The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-14
THE BAR AND THE BENCH.

Meeting Of the Bar Association Last Night
ExtOrtiOnate Fees In the Public DEPART
ments-PropOsed Amendments TO tho Code
of PrOcedure-Judges CardOzO and Barnard
To Be Observation-Disclosures McCunn and
lngraiinm to Follow.
Alta meeting OF the Bar Association held last
evening at 20 West Twenty seventh street. Mr. Van
Wrinkle presiding, several important matters came
up for consideration and occasioned much lively
debate. After the annual report OF the Treasurer,
which showed the association to be III a very
nourshing condition, with 522 members,
Mr.. RoLLKAUFF, OF the Committee on EXtortions,
said that the committee were not able to submit
full report. They are still busy investigating the
extOrtiOnate charges OF fees and the immense
emoluments OF the Sherin's, SurrOgates ana County
CLERKS Offices. In the latter ofices charges nave
been made oil Sc Tor papers on which the regular Zee
Is eighty cents. In
the appraisers charge ten per cent, which Is mon
strousiy exorbitaut charge. He m.nti0ned one
case in which an appraiser put IN bill tor $500 for
1sss p 81 ne in this nc once
ment, the legal fee Tor which is fifty cents. Ii the
question was asked now these charges we're figured
laws which were made at time when Things were
very different to what they are now.
IN THE REGISTERS OFFICE
particularly there great need OF reformation. The
lees this Oice Tor the last year amounted TO over
100000 The Sherif received $4,000 last year Tor
the single Item OF fifty for each case the
low calendars. He ,Mr. Rollkau) thought IL neces-
sary 70 abolish the present rate OF fees and form
new one. lie considered that there should be no
lees attached to salared Offices Public 0nceaE Fave
come to be considered as made for the rccuniary
interests OF prominent politicians. and not for the
members of the association who knew oil any par
ticuar grievances in this connection to report them
to the committee before us labOr5 were done.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE
OF Procedure, reported number OF amendments.
relating chieny TO the appointment OF referees and
receivers. ana also making the Bar more lndepen-
dent Of the Bench The second amendlnent provides
that no arrests shall be made for libel, SANDER
saulJ and other minor offences. This amendment
gave rise to q lively debate, which ended in the re-
port being lald the table till special meeting
TUESDAY evening.
The Judiciary Committee recommended the APP
polntment OF Joshua Il. Van Colt, Albert Stickney
ana Jonn f. Parsons TO attend the proceedings OF
the Legislative committee appointed 10 investigate
the
CHARGES AGAINST JUDGES
Cardozo ana Barnard whe committee was TO com.
Judiciary COMMITTEE was adopted.
| General FOSTER observed tnat the name OF Chief
| Justice McCunn should have been included In the
memorial asking Tor The investigating committee.
| He believed him to be the most corrupt Judge That
| occupies the bench in tue State OF New YORK. He
have personal friends the commit tee, II they
had felt too cowadly to make charges against him.
JUDGE WITHOUT FRIEND.
Mr.. CROSBY, one OF the committee, resented the
charges that Justice McCunn mad personal trends
on the committee who wished TO shield him. or taat
the committee was cOwardly. He considered 1t
better 10 make sure or what they were doing than
to prefer charges which they Were not yet in posi-
ton TO sustain.
A member asked by what authority the COM
mittee which went TO Albany to- present the
memorial had inserted the names Of CardozO and
Barnard, which were not In the memorial when
adopted by the association.
Mr. NICKLE said that on going to Albany they
consulted several prominent and influential men,
bers of the House, and were told that the charges
in the memorial were too vague, as referring to no
person III particular, and that they would nave u
specify some person. The evidence against Judges
Barnard and CardOZO was compile ted and the com.
mittee feeling they could prove their charges
against them, they inserted their names. The evi
not prepared, but the committee were working
|, upon 1t.
The meeting, alter some further discussion, ad.
iOurneu.