The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-22

from whom the supplies received b. the Law Depart
msut wsrs purchased, Or VIVA. they cost I hav. 70
power TO charge the city with payment OF sheet OF
paper used this ocs. This whole business IL in the
hands OF the Street Department Whsn therefore you
the CITY for supplies to my department the various
mentioned in your letter, you would have the puDAc
believe what + simply not true, and you must have
known that IL untrue IL you had investigated the
matter you should have DONE A. to the charge OF
S. $50 S. contingent expenses Of Office, for which you
on your part In explanation or this as well as the
other item OF Sl3.334 81, Mr. A. T. Campbell for many
years Chief Clerk OF this department, to whom nave
applied Tor written statement, reports % as foi-
lows
been the cas.om in this once fos the las, ten ys,s
or 70 r. s%a
clerks Witnesses stenographers fees copies Of
osss; one. l mouth dssss disSar...
nsp' % e sSy who stated rs ~ Mr.
cooper that mo items wh,tever are FURNISHED for The
s 'ss % re month "a
O. 's Is. to .s saSa AsT any ~ ss
ss Includes the same class bills. but being q
rser have ns sa o. s
the Comptroller has then drawn his warrant in favor Of the
me printing for this ocs o. bsnss and cases ss
Of II q and
from your consnssnt account 4!
IN 81
been pracssd during term Of oce and to prices
charged we hare no knowledge or responsibility.
the matter IL wholly under the control Of another
department Az to the amouAt paid by me TO extra
counsel to defend the city The nscss sity Of smpcy-
ing extra counsel has always been conceded Ny
have received appropriations OF sometimes
S25 600 sometimes $50 600 year for that purpose.
Judge Bronson 1860 had appropriation OF S25 OOO
Al that time there wore about hundred and ninety
In this Office aud other business in proper
ton. Now there abont nine hundred cases IN this
Office and other business Ia proportion. This Ia IN
addition nine hundred and thirty four cases before
the Board OF Audit Al that time the ordinary rate OF
have received appropriations for 1865, $4,000. and
for 1867 $50 900, and have applied these moneys TO
that purpose acoorna % my pess oscrs,on n me en-
the interests Of the city IN retain This brings me ma e.
rally to your fourth charge. which - as follows
behalf Of the city every possible occason and pay
ing them enormous fees" Since my entry into Office
the CITY in various cases, and have in each case
endeavored to secure such legal ability IS seemed
to me best for the interests Of the city, with.
out specially considering whether such lawyers
were my friends not You take special umbrage a.
the amount OF fees paid to two gentlemen, one MI.
Trull and the other Mr. John T. Hacket, Recorder
OF this city. When came into office found that yr
Hackett had been employed By my immed ate prede
cessor - counsel 10 nam9sr o. cases .. various az
in numerous Cases 10 which damages we're claimed IN
account OF the OF 1863 with the Iacts and Law
withdraw the employment SO Rivsn did not think
Il was for the interests Of the city that should do
mad then but little personal ACQUAINTANCE with MI
Hackst but had seen him IN coart trying cases in be-
half the city and satisfied OF his competency. It
seemed for the good OF the city that he should 10
still retained by mo; and, certainly, Il was consistent
with my ideas OF professional courtesy and prope,y
do So In no cass have withdrawn retainer to
into Office Mr. Hackett was elected to the position Of Re-
corder, still continued TO try tho caSes In which
be had been originally employed and others more or less
has estimated his professional services beyond their truo
value, demanded excessive feeA As 70 Mr.. iru,
- - E~- 49, al t~Nn
thought him competent and betscr trained In tne kind
OF Law involved In corporation cases than any other
6s Il TSsn 70 tho
tion. only know his professional character and ability
therefore retained him At first IN some cases with
decessor peculiarly familiar, and since then in other
deemed would serve the interests OF Inc
city % retain Sm raoy :" ana s'Ir am .a ~ sss
the amount OF fees paid linn ~ me Is
moderate compensation for the professional services
he has rendered the CITY since came into Office. Per
NIT me 70 say that tbs Legislature In placing At my
dirposai $50 900 to meet expenses Of my Office coun
the counsel have exercised lhis discretion: have
srsnt this money just ~ ~ provided by law that II
:s., Be- :s s u.
'sSitizens' ASSOCIATION . As 70 both Of those genie.
pad them have covered various other professional
services Tor which no special charge has been
Gus committees or tbe Lfasla'ure last year, before
whom questions aecng the nterests o. the city were
penang The other, IN the zane and various other
WAYS has given his lime and services Let any sensi.
lawyer himself suddenly placed At the head
IN vino, some case or other is every instant requiring
immediate action, and he will readily understand
sue necesa,y uho0 WHICH a'ua' m.Jsn oo'sSo ~
for three years had educasd this business ana &C
CURED that intimate knowledge OF ITS complicated
details which labor the part Of the incoming
official would enable him TO obtain OF this knowi.
edge, possessed by these gentlemen, have avned
o s ss
reason retained in my ONCE three Of the clerks who
nsd been employed By my predecessor, simply because
ob,ained elsewhere Az to the insinuaton in your
letter Of Mr. Truths being q member Of the nrm Of
the s, e should not 5. retained sy me on Ssnsf
arm. Su. only Mr. fruli, and You surely Ought
corporation 10 does not prevent thsi counsel
from acting against Il IN another have no recollection
of having retained Mr. Miller, and toe amount 70 which
you refer ~ having been paid him by was, pre-
sumo, of the due by my predecessor, and
pad by me. . the dozen more counsel retained BY
scarcely that has sui2 pending sgsiust tho
city. That the 6rm Of which NJ. Truil h a member
occupy rooms the same floor as this Office ~ my
misfortune and no. my fault should like 70 nave had
tho Whole floor Tor the business Of this Department
An Increase Of room you'd have added Inncn 20 my per-
that fessrs Dcvlin, Miller Trul had occupied the
rooms they now occupy for years before became or
poration Counsel. and still do occupy them; ami tho
second. that IN order TO the lily expense desired
70 occnrv only just many strc " and
absolutely needu In order 10 carry the bus OF
the department II occupied the whole floor It would
cost the city 5000 year. The rooms do occupy only
COS, the city ss2so yssr.. So musn for The fourth
charge. have employed on5 such counsel as seemed
70 suitable tor The interest OF the city, and the
fees they have been paid not enormous, a. you
truly aver bot just and reasonable and In - doing
have exercised discretion conGded TO by the people
who elected me and By the Legislature Who placed
funds IN hands for the purpose.
FTA.Your hfth charge 10 "Rcsistance 70 proceedings
taken TO bring local officials proper senss OF their
duty y Tho specifications sre:--
I. The case Of demand made on the part Of meu-
Der Of the Cnixsns Association tne Street Commis
sioner for examination OF his books &C. The fscts OF
the matter which goa would torture resistance
legal prcceedisys arc simply thessA person represen-
himself ~ agent OF the tisens' Association ap
piled the Street commissioner for leave 10 he
records Of his once This request not refused a.
Informed. An alternative udamus was, however
obsainsd, and ths department Was applied 70 b,
the Street Commissioners 10 attend 10 the consd
cred Il my dsty 90 to do under the provisions OF the
charter aud ordinances which prescribe u - part Of