The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-13
THE MARINE COURT CLERK.
NEw Yonk, May IL, 1876.

NEw York. May IL, 1875
To THE EDITOR OF TIKI HERALD
Your issue of the I'd inst does mo injustice. 1t In
Inmates IT. indeed, It docs not directly charge) that
Albany, without the knowledge Of the judges
the Marine Court lobbying through the Legislature
bill giving me moro power than 1.-The whole bench o.
judges anu that all this was. fortunately disclosed in
time by Of tho judges, who, suspecting mo- took
trip Albany and made the discovery. This state
ment was untrue ard 50 Injurious to my character
that would have contradicted it at.hc time but that
l was assured by moro than one of the judges that
they only did not believe had betrayed their In
tcrests but that they would promptly take occasion
vindicate 1t IL the 12th OF May-elcven days
since my rcmoval-yet this promised vindication has
not yet made ITS appearance, am Obliged 10 speak
for myself The public Is interested in other questions
connected with my removal than those en-
braced in the article refer To. ycu will pardon
me II am somewhat general IN my statement.
For many years past the Marine Court looked
upon sort OF legitimate treasury 10 pay the bills OF
the latest political organization in control OF the city
and It's Clerks office hospital ward politicians
who had suffered in the service Tho anti Tam many
organization, oil which am secretary, looked Tor
reformation in this respect under me, and In par
ticuar latter myself have carr led its hopes Tor
the City Chambcrlains Office will show that my prcde-
ccssors in office, since the court established
paid to the city in any one year, fees by
them, not more than au average of $175 per month,
while my average for the TOUR months l oiIlce
81, 200 per month. So much tor the.trcasury
As the hospital IL beyond my reach TO reform
H. ior, strange 1t may seem, although the law held
responsble for the acts Of my sabordinaes Il
me no power their employ ment dismissal, q
o affairs which does not exist in any other court
Of record IN this city. On several occ sions found
that this worked dsadvauageously, both tho good
the public service and the welfare OF the city
ury, but satisfied myself by calling the attention tho
judges TO the fact who assured that these
things would be renedcd by and by Near the end Of
the Legislature there several bills under consid-
Grafton affecting the Marine Court One proposed to
give me, Clerk, the power to appoint
my subordnates the the assistant clerks are
removed appointed IN other courts OF record, and
$4,000 10 $1,000 per .annum. knew nothing
OF either until read OF them IN the newspapers,
and to this day never had their in,roducers or
anybody IN their interest approach mo TO what
would do the CLERKS bill should become aw.
The judges opposed to both bills; and at the
urgent request of two Of their NUMBER and with the
knowledge OF certainty thrco Albany us their
agent say for them that they opposed to the
bills becoming law and to keep them informed as TO
the progress OF the measures All this did faithfully
and honestly; and II my request that
OF tho judges came to Albany, l can
prove by letters and kilograms sent received copies
of which have IN my possession and which may lie
BY any person questioning my statement When
removed the judges volunteered a statement oil
their confidence in my faith!uncss and OF my capab
y as CLERK, going even further In their praises than
care To mention here. and gave me distinctly to
dcrsand that threat having been against their
court by State Senator slonid they attempt inter
ere with the reforms proposed in his bill, this
the only lett 10 them 10 vindcate their dignity and
independence OF course II dignity AMI independ
can be easily given 10 the Marine Court 1t is hardly
proper that should object ..consu mmaou SO dc
voutly To be Wished even though | suffer tempo
rary inconvenience thereby But cannot wait longer
for that promised vindicaion and hence this letter "a
JOHN D. CoUGuLIN.