New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-27
Law Refofm....No. II

To The Editor Of The Tribune;
There is another subject of serious complaint to
the people at large, and which is often liable to
individual abuses which ought to be presented to
the Legislature at its Extra Session in September
next have reference to the Office OF County
Clerk for this City and County. And here again
let me the loose provisions and inexcusabe
omissions OF the Judiciary Act referred to in my
former communication. In that Office the Legsla.
ture has created an official monopoly, more odious
than any heretofore existing in this country They
have conferred upon it fees and perquistes amount
ing to at least Forty Thousand Dollars per year.
Not content with the vast amount OF Individual
patronage exclusively bestowed upon it, they have
infriDged upon the Treasury OF the State. The
fees which this officer receives Clerk of the Supreme
Court and In Equity formerly went to the State Since
fret Monday Of July sst II goes into the pocket OF
the County Clerk. who is not bound to account for a
penny Of H. The income OF that Office can be setdown
follows
Az Clerk of the Court of Common Pess OOOO pr year
Do. Supreme Court---.---. lOOOO DO.
Do. Court In Equity. 10000 DO.
Supreme CT Commisr. In certain cases 300 do
Toial.........-.-.-.-...... .SiOtOOpr year
$4,000 per yssr IA very round sum for an othce un
ders Democratic Government and when al least 500 Ol
of this 10 taken from the public treasury 1t cannot here
after be said that Republics are uDgrsteiul
Many members of the legal profession may be sur
prsed at the statement thst tho County Clerk is moi
bound 10 account the State for his fees Clerk OF
the Supreme Court and in Equity but very slight ex
animation will convince the that the fsof 10 above
stated Previous To the fret Monday OF July last the
Clerk Of the Supreme Court and Assistant wert
bound pay the Treasury the receipts OF their
spectve Offices each receiving annual salary In lieu
thereof But those Offices now abolished ane where
10 the Law compelling the County Clerk TO account for
single dollar of the mupfcent Prerequisites conferred
upon hint Echo will have 70 answer until the Less
lsture sees AZ 10 answer IL themselves
IL wss undoubtedly oversight that some provision
inserted Ia the Judiciary Act arranging for The
the disposition of these fees The County Clerk should
receive salary commensurate with the duties be per
forms and the responsibility he ncurs, and not cent
over md above that SUN should 60 into bis pocket
Aud there should be stringent eOuched in
the psinest and mpre hensive terms, compelling
the incumbent 90 "a and pay into the Treasury All
MONEY received by him IN his ocsl capacity or In any
way Connected with bis Office; and these ensctments
should be amended often the ingenuity Of in
cumbeBt discovers a new way 10 charge aud retain
tee little past experience will convince vs. how off
ncu 10 TO frame act touching the fees End compen
saton OF ofice in such 10 carry out the
good intentions OF the law makers. The Ingenuity OF
man 10 continually At work studyo out new itsms and
where has been the Ia this City, officers have
taxed their bs IL tskes but little while 10 make
such proads thst unl-ss frequently altered ststuei
concerning aud fees Of offers are entirely nugs
tory. PRACriclSG LAWYER