The New York herald., 1875-12-16
THE GENERAL SESSIONS. /.
SEEKING HABIrATIoN IN THE CITY BUILD
ISGs-No ROOM ron RECORDER HAcKETT

SEEKING A HABrrATIoN IN THE CITY BUILD
ISGs-No ROOM ron RECORDER HAcKETT
AND JUDGE GnDERsLEEvE.
The Committee County Affairs Of the Common
Council consisting Of Aldermen Lysaght Deane, Scery
and McCarty, met yesterday at the City Hall TO pass
upon the petition OF the Judges OF the Court OF General
Sessions for the occupied by the Department
of Taxes and Assessments. The election OF addi-
tional Judge renders necessary have more room
Recorder Hacket Judge Gildersecve, Tax Commits
sioners Andrews. Wheeler and Howard Commissioner
Porter General Mcmahon Receiver of Taxes President
Lewis and Aldermen Reilly, Blessing and Guntzer
present In answer 10 question Judge Gildersleeye
stated that while the petition very clearly set forth
what was required by his associates and himself Re-
corder Hackett would be present TO explain matters
freely.
Tax Commissioner Andrews stated that as an IN
diyidua he did not think any place 100 good for Re-
corder Hackct 10 hold in, but question under
consideration was not personal matter but rather
one Of convenience TO the great OF taxpayers.
The Tax office had been located present place for
some years, and there the taxpayers accustomed
TO 60 This the only Office Of the city government
that every taxpayer is obliged visit per year
lie spoke of the inconvenience likely to follow
moval, and hence he opposed H.
Commissioner Porter stated that the 9th instant
he had addressed letter to the judges suggesting that
the part of the Marine Court held in the third
story of the brown building be transferred to the
building In Chambers where the other parts of
the held and that the promises thus vacated
be used by the Court of General Sessions. Com
missioner Porter added that the proposition had not
been accepted.
RECORDER HAcKETr
stated that tho last Legislature, providing for the
election OF an additional Judge, had arranged for the
holding OF ten double OF the yearly, iu
stead OF single sessions as formerly IL was within the
o
soner ofPubc Works to designate the quarters asked
for in the petition Ii was desirable for the conven-
OF lawyers, prisoners sherins' officers and others
who have business with the Court that the floor
pied by the Tax Department should be assigned to the
said Court He added that Judge Sutherland assured
HIM that the present Grand Jury about to make
prescntmont in regard 10 the room in which they
compelled to meet in the present brown stone building
as nuisance. Last year there were ZOO indictments
disposed Of this court while in the Over and Ter
miner, with It's five local and four judges only
fifty tour disposed Of The Court or General Ses-
sons was equal in dignity to the Supreme Court or
any other court in the city, and he thought It's judges
wero entitled 10 ample and convenient rooms for trans
acting their business. Ha did think that
the court should be condemned TO the third story
OF building; that the Tax Department should be in a
place adjoining the Comptroer's Office, with which it
had much business To transact. The Recorder ed
that hallway leading 10 the third story OF the brown
stone building waa not wide enough 10 admit OF the
passage or prisoners from the the court
room. Furthermore the lower hallway the floor
where the Tax Department Is Tor several months
crowded with taxpayers through the lines Of which IL
was now necessary Tor those attending the Court TO
subpGnaed attend the Court ON the last day his
seventy three handcuned prisoners we're marched
up tho stairway 10 the court room.
Alderman Seery asked the Recorder whether two
courts could not be conveniently held on the floor
where the court is held at present
Judge Hackett said in reply that they could not;
moro room was needed, and II was necessary that
LARGER ACCOMMODATION PoR PRISONERS
in the building while waiting for their to be
called, should be furnished The Recorder also said
that the brown building erected for pur
pose OF holding the Court OF General Sessions in IT,
ID "a hat tlo o(purl
should be provided with proper conveniences in
their building. During the past eleven months OF the
present 200 criminals sent to State Prison
from the General Sessions. Counsel for the Tax Com
missioners asked where the authority to assign too
building vested. Recorder Hackett answered that
IL vested IN The Board Of Supervisors.
Counsel stated that by the Consolidation act the
brown stone building was no longer n county building,
and there were no longer any supervisors in the
county.
Alderman McCarty said that under the Consolidation
act the Aldermen had all the powers that vested
in the old Board OF Supervisors
The Recorder replied that the power in
THE ALDRRMES AS COUNTY OFFICERS,
who have the authority TO act in the matter as
possessed by the Board OF Supervisors of which
he has the honor TO be member. The Commissioner
OF Public Works change ,he location OF any dc.
partment whenever it was desired by The Common
General Mcmahon was opposed to the change pro-
posed by tho Judge He explained how neonvenient
and costly IL would be TO remove the Tax Office and
urged as an argument against the change that there
was now safe in the Tax Office that weighed fourteen
tons, and also that there was no building in the city
well adapted for the use of the Tax Department
General Porter said the change would be attended
with great cost 10 the city.
The committee then proceeded TO the brown stone
building, of which they made inspection. Judge Shea
found in the Marine Court, and he informed the
committee that the law makes IL obligatory hold tho
Court in the City Hall Park; that 1t would be imposs-
BILE 10 hold the Marine Court and the General Sessions
in the building. The former Court holding uvo
parts daily and twohrds Of the law business OF the
city done in that Court, which ought TO have
building by itself. The committee then retired, and
viii 10 day examine The New Court House where il Is
understood. thcrc several rooms unoccupIcd Tho
committee will likely make their report to the Common
Council At their session to-day