The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-02
THE REMopAL or CoyGHLfX.
The Marine Court Judges Action In View Of
senator Morrisecy's Biii.

The Marine Court was in "a state of sus-
pended vitality yesterday. No transcripts OF
judgments or satisfaction pie O. we're Issued,
no iees or payments into court were received,
none OF the trial parts were in session, aud even
the chambers OF the court. which IL required to
be omen every day, except Sunday, for granting
orders and hearing motions, had taken vacl-
tion.
Mr.. John ID. CouRhn. who has been the chief
clerk OF the court since Tammany's overthrow
last fan. was served Yesterday morning with a
copy OF an order, dated on Saturday ast, aud
signed by the 1--WE Judges of the court, remov wing
him from mis- position. The order was worded
to take effect imme diately; 49, as no successor
was named, this left the court without = clerk.
MIR. Charles L. " ood, the deputy clerk, inquired
OF the Judges in whose name the certificates Of
the court should be made out, and WIS directed
to make II ne ont AL until further notice.
Tue removal Of Mr.. Coughn was entirely un-
expected. On the 18TH ut. the Senate passed
join Morrissey's bill taking the power of an
pointing tine clerks assistants, the court OIL
Gers, and other attendants from the Judges u
the Marine Court, ana vesunR 1t In the clerk Of
the court; aud also reducing the salaries Of the
assistants 81 as 70 eli Ct yearly saving If from
$l2OOO to $1,000 On the 2Sih uit. the bill was
passed by the Assembly, aud II WAS sent to the
Governor for his signature.
Heretofore each judge he's had the uncon-
trOlied appointment Of one personal attendant,
who took messages and lapeis from his home to
the court house aud ack. All the other officers
o. the court, including the chief clerk, have
been appointed by the NJ j,rity vote Of the
Judges hcse appointments nave always been
for polite 1 services. They have been the IA.
iron o. Of the judges. To have this taken from
them and given D the chief clerk was "A bitter
pill. Ne rly All the subordinate officers of the
Marine Court ale adherents Of lammanv Hall,
and Mr.. CoughlIn Is an nti-lamn,any man. h. W
Ing bsen borne into office on the wave That
placed Jndses Gospp ana Sheridan IN po%e,r;
might sweep out some OF their appointees,
nnd they made haste TO prevent that.
HID they removed Mr.. Cougllin after such ac-
tion ON his part. IL W uld have been too late to
remedy whit be would have cone, since the
Morfissey btli, while IL Iefi them the power of
removing the chiei cl,r k, rendered them impo-
tent to interfere with hi APPOINTMENTS.
Tue eener reduction In the salaries OF the
assistants ami court officers that IA effected 10y
MIR. Nor issrys bill Is said not 20 be pal l.
table to some OF the Judges. Judge Shea's
brotD er, who has been drawing $500, will yet
NJ. Wood. the deputy clerk, who IL in charge
OF the clerks oice, aud who was In office unuer
the former clerk, Maurice j. Power.saiu YESTERDAY
that Mr.. COug lin had introduced great reforms
In the Office aud was an immense Improvement
uuon ny OF MS predecessors. His returns III
fees. g., TO thc city treasury amoIn ed to SIX
or $l,JO u month more than III, 70 OF his Tam
many predecessors. lie Introduced or or and
decuruin into tue clerks Office 50 far - his ok
OF authority herctD fore would permit. Inc fact
that mis- supogdinat = we're all Independent OF
him WIS a source OF much trouble. In one part
OF the Office he permitted no smoking during
business hours. At the sane time, In anujhei
!. pre- where he could not enforce discipline
| tner, WAS constant haze OF smoke
| He had blanks printed tat were 'esigned TO Sc
| cure more trustworthy and In elliRioe records
/ of moneys paid INTO the ONCE, to prevent EN-
btZzlement aud VIZ TO the city; but the assist
at 10y VIA. he - red them.to be kept, nitN
refused to- be bothered with them
" Ine Morrissev oil Is necess ry.' said Mr.
/ Wood. " to enahe any clerA TO manage tina
on e. cnhcientS."
Judge Aeer y that the bill that bass eel
/ passed decreases the sal res vi all out two -
/ the sutorui ates. Coughln vas one II thu 80
| The uiu shown as the Strthan bill" lcugtncm
| ttc term at C1ughln's Office to six Se.rs, aux
ex mpts hun from removal except 10y the q =
/ ornor. the Justic 4 Of the court paid no hee,
/ 10 these prospective l,ws until Cuughun tul,
| them that II they inteTf red 10 defeat the pas
SAGE of the bills, "tueir court should be abul
| isned." "fheu," Id Judge Alker. 1--WE con
/ cldacd " we could he inundated Nv an iGi
| threat Ike at, We were not 1T t. be judges
| ana to defend our dignity We reIIoNcu hiu
| no I'VE judge" Jude Aiker ADDED, were
/ pf ift fI.tt l.. a