The New York herald., 1871-11-07
THE PIREMEN'S FRIEND.

10 Say In hlE Ooteuc6-A Eubstantlai UI
vids'-Two Hundred thousand Dollars
Council Fee Paid By the Firemen-
Substantial Sympathy for
Disinterested Services.
Ar. Thomas Fields, the Corporation Attorney, ke
his great chief s'the Bose,p awaited his arrest
yesterday afternoon. at his once. The morning
papers had apprised MIN that SAerins onioer
would be looking after hlm during the day, but he
disdained to hide from the humber ofnccr OF that
profession OF which he himself Is 80 bright and
shining light When . HERALD reporter called
upon Mr.. FIELDS yesterday afternoon he found the
Corporation Attorney In his private ONCE, and
surrounding the fire were few consoling friends.
VINO, with cigars ana wine, endeavored to impart q
cneerfuness to the company which It certainly had
no Inherent power to put forth. There was about
the group the kind or grim mirthfuness that pre-.
walls at Q funeral.
Mr.. Fields had an uneasy gait and NJ one OF tine
many easy chairs In the well furnished Office seemed
quite easy enough for him. Catching the first
glimpse OF quietude that played Tor q moment
around the capacious brow OF the Corporation At
torney, the HERALD reporter thought that good
opportunity for commencing o conversation.
sMr. Fields, l presume you have some state
has been brought In the Supreme Court against
you. and about which the public mind is SO agi-
tated y, tst
"Yes sir; IcaaIl be glad to state what think is
the true view OF the case"
81 win take It down exactly as you state 1t, Sir,
and give you the benefit Of Its publicity"
'These claims, then sir, are claims for services
rendered by certain men as members OF different
re companies located north Of Eighty sixth street,
They were not voluntary f1re companies but were
appointed by the Commissioners created by an act
authorizing paid fire department. They were
appointed under the same laws that regulated
ire companies south Of Eighty-sixth street.
They were liable at all times to do
nre duty within the district for which they were
appointed. No provision was made for the pay
ment OF their services. In 1858 q committee on
their behalf called upon me and retained me as
counsel to obtain for them proper compensation for
their services After On investigation OF the matter
came to the conclusion that they had just, legal
and valid claim for payment for such services I
applied to tine legislature for an appropriation to
to be paid on account Of such sums as
Mr.. W. Lawrence OF the Comptroller's Office. as
honest ard as IncOrupuble man as ever lived l
Obliged to present evidences OF the organization OF
his company. the name and number OF men OF his
Sompan 1e time Of the service q each one na,
required to make afidavit OF his appointments; the
amount paid was regulated BY that which was paid
sos OF isSo Simply made PROVISION ''I to Day the the
amount OF the claims authorized to be
Commissioners, appeared before the Committee in
1883, when the matter was before the Committee on
In the Tax Levy. The present suit SIR is as is ap.
parent 10 everybody merely an election docu.
.'That may be So" replied the reporter ''but per-
haps may be allowed to ask you II there was any
audit OF these 1remen's accounts!"
audit"
, %Xou have mot tne laws, have you IL which this
.Oh, YES SIR" Mr.. Fields searched for these laws
and read 20 the reporter the clauses Of 1859 and
ana, the IN ee CT % 1917 lS an aso
clause which provided for the payment Of indefinite
Il see there is nothing said about the $50 900 in
1870, and that the ahdavits say tnat you received
s45ss77 10, and further see that Nc stagrc S ND
tt0ller's fault; the law provided it.'
"You received the money see, Mr.. Fields; did
the men assign their claims to your presume, OF
course. It was only security for your fees"
ION, yes; the assignment OF claims Is common
enough, and 1t was security for my fces.''
The fee was on the divide principle, presume.
FieldssS i '''1' = ''"'0 - ""s' proportions mr.
We'll, some companies paid me thirty three per
EXACTLY; or, in other words, fifty per cent OF the
entire claim, which round figures would be over
TWO nunuleo tnousand uoilarS. That may consider
ayes; II counsel and client choose to agree upon
terms l don't know that 1t is anybody's businessn
'Of course II Is nOb0dy's business but the parties
concerned, Mr.. Fields. That reminds me; pray
have you seen this afternoons Telegram. It has q
summarizing OF the .affidavits IN this case /
should like 70 osk you II the following passage is
true" Reporter reads:-"Durlng the session OF the
Legislature Of 1870 Fields obtained from said men
an additional assignment OF seventeen per cent
which was very reluctantly given TO him. Fields
represented @ that tins additional percentage, or
purposes, and that the men, II they did not grant
IT, would never get damned dOllaT.n
Towards the latter tart OF this interview Mr. Fields
was evidently under the impression that he was
not gaining much for himself by this conversation
and. when the reporter mad finished reading the
above clause he looked At Mr.. Fields and Mr. Fields
looked at the reporter There was silence for mo-
ment, which Mr.. Fields did not break. The reporter
Ia an on-hand manner. broke the silence by saying
"Oi course that is not true, Mr.. Fislds"
"Ihat Is not true. sir.r
81 presume, sir. that we are both pretty wen
through and, therefore, l may wish you good day.
Good day, sir, and am very much obliged to