BANKING DEPARTMENT. After the office of Bank Commissioner was abolished, in 1843, the Banks of the State continued to make their reports to the Comptroller until 1851, when a law was passed (April 12) creating the office of Superintendent of the Banking Department. He is vested with the general supervision of Banks operated under the laws of the State, which are required to report to him quarterly. By an act passed March 20, 1857, the Savings Banks were also required to report their condition. By an act passed May 5, 1874, Trust Companies and other moneyed corporations were required to report semi-annually. The Superintendent makes abstracts of these reports, and submits two annual reports to the Legislature. He receives his appointment from the Governor and Senate; holds office for three years; has an annual salary of $5,000 and is allowed a deputy, examiner and several clerks. NAMES. SUPERINTENDENTS. RESIDENCES. APPOINTED. Daniel B. St. John 15, 1851 4, 1854 Henry H. Van Dyck......... ............... ......... West Troy, Albany county...... Colton, St. Lawrence county Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, January 30, 1856 16, 1861 August 9, 1865 ... INSURANCE DEPARTMENT This department was created April 15, 1859, and went into effect on the first day of January, 1860. Its duties were previously discharged by the Comptroller. The Superintendent is appointed by the Governor and Senate, for a term of three years, and is required to give an official bond of $25,000. He has the general supervision of the insurance companies transacting business in the State, and reports their condition annually to the Legislature. He must not be, directly or indirectly, interested in any insurance company, except as a policy-holder. He has a seal of office, a deputy, and the necessary clerks, and reports annually to the Legislature. His salary was first fixed at $2,500, but was increased to $5,000 by a law passed in 1861. It was further increased to $7,000 in 1868. All of the expenses of the Department are paid by fees from insurance companies. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. STATE SUPERINTENDENT. An act passed March 30, 1854, created the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Superintendent is elected on the second Wednesday of February next preceding the expiration of the term of the incumbent. In case of vacancy the election shall be held on the second Wednesday of February next after the occurrence of such vacancy, by Joint ballot of the Senate and Assembly, for a term of three years. He has general superintendence of the public schools; visits them; inquires into their management; advises and directs in regard to their course of instruction and discipline. He apportions and distributes the public moneys appropriated by the State for the support of schools; examines the supplementary apportionments made to all the districts by the School Commissioners, and sees to it that to each district is set apart its proportionate share, and that the same is expended by the trustees, and paid by the supervisors of the towns according to law. He gives advice and direction to school officers, teachers and inhabitants, upon all questions arising under the school laws. He establishes rules and regulations concerning appeals. He hears and decides all appeals, involving school controversies, that are brought before him, and his decision is final. He is charged with the general control and management of Teachers' Institutes in the various counties of the State; is authorized to employ instructors for the Institutes, and to pay them, and to certify the accounts for expenses incurred by the School Commissioners in conducting the same. He is required by law to visit the Institutes, and to advise and direct concerning their proper management. He establishes rules and regulations concerning district school libraries. He makes appointments of State Pupils to the Institutions for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, and visits and inquires into the condition and management of these Institutions. He apportions among the counties the number of pupils in the State Normal School to which each is entitled. He has charge of all the Indian Schools in the State; employs local agents to superintend them, and visits them, and directs concerning the erection and repairs of their school-houses, and determines the branches of instruction to be pursued in the schools. He is, ex officio, a Regent of the University, and Chairman of the Committee on Teachers' Classes in the Academies. He is, also, ex officio, a member of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, of Syracuse University, of the Idiot Asylum and of the People's College, and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Albany State Normal School. He is also charged with the general supervision of the State Normal Schools at Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oswego and Potsdam. He receives and compiles the abstracts of the reports from all the school districts in the State, setting forth their condition and proceedings and the account of receipts and expenditures for each year. He reports annually to the Legislature. Salary, $5,000. He has a deputy. He is also allowed clerks, whose aggregate salaries shall not exceed $9,000 in any one year. *Acting Superintendent in place of Henry H. Van Dyck, resigned. tIn place of William B. Ruggles, resigned. 6, 1826 BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS. The Board of Railroad Commissioners was created by chapter 353, Laws of 1882, and consists of three members, to be appointed by the Governor and Senate for a term of five years. Of the Commissioners first appointed, one was to serve for a term of three years, one four years, and one five years. They have the general supervision of all railroads and railways, as to the manner in which they are operated with reference to the security and accommodation of the public, and the compliance of the several corporations with the provisions of their charters and the laws of the State. They must investigate all accidents resulting in loss of life or injury to persons, and have the power to examine, at any time, the books and affairs of any railroad corporation in the State. They report annually to the Legislature. Each Commissioner receives an annual salary of $8,000. The Board is allowed a Secretary, a Marshal, Accountant, Inspector, Clerks and Experts. BOARD OF CLAIMS. The Board of Claims of the State of New York was constituted by chapter 205 of the Laws of 1883, and consists of three commissioners. By that act the office of Canal Appraiser and the State Board of Audit were abolished from and after May 31, 1883. The Commissioners of the Board of Claims went into office on June 1, 1883, and the Board organized and appointed its clerk, stenographer and messenger, and adopted its rules of procedure on the first Monday of June, 1883. All claims pending and undetermined before the late Board of Canal Appraisers and the late State Board of Audit on May 31, 1883, were transferred to the Board of Claims, to which board jurisdiction was given to hear, audit and determine all said claims. Chapter 205 of the Laws of 1883 was amended by chapter 60 of the Laws of 1884. Said Board has all the jurisdiction and power to hear and determine claims against the State, formerly possessed by the Canal Appraisers and the State Board of Audit. It has also jurisdiction to hear, audit and determine all private claims against the State, which shall have accrued within two years prior to the time when such claim is filed, except claims barred by any existing statute, and to allow thereon such sums as should be paid by the State; and all claims on the part of the State against any person making a claim against the State before said board. It has also jurisdiction to hear and determine claims that the Legislature by various enactments have authorized it to hear. The Commissioners are appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioners first appointed hold for two, four and six years, from January 1, 1884, respectively. The full term is six years. They each receive an annual salary of $5,000, and $500 to each per annum in lieu of expenses. Four stated sessions of said Board are held at the Capitol on the second Tuesday of January, April, September and November, in each year, with such adjourned sessions there or in different sections of the State, as the board may determine. The office of the clerk of the Board is located in the Capitol. |