Chap. 141.

AN ACT to amend the game law, in relation to the hunting of hares and rabbits in certain counties.

Became a law March 24, 1899, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, a majority being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section forty-nine of chapter four hundred and eighty-eight of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, the title to which was amended by chapter three hundred and ninetyfive of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-five to read "An act relating to game, fish and wild animals and the forest preserve and Adirondack park, constituting chapter thirty-one of the general laws to be known as the fisheries, game and forest law," as amended by chapter nine hundred and seventy-four of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-five and chapter fifty-three of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, is hereby amended to read as follows:

§ 49. Black and gray squirrels, hares and rabbits.-Black and gray squirrels shall not be hunted, shot at, killed or possessed, except from the first day of September to the fifteenth day of December, both inclusive. In the counties of Livingston, Wyoming, Erie, Sullivan, Oneida, Orange, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton, Albany, Green, Ulster and Columbia, hares and rabbits, shall not be hunted, shot at, killed or possessed, except from the first day of September to the fifteenth day of December, both inclusive, and the use of ferrets in hunting hares and rabbits in such counties is prohibited. The provisions of this section shall not apply to Long Island. Whoever shall violate or attempt to violate the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and in addition thereto shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five dollars for each violation thereof, and ten dollars for each squirrel, hare or rabbit killed or had in possession in violation of this section.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Appropriation for expenses of commissioner.

Chap. 142.

AN ACT making an appropriation to compensate the commissioner appointed by the governor by an order dated February eighteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, to inquire into the charges preferred against Edward J. H. Tamsen as sheriff of the city and county of New York.

Became a law March 24, 1899, 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 one thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropri ated, for the payment of the fees and expenses of William H. Robertson, as commissioner, appointed by the governor by an order dated the eighteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, to inquire into the charges preferred against Edward J. H. Tamsen as sheriff of the city and county of New York. Such money shall be paid by the treasurer, upon the audit of the comptroller to Mary B. Robertson, Joseph Barrett and Henry R. Barrett, executors of the last will and testament of the said William H. Robertson.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Chap. 143.

AN ACT to amend the insurance law relating to life insurance. corporations on the stipulated premium plan.

Became a law March 27, 1899, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, a majority being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Article ten of the insurance law of the state of New York as inserted by chapter eighty-five of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, entitled "An act to amend the insurance law relating to life insurance corporations on the stipulated premium plan," is hereby amended by the adding of the following sections:

§ 318. Application of certain provisions of article two.-Section seventy-three, seventy-four and seventy-five of article two of this chapter pertaining to special deposits with the superintendent of insurance by domestic life insurance corporations and the regis tration of insurance policies and annuity bonds of such corpora tions by the superintendent of insurance, are hereby made applicable to corporations organized under this article.

§ 319. When the superintendent of insurance may decline to register new policies.-If at any time the affairs of any such depositing corporation shall, in the opinion of the superintendent of insurance, appear to be in such a condition as to render the issuing of additional policies and annuity bonds by the corpora tion injurious to the public interests, or if at any time the reserve required by law to be held and maintained by any domestic life insurance company incorporated under this article shall be reduced to less than the amount required by law, the superintendent shall decline to register or countersign new policies or annuity bonds until in his opnion public interests will not be jeopardized thereby, and in case of impairment of the reserve, until such impairment has been made good.

$320. Surrender of securities -Any securities so deposited with and transferred to the superintendent of insurance on account of registered policies or registered bonds as provided under section three hundred and eighteen and not required to make good the reserve on the policies and bonds of such depositing corporation may be surrendered and re-transferred to the company. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Chap. 144.

AN ACT relating to Saint Ann's School of Industry, and Reformatory of the Good Shepherd, in the city of Albany and commitments thereto.

Became a law March 27, 1899, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senato and Assembly, do enact as follows:

ments to

Section 1. Whenever any female over the age of twelve years Commit shall be brought by the police, or shall voluntarily come before institu a committing magistrate, justice of the peace, police justice, or

tion auChorized.

any court having criminal jurisdiction in the several counties of the state, (except the counties of New York and Kings) and it shall be proved by the confession of such female, or by testimony, that such female is either found in a reputed house of prostitution or assignation, or in company with, or frequenting the company of thieves or prostitutes, or is found associating with disorderly persons, or is wilfully disobedient to parents or guardians, and is in danger of becoming therefrom or from vicious habits or associations, criminal or disorderly or is a prostitute, or is of intemperate habits, or who shall have been convicted by such court of vagrancy, petit larceny, or of any misdemeanor, and who is not insane or mentally or physically incapable of being substantially benefited by the discipline of said institution, such justice, magistrate, or court, is authorized to commit such female to "Saint Ann's School of Industry, and Reformatory of the Good Shepherd," a corporation now established in, and existing in the city of Albany, New York, which said institution is hereby authorized to receive and hold females. committed under this act.

§ 2. Every commitment made under this act shall state the name and age of the female so committed, together with the cause of her commitment; and such commitments shall also state the term of the commitments, which if the female so committed be an adult, shall be for a te.m of six months and if such female be a minor, during her minority, unless sooner discharged by the trustees or managers of said institution.

§ 3. All acts or parts of acts, inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed.

AN ACT to amend the town law, relative to change by towns of the time of holding town meetings.

Became a law March 27, 1899, 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 town law is hereby amended by adding to article two a section to be known as section forty-three and to read as follows:

§43. Town may change date of holding town meeting.-A town may change the date of its town meeting to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, known as general election day, by adopting a proposition therefor at a regular town meeting. Such a proposition may be submitted by the town board on its own motion, and shall be submitted by such board on the written application of twenty-five taxable voters of the town. The proposition must be submitted, voted on, and the result canvassed as prescribed by section thirty-two. If it be adopted a certificate to that effect shall be filed by the town clerk within ten days thereafter in the office of the county clerk and also with the clerk of the board of supervisors. If the proposition be adopted the first town meeting shall be held on general election day in the next calendar year, and the terms of all officers, except justices of the peace elected on the day of the adoption of the proposition, shall expire on the day of such first meeting. Thereafter town meetings in such town shall be held biennially on general election day in the manner prescribed by this chapter, except that after five years from the first meeting, the town meeting may in like manner change from such general election to any other day authorized by law. The term of office of all officers, except justices of the peace, in a town which under this section changes its town meeting to general election day, shall be two years from the date of their election.

§ 2. Section thirteen of said act is hereby amended to read as follows:

§ 13. Term of office.-Supervisors, town clerks, assessors, commissioners of highways, collectors, overseers of the poor, inspectors of election and constables, when elected, shall hold their respective offices for two years. But whenever there is or shall be a change in the time of holding town meetings in any town, persons elected to such offices at the next biennial town meeting after such change shall take effect, shall enter upon the discharge of their duties at the expiration of the term of their predecessors, and serve until the next biennial town meeting thereafter or until their successors are elected and have qualified. Whenever the time of holding town meetings in any town is changed to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, except when changed as provided in section forty-three of this chapter, the town officers elected thereat shall take office on the first day of January succeeding their election. But the collector