner as to be within the maximum sum authorized by such amendment, and shall be made as hereinafter provided.

§ 2. Bonds. There shall be issued, in the manner and at the time determined by the commission, hereinafter created, bonds of the state in an amount not to exceed forty-five million dollars, which bonds shall be sold by the state and the proceeds thereof paid into the state treasury, and so much thereof as may be necessary, expended for the payment of a bonus to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of the world war as hereinafter provided. Such bonds when issued shall be exempt from taxation.

§ 3. Sale; interest. The comptroller is hereby directed to cause to be prepared the bonds of this state to an amount not to exceed forty-five million dollars, such bonds to bear interest at the rate of not to exceed five per centum per annum, which interest shall be payable semi-annually in the city of New York. Such bonds, or the portion thereof at any time issued shall be made payable in twenty-five equal annual installments, the first of which shall be payable, one year from the date of issue, and the last of which shall be payable twenty-five years from the date of issue. The comptroller is hereby charged with the duty of selling such bonds 1 Adopted Nov. 6, 1923.

at not less than par and accrued interest to the highest bidder after advertising for a period of twenty consecutive days, Sundays excepted, in at least two daily newspapers printed in the city of New York and one in the city of Albany. Advertisements shall contain a provision to the effect that the comptroller, in his discretion, may reject any or all bids made in pursuance of such advertisements and in the event of such rejection the comptroller is authorized to readvertise for bids in the form and manner above described as many times as in his judgment may be necessary to effect a satisfactory sale.

§ 4. Commission to distribute proceeds. The proceeds of such bonds shall be distributed by the commission hereinafter created to the persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this act. For such purpose, the state comptroller shall draw his warrants, to the order of the commission, of such amounts as may be certified from time to time by the commission.

§ 5. Definitions. The term The term "honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of the world war," as used in this act shall include:

A. Every person, male or female, who was enlisted, inducted, warranted or commissioned and who served in active duty in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States at any time between the sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and seventeen and the eleventh day of November, nineteen hundred and eighteen and who was honorably separated or discharged from such service, or who is still in active service, or has been retired, or has been furloughed to a reserve.

B. Every person who was enlisted in the army nurse corps or the navy nurse corps of the United States and who served in active duty therein at any time between the sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and seventeen and the eleventh day of November, nineteen hundred and eighteen and who was honorably separated or discharged from such service or who is still in active service.

§ 6. Bonus; persons entitled; amount; limitations. A. Every honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine, as herein before defined, who, at the time of enlistment or induction to the military or naval service of the United States, was an actual resident of the state of New York shall be entitled to receive from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds hereinbefore provided, as a bonus, the sum of ten dollars for every entire month that such person was in active service in the military or naval forces of the United States during the world war.

B. No bonus under this act shall exceed a total of one hundred and fifty dollars.

C. No person shall be entitled to such bonus who being in the military or naval service of the United States subsequent to the sixth day of April nineteen hundred and seventeen refused on conscientious, political or other grounds, to subject himself to military discipline or to render unqualified service.

D. The widow or widower, child or children, mother, father, brother and sister in the order named and none other of any such soldier, sailor or marine who, without having received payment

of such bonus, dies after this act takes effect and prior to the expiration of the time for filing claim for bonus, as hereinafter provided, shall be paid the sum or allowance that such deceased soldier, sailor or marine would have been entitled to hereunder if such soldier, sailor or marine had lived.

§ 7. Payment exempt from taxation and execution. All payments of allowances made under this act shall be exempt from all taxation, and from levy and sale on execution.

§ 8. Commission and employees. A commission is hereby created to be known as the New York state bonus commission, and shall consist of the adjutant general, who shall be the chairman thereof, the comptroller, the attorney-general, and the state treasurer. Each member of the commission shall serve without pay but shall be allowed his actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred by him in the performance of his official duties. The commission shall appoint the necessary employees for the conduct of its business. The commission shall submit a schedule of such positions and salaries to the board of estimate and control and upon the approval thereof by such board, a certificate of such approval shall be filed with the comptroller in accordance with the provision of section fifty-four-b of the state finance law. In the appointment of employees aforesaid, preference shall be given to persons who served honorably in the military or naval forces of the United States at any time between the sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and seventeen and the eleventh day of November, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and who at the time of their entry into such military service were actual residents of the state of New York. Such employees shall be organized as, and shall constitute a separate bureau of the adjutant general's office and such bureau shall be designated as the New York soldiers' bonus bureau of the adjutant general's office and the adjutant general of the state shall be the chief administrative officer of such bureau. § 9. Regulations. The commission shall from time to time adopt such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary, not inconsistent with law, for the distribution of the bonus provided herein, and for the conduct and administration of the duties and affairs of the commission, and such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law. The expenses of the commission, including the salaries of employees, shall be paid by the state treasurer on the warrant of the comptroller on the order of the chairman of the commission out of the money received from the sale of bonds aforementioned.

§ 10. Awards; review of determination. Two members of the commission shall constitute a quorum to transact business and the concurrence of at least two members shall be necessary to render a determination. The commission shall examine without unnecessary delay each application filed with it for the bonus provided by this act and for that purpose may subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance and administer oaths. Upon the conclusion of its examination, the commission shall make a determination, either allowing or disallowing the claim in accordance with the provisions