The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-14

expense and trouble. The old books fast going 70 de-
be immediate action and new copies made. ''''"'N
In addition TO the heavy fees paid by individuals the
and while money has beer lAvshy expended little bene
dt has resulted.
For example, Mr. Grant received the sum Of 500 600 for
copying certan books which, now appears were never
compared, and are full Of errors.
The sum Of sS 900 appropriated by the late Board
Of the indexes Of all papers recorded during the term OF
MT Grant, who claimed them as his private property,
more perfect indexes for S36O0 Fortunately for tax
payers the act OF the Board was null and void the
Consolidation billhaa taken effect two days before.
October 1853 that certain indexes delivered to him
BY his predecessor and among others the following
VIZ 70 indexes o. deeds Nos 3 70 so.
Of mortgages Nos to IL.
i /" Of papers on file
OF the deeds, Nos II 70 80 are missing; Of the mort
cages, Nos and to III and the index Of papers
Whether these have been lost or abstraced is not
were never delivered to the prestn incumbent.
Your Committee would suggest that com mission
supervisors at early day, to investigate and report
fully as to the condition Of this Office aud suggest such
improvements and remedies for the existing abuses as
they may deem proper. This lately done in the city
New York and the facts brought to light showing the
Insecurity Of titles and the imperfecons and mismanage
ment Of the present system was truly startlins.
The idea of printing the Land records there sug-
gssted ,s as. remedy and your Committee are firmly con
The index might be printed at 6rs and ultimately the
entire land records OF the county. 1t would simplify
the whole machinery OF the Office, increase the
accuracy of the records and the facility OF read
ing and examining titles; while fac sinae copies
could be struck of and preserved to replace the worn
out originals. Clerk hire and other incidental expenses
would be reduced, and lhe Office would longer be an
as! um for shoulder strikers and fellows barely able TO
The fees Of the County Recorders Office haee been
enormous md are still large. lie should receive fair
salary and his actual expenses, in lieu OF his present
compensation
THx sHERITv's OFFICE
The importance OF this oce is not often appreciated
The powers and duties Of the Sheriff are most exten-
sve and various his nfleEce and patronage. are great
his abors ana responsibilities severe while he Is oftan
exposed to the strongest temptations and in times of
emergency everything depends on his armness and de-
time serving politicians, nor men Of inferior position,
conceited but snoraI should aspire yet which the best
men 10 the country will find II hard to f
Unfortunately, the late and former Sheriff
wholly united for the position either by nature educa
tcn or associations and their deputies, with few excep
hons. have been OF the lowest character.
The Sher's fees and enoumens in this county have
Gesn enormous and proS.ey w.hSss parallel in the
cevsd pei centage and missions Tax Collector TO
large amount and has been paid liberal allowance for
bill makes change in hl respect The Sheriff Is no
longer Tax Collector and the system very pro-
pery applied to the expenses OF feeding and clothing pr
The principal abuses connected with this office are as
l. Recklessness inanen,on- and want Of system
fave prevailed to great extent in the business Of the
0iise.
3D. Many complaints have been made 10 regard 10 the
summonng OF juries Certain men seem TO have been
70 serve regularly a. professional jurors and
packed at various times in important cases
3d. Exorbitant bills and charges have been presented
ton in some csses for more than double the amour, le
eay or Justly due. This has been the case with the fees
charged in criuns cases particularly for keeping and
guarding prisoners The sum Of $3.50 per month has
also been regular charged and paid for the attendance
Of deputies in the fevera courts In fact both Of these
charges are unauthorized and illegal.
The Law makes NO provision for the compensation OF
deputies who arc Psad BY ,ns Sheriff hmss yet in yio
pay from the county fos their services. This Office
should be salsred with the rest and allowance made
II is proper also state that the records and mlsccl
aneous papers Of this Office IN state OF almost hope
less confusion, and that the books and papers OF
sheriff Hayes johnson aud Gorham are in their posses
sion respectively instead OF being delivered 10 and In
POSSESSION OF the present Sheriff. which Is matter Of
COUNTY uERK- cIxRK OF TnT SUPERIOR cocRr
The Coun y Clerk is ofco Clerk OF the Fourth and
Twelfth District Courts, the County and Probate Courts
and Court q Sessions, receives fees from each Office
The Clerk Of the Superior Court receives fees from that
II Is rot known that any complaints have been made In
regard these oces with the exception Of the frequent
loss Of papers from the once OF the Clerk Of the Fourth
district Court; yet there abuse connected with
them enormous and Injurious in its results that 10
PASS over in silence would be an act OF teachery and
This the system Of extorion practised by the cocc
ton Of money In the shape Of fees to amount which
n,
their and indirectly of their rights furnishes the
material for hiring bues buying, bribns and corrupt
SIM oner,be a ~ ,snd ana ysnv TSe
revenues Of these Offices are narceled out beforehand
amongst some hall dozen politicians who, successful,
live IN the enjoyment OF large incomes.
In the superior Court during the year from lst June,
1885 TO lst June, 1856 1899 suits were commenced. In
the Fourth and Twelfth District Courts during the same
period, sea suits commenced the former being
about ii0 and the latter about LIS suits per month.
and an eor was MADE to reduce su. BY The ason and
influence Of interested parties the act or 1851 rather in
creased than diminished these fees The then charges
based upon the state OF affairs which existed at this
ne then money plenty, labor expensive, aud the
number OF suits lees than at present.
AZ tines changed, however the burthen then became
nioersbs and GOV. Bgler, In his message 20 the
legislature, Selyercd jan L. 1855, chnraccrzcs these
absolute denial Of ustce-and Ia spite OF alt opposition
democratic Governor and Legislature reduced the fees
of these cces, who were members Of their own party,
abori seventy five per cent The average rate OF fees
n each suit was then $50. Through the influence OF
Thos HaJes, County Clerk Of San Francisco, with
delegation the were again In ressed last winter and
the pre- average rate about $50. II allow $40
the average rate Of fees In each suit exclusive Of
g. Court fee-t follows that the income Of the Clerk Of
The Superior Court durng the past has been 5000
while the County Clerk has received from the Fourth
and Twelfth District Courts alone In addition to his other
tInolumcnte, the rrinceiy OF SEQ f60 The only
pcnse 10 be deducted ior the OF four clerks the
Superior Court and Eve clerks deputies In the Fourth
snd Twelfth, say $40 900 from each Of the above gross
whether these officers deserve such pay and whether
the people ought 70 be taxed TOT thSr beneh are lues
tons be considered by every good citizen In the
city Of New Ysrk the clerks fees in an ordinary suit
amount 10 the Insignificant sum OF two dollars
oorSTf xssFsSoR's orrfcE.
County matters have been quietly managed and kept
10 the dark for the last Eve years and few citizens have
had tho time patience 10 investigate them, and those
office appear TO have madc the most of their opporun
ties.
The Law authorizes the Assessor 70 appon, deputies
aid him. and for his their neglect deduction may
be made from his account OF services, and he may be
indicted and fined $500.
bach ASSESSOR and deputy shall render weekly
count Of bis services actually performed. under oath, 10
tho Court of sessions Board OF Supervisors HIS
rcnsscn n 20 be regulated by the Board Of su oersors
The formerly nxcd II M not loss than Ss or more
than ole for each Assessor deputy for every day the
Court OF Sessions Board OF Supervisors should be sat
is1ed they employed In actual discharge Of the
duties required by law. In 1881, tho Board Of Super
vors allowed s12 day (see order 1 for Assessor or "
Tor deputies In 1884, they allowed s2 10 the Assessor
and ss for deputies (order No 35, which, 10 November
OF the year Increased 10 s16 and sl2 for As
scissor and deputies lorder 4T), and this pay they con-
tinucd 10 receive In 1853 (see order 60).
n 1855. nav was ycdu urcd m ncyd