The New York herald., 1875-12-04
THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
INVESTIGATING THE HEALTH BoARD-rHE Rx-
PESsEs OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

INVESTIGATINo THE HEALTH BOARD-THE Ex-
PEssEs OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
AND THE SUPERIOR COURT.
The Senate Committee on Investigation met again
yesterday in room y, Fifth Avenue Hotel Senator's
Booth and Bradley present, and the former
eupied the chair.
Immediately after the opening OF the meeting Mr.
Wright counsel for Colonel MeehAn, Assistant Engineer
Of the Dock Department said that Mr. Benoit, OF
the Arm or Benoit q Wood, wished TO
make q statement in regard 10 the check
which Frank NJ Penn stated had been paid to
Colonel Meehan for commissions Mr. Penn, who was
also present said he made mistake In regard to that
check, that instead Of it being check for $22l 90
dated April a 1871, Il a check for $lS6 o. dated
February 10, 1870.
Senator Booth said that the case had occupied the
time Of the committee sufficiently and was per-
sonal matter between Colonel Meehan and the Dock
Department which had demanded an investigation, no
thought It might be left to the Dock Department
Edward d. Gale Attorney for the Collection of Ar.
of Personal Taxes, the first witness called
He stated that his duties were to proceed on all
rants that had been returned unsatsaed by the
shas there had been business Of any account done
in his onlce since September, account Of lack Of
funds to pay messengers to serve there were
from 900 10 600 processes TO be served some years
and Mr. Gale thought that charge Of 81 should be en-
forced on each delinquent taxpayer TO make the bureau
Thomas Boesc Chief Clerk OF the Superior Court since
1872 was thon called He testified that he had fourteen
clerks in all, and that there twenty attendants
''Who appoints the clerks ~ asked Mr. Davenport
Mr. Boese- appoint tho clerks and the judges appoint
the attendants
He further stated that the Of the payroll for
the month Of October for clerks $14 413 co. prov
Gus TO 1872 the expenses for clerks and attendants
amounted 10 500 0O0 while the Board OF Supervisors
allowed 81 600 for naturalization clerks and print
ing of calendars in 1870 and 1871 the were about
$4,000 year. after 1872 the expenses were cut down
nhalIf for elArka and att nnhfh fhn
printing OF the calendars was done away with; the
appropriation for next year win be cut down
about SIT 600 ard the entire amount required for the
Court will be- including the judges salaries $l54 0oo
since 1871 the Superior Court has naturalized from
1000 to 5000 year; most OF those naturalizations
took place in the months of October and November; If
it possible 10 make further reduction in the cler
cal force il would be done and in fact, gradual de-
crease In tho force has taken place since 1872 at the
Mr Davenport-In the year 1860 the expense Of
running the Superior Court was $49, 800 In 1875 the
expense was increased to $4,000 Is there such an
increase OF business as to warrant such an increase OF
expenditure?
done In the Superior Court that there in 1S60
and sometimes even more than that
Mr.. Dayenport-Are you not often appointed
referee
Mr. Boese-Sometimes the judges arc very kind, and
when party tigant too poor pay the necessary
penses OF referee the Clerk the Court appointed
Mr.. Davenport-What do you think, Mr.. Boese, of
consolidating all the courts-Common Pleas, Superior
and Suprcme-Hith the same number Of judges that
they have now in the aggrcgate2
Mr.. Boese tlanghngl-That is question do not
feel myself competent TO answer at present; the Con-
sttutonal Convention has fixed the status Of the differ
cnt courts and IT would be highly impertinen in me to
offer any opinion on such grave question
William p Prentice attorney TO the Board Of Health,
testified that 1900 suits were brought each year, be-
sides criminal prosecutions vast amount of
these were settled 900 were pressed to judgment;
these actions all against nuisances; II was the
policy of the Board 10 endeavor TO abate the nuisance
instead of enforcing the penalty all the fees received
paid TO the Chamberlain tho penalties for
amounted
November this year they will amount to 50, 500
Nathaniel Jarvis Clerk of the Court OF Common
Pleas testified that the number of clerks in the court
was sixteen, and the payroll $44 900 n month;
there twenty attendants at 500 q month each;
il was proposed 10 reduce the number OF attendants
next year fifteen and the clerical force TO twelve,
and ii also designed to dispense with the crer but
thcr rcduced the amount OF fees turned to the
Chamberlain from So 500 to 81, 800 a year; In
the matter of naturalization the Superior Court has
levcd the Court OF Common Ploas great deal; last
fall the number OF naturalizations was about 100.
Mr.. Davenport--Does the Supreme Court do any
naturaizing business now2
Mr.. Jarvis Qaughing)-No; none 10 speak OF;
they only did heavy naturahzng business
year there about 900 easos on tho trial
calendar; compared with ten years ago busi-
s ten times greater; at present case can be
reached in five monthstbat is exclusive OF lawyers
postponements, &c last year there 791 appeals
from the district courts and 315 frem tho Marine, and
the last statement numbered 500 causes to DO yet
brought before the appellate part OF the Court; there
but i've working judges in the Court who sit from
eleven A. NJ TO i've T. NJ, and there are nve General
Terms held within the year
After the examination of Mr.. Jarvis tho committee
adjourned to half-past ten O'Clock this morning